45 replies to this topic

[simonlpearce]

The NA has been sat idle for about 6 weeks, in which time the battery went flat. I have charged the battery fully and the engine will now crank but it jst wont fire... It doesnt even attempt to fire almost as though the fuel has completely been cut off. Now i know in the past when this car was left sat something happened with the alarm. Long story short the car had to be trailered to Vaxhall and about £600 later it was working again. Is it possible that the alarm has disabled the car in some way whilst the battery was flat? Obviously i have tried to arm and disarm the system but with no joy. Any help much appreciated as its currently sat on the road but is SORN and i have a copper 3 doors up!!!

[ChrisS1]

Can you hear the fuel pump priming when you turn the ignition on?

[techieboy]

If it's the standard alarm then it does nothing more than drain the battery and doesn't have anything to do with immobolising the car.

[J4EY D]

Checked the fuel cut off switch?

[simonlpearce]

Can you hear the fuel pump priming when you turn the ignition on?

I cant say i have really listened for it, but i will check. I know its difficult but what should i be listening for and where from roughly?

If it's the standard alarm then it does nothing more than drain the battery and doesn't have anything to do with immobolising the car.

Its the standard alarm but it definitely killed te car once before when it was sat. I think the reason for it costing so much was because we didnt have the 'code' to reset it?

Checked the fuel cut off switch?

No - where can i fin this?

[J4EY D]

Checked the fuel cut off switch?

No - where can i fin this?

Its in the engine bay somewhere, if that helps

Its a black rubber button... i think

Hopefully someone that knows where it is will come along, i just think it sounds like it might be the problem... ive never been right though, but thats got to change at some point...

[Ormes]

One of these days I will say 'Crank Sensor' and I will be right ...but clearly if you can't hear the fuel pump prime then look at that. EDIT: somewhere under the expansion tank for the button I beleive

Edited by Ormes, 18 May 2011 - 10:28 AM.

[Craig S]

One of these days I will say 'Crank Sensor' and I will be right

...but clearly if you can't hear the fuel pump prime then look at that.

EDIT: somewhere under the expansion tank for the button I beleive

Left handside between expansion bottle and rear light. When mine popped at the weekend it would fire and die so not sure it will be that.

[ChrisS1]

Hmm not really sure how to describe the fuel pump sound. Basically when you turn the ignition on you should hear a noise that lasts about 1.5 secs.

[techieboy]

If it's the standard alarm then it does nothing more than drain the battery and doesn't have anything to do with immobolising the car.

Its the standard alarm but it definitely killed te car once before when it was sat. I think the reason for it costing so much was because we didnt have the 'code' to reset it?

It won't have been the alarm. Other than drawing power from the battery when it's armed it has no connection to the car. So yes, it may have helped flatten the battery but that's all.

The immobiliser is a totally different thing and is properly integrated into the car as it's part of the ECU. It's possible that the immobiliser has forgotten what key (with it's built-in transponder) it can recognise and this is probably something that can be sorted by somebody with the OP-COM software (hopefully you've still got whatever code number it is that Vauxhall mugged you for, last time). The fly in the ointment is that you can usually still run the car for 20-30 seconds before the immobiliser kills the engine.

Personally, I'd be checking the battery to make sure it's holding enough charge to actually start the car before doing anything else. It's quite possible that leaving it with a flat battery for that length of time has killed on of the cells in it.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

does the immobiliser not cut the cranking if it is enabled then?

[techieboy]

Apparently not with the OEM system. It allows you to fire up the car get a few yards down the road before dying.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

Hmm not really sure how to describe the fuel pump sound.

Basically when you turn the ignition on you should hear a noise that lasts about 1.5 secs.

Mins sounds like a squerting noise accompanied with i wine... i find a Shiraz works well

if you have taken it to a grage and they cost you 6T and its not fixed the problem i would be back down there waving my fist with a grump face on, like this ->

[techieboy]

Fuel pump reset switch is circled in yellow, below. Just press to reset.

[ChrisS1]

Techie: Personally, I'd be checking the battery to make sure it's holding enough charge to actually start the car before doing anything else. It's quite possible that leaving it with a flat battery for that length of time has killed on of the cells in it. If the engine is cranking then does that not indicate that the baterry has sufficient charge to start car? If not it would be the clicking/tizzing problem?

[techieboy]

Battery is the simplest thing to check and without knowing how fast it's turning over, seems a logical place to start.

[simonlpearce]

Thanks for all the input, i will give some of these suggestions a try when i get home from work. When i say alarm, perhaps i was being too general and i actually meant the immobiliser. Yes i think we do still have the 'code' that we had to pay for once before. The battery is most definitely not the problem, it has been on trickle charge for the past 5 days and craks the engine with no fuss at all just it wont fire. I will check the cut off switch as a first port of call though, and of course listen to see if i can hear the pump priming. Expect an update later with either a big group hug fr everyone or an angry face saying still no joy.

[simonlpearce]

Just a thought, the car is on the mother of al hills coul this affect the fuel supply? It is facing down hill. Its not registering low on fuel... I wouldnt have thought this though as surely it would at last half fire then stall?

[simsy]

Two things to try from experience; 1\ press the fuel rail valve on the o/s of the cylinder head, like a car tyres valve with a black cap. This should spray fuel when you press it in with a small tool. (Take woodbine out of mouth first etc..) 2\ I bought my car as a none runner, I removed and dried the coil pack that's on top of the head, over night on the radiator. (well 1.00am as I was too excited) and it fired up perfectly.... Rain soon swamps the coil pack and it does not like any water at all..... Has it gotten wet? I have a spare coil pack if required.... My car made no attempt to fire with a wet coil pack when I first got it...

Edited by simsy, 18 May 2011 - 11:36 AM.

[simonlpearce]

Two things to try from experience;

1\ press the fuel rail valve on the o/s of the cylinder head, like a car tyres valve with a black cap. This should spray fuel when you press it in with a small tool. (Take woodbine out of mouth first etc..)

2\ I bought my car as a none runner, I removed and dried the coil pack that's on top of the head, over night on the radiator. (well 1.00am as I was too excited) and it fired up perfectly.... Rain soon swamps the coil pack and it does not like any water at all..... Has it gotten wet?

I have a spare coil pack if required.... My car made no attempt to fire with a wet coil pack when I first got it...

Cheers Simsy - yes the car is outside and on a large hill soits highly likely rain has gotten in and run all sorts of places. I will look into the coilpack and stick it insde to dry it out.

I guess a diagnostics would help, will see if m mechanic friend knows anything about VX's!