astra starting problems

jo_b_2

My other half has y reg astra 1.4 ls. It starts from cold no problem at all. However, when the engine is fully warm, and he goes to start the car again, he has to press the accelerator after turning the ignition, so the car has enough revs to start. If he just turns the key without pressing the accelerator, the engine will go up to about 1000rpm and then die. The car drives absolutely fine, and its a very minor issue, but is something that is bugging him.

Thunderbird_2

Hi

It will be very dificult to give a correct diagnosis to this case, but, a few possiblilties can be either lack of service or a fault in the fuel system.

Air filter to be checked and replaced if needed and any loose connection in the HT (High tension) leads to be checked to see if all are secure in position. A blocked fuel injector MAY give such symptoms. A can of injector cleaner into the fuel tank may help clearing it ( You can get one from wilkinson for £3.19 Redex, enough to treat t full tanks)

If this fails to cure the problem, then take to a garage so that they give the fuel injection system a thorough check.

Another pssiblity can be a low compression in the cylinders which you will not able to check yourself unless you have a compression tester and know how to use it. If this will be the cause, I think it will be uneconomical to rectify it.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

harveybobbles

Vauxhalls are common to having the throttle pot's full of carbon and need cleaning out!

anewman

Could also be a temp sensor. Sounds like what is known as "paper shop syndrome".

kitchpoo

Thunderbird wrote: »

Hi

..........Air filter to be checked and replaced if needed........

.......any loose connection in the HT (High tension) leads to be checked to see if all are secure in position........

I'm not sure the air filter will cause this fault, the characteristics are not continual.

The HT leads - there are none - most Ecotec engines run off a rail system, which can be prone to cracking, water egress and wear - hard to detect but much more likely to show signs of poor cold . wet starting than when warm.

I think the other suggestions of Cylinder compression and fuel vapourising or a poor fuel pump may be a bigger culprit.

kitchpoo

harveybobbles wrote: »

Vauxhalls are common to having the throttle pot's full of carbon and need cleaning out!

V V Common, this tends to effect the idle at warm and sticking to certain revs. A quick clean through with carb cleaner can usually remove this, the most severe way round this I've seen is a small drilled hole being made in the butterly on top of the air intake/throttle body - done very carefully and with an industrial vacuum to remove any signs of contaminant from entering the housing - worked a treat and removed the idle dropping to 500 rpm and occasionally stalling. Most common on the Z18SE and the Z16SE (1.6 and 1.8).