Car 'coughing'/hesitation when driving.

EdGasketTheSecond

Sounds like the crank sensor to me. Take it out and measure the resistance and see if it is in spec. Heat it up in the oven to 100 degrees C and measure again. Otherwise just replace it.

AdrianC

Given that you have a specific code that recurs, I'd start there, rather than randomly picking something else entirely.

EdGasketTheSecond

Crank sensors dont throw a code. The other one is probably a red herring; possibly caused by the battery getting low from cranking.

JustAnotherSaver

Adrian - so you’d replace the fuel tank? I’m assuming the fuel sensor is inside there. 

Ed - I’ll take a look at the crank sensor. Unless I was looking at some cheap Chinese tat then they didn’t seem overly expensive. I’ll have a look at a YouTube video to see if I reckon I can get it changed or whether i’d need to send it in and take it from there. 

EdGasketTheSecond

You can disconnect it at the nearest connector and put a multimeter on it to check the resistance without taking anything off.

JustAnotherSaver

I don't have a multimeter and even if i did, i've never used one before & wouldn't know how to start.

I do however have access to a pit and someone who will have one. If all i need to do is unplug it then what should it read? Is it literally just a case of that then - just unplug the plug and stick this multimeter on the plug? I assume the car will not need to be running?

EdGasketTheSecond

There's an article and video about changing it here:

https://randomchris.com/astra-crank-sensor-replacement-diy-tutorial-step-by-step/

If you put your car details into this site, you can find the crank sensor for your car together with the resistance in the Product details:

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/crankshaft-sensor-15032/vauxhall/astra/astra-mk-v-h-hatchback/18116-1-6?categories[0]=833

JustAnotherSaver

Couple questions here:

In that guys video about 1:35 in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJq_l2Pv66Y

He says what can give issues similar to the crankshaft sensor is the camshaft sensor & the sensors are virtually identical.

So they give similar issues and they're pretty much the same yet they're in different locations. So my question really is - is it the crankshaft sensor I should be looking at changing or the camshaft sensor and why [the one you say] over the other?

I got in touch with AutoVaux to see what the correct crankshaft sensor is for this car and they just said the Vauxhall code is 10456604. I search this and in your link https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/crankshaft-sensor-15032/vauxhall/astra/astra-mk-v-h-hatchback/18116-1-6 it's the second one down such as this one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUINE-DELPHI-SS10513-12B1-CRANKSHAFT-SENSOR-VAUXHALL-ASTRA-MERIVA-ZAFIRA/182409141207?epid=249277481&hash=item2a786e9bd7:g:KlgAAOSw5cNYa7ps

Yet in other searches for crankshaft sensor the electrical wiring comes with it, such as in this link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crankshaft-Pulse-Sensor-Fits-Astra-Corsa-Insignia-Vectra-Zafira-Meriva-1-6-1-8/323305251281?fits=Cars+Type:1.6&hash=item4b467ea1d1:g:6PkAAOSwwrlce9sD

What's the difference? (and don't say a wire). When watching that guys video and he removes it, it comes with the wire also yet this isn't what AutoVaux, the number they provided & your link show.

EdGasketTheSecond

"is it the crankshaft sensor I should be looking at changing or the camshaft sensor and why [the one you say] over the other?"

In my experience the crank sensors go more often than the camshaft sensors but you need to remove it and:

a) measure the resistance, preferably hot and cold.

b) See what it looks like so you can buy a similar one if required  (e.g. with or without a wire and connector)

Otherwise we are only guessing.

JustAnotherSaver

I don't want to tempt fate or anything but it appears that the problem has been sorted.

A year or so ago we put a new battery in. In all honesty i think it actually needed one anyway IIRC. This would be about £80 IIRC

After this was the spark plugs. 1) since there was no record of them being done, 2) i'd never done them on a car before so was giving it a go in light of point 1 and 3) it had been suggested as a possibility and what with the cost of them, just give it a go. It obviously didn't work. This was £20ish

New coil pack was then tried after this came back from a few people. £65 later we thought it had sorted it as it went a bit of time without doing it, but then started again.

Then we tried the crankshaft sensor. If this didn't work then the car was getting binned.

Just had a look - the sensor was ordered 25th June and fitted shortly after. Cost £14.95 so the cheapest of the lot.

So far it hasn't acted up since. Touch wood and fingers crossed etc that's what the cause was.

I have access to a mechanic through work, although he wont actually get involved in staff cars as such and he tested the old sensor with a multimeter and it said dead. He tested a new one and the multimeter was working

Now if only we'd tried the crankshaft sensor first i could've at least saved myself £65 but hey ho it appears to have been sorted.

Thanks to all who helped. Just wanted to post back an update for anyone who finds this thread in a search and to also give an outcome to those who helped.