Vauxhall combo 1.7 DI

[Matt85]

Hi, having problems with my van,it's turning over but not starting (intermittently).
been to my local garage and they changed the fuel filter but no joy, so I've taken it to, two diesel "specialists" and they can't seem to find the fault. The first diesel specialist came up with fault codes saying EGR valve,engine temp sensor and fuel temp sensor, so the fuel temp sensor and the engine tempt sensor have been replaced but the van still display those fault codes. So they advised me to get an auto electrician to have a look at it as they thing it may be a fault between the wiring of both sensors. I called 5x local auto sparks and non of them are wiling to look at the van as they say it needs to go to a diesel specialist. So onto the second specialist, they come up with the same fault codes but diagnosed a faulty starter motor that is causing battery voltage to drop causing van not to start, so I had the starter motor replaced and still no joy. It's also had a new battery. I hope someone can shed some light as I'm loosing faith fast. Regards Matt.

 

[ruston]

When you get it started , does it run ok, then does it start when it is hot?
How many miles on the van , and has it been serviced regularly?

 

[firemanowl]

What engine has it got?

 

[firemanowl]

Has it got the y17dt engine? My Astra cut out a while ago while I was driving, started again ok but stopped again about 30 miles later. Wouldn't start at all after that, turned out to be the ecu on the back of the fuel pump. They have a problem with the soldered joints, it won't let the fuel rack open so no fuel flows hence doesn't start. 4 bolts to remove and an exchange from ebay. It wasn't too expensive to replace, about £100 ish. Might be worth a look?

 

[armbands0]

I had a few intermittent events with my old Kangoo, turned out to be chaffed wiring to the EGR.

It took about 2 hours to find it, by illimination, checking the cables.

Good luck!

 

[Matt85]

Thanks for the reply's. Not sure what engine it's got. Van run's fine once started and fire's up pretty good aswell one warm. I don't think it's glow plugs ect as the other day when we had a bad frost it fired up fist time! Thanks again for the reply's

 

[ruston]

Does it it eventually start if you keep winding it on , if not how do you start it?

 

[TJ Anderson]

Thanks for the reply's. Not sure what engine it's got. Van run's fine once started and fire's up pretty good aswell one warm. I don't think it's glow plugs ect as the other day when we had a bad frost it fired up fist time! Thanks again for the reply's

This sounds very familiar. I had this problem on a Vectra 2.0DI years ago. ******* to start 1st thing even with new glow plugs but once started and warm you could start it every time. Garage did not sort it. I figured it out when it started straight up on a freezing day. It only ran glow plugs when it was freezing cold. I found out there is a sensor on the block that only closes when freezing and enables glow plugs. Most of the year they did not operate and it just relies on the compression ignition. My Vectra was pretty tired and compression was down a bit on all 4 cylinders and that's why it struggled without glowplugs. I disconnected sensor and could start it 1st time everytime. Great. Not quite..... if the ECU does not then sense the glowplug temp sensor close again within a minute or so it generates an ECU error and management light comes on. I fitted a 12V time delayed relay set at 10 seconds from ignition circuit with glow plug temp sensor wired in series across NO contacts. This would then run glowplugs everytime and then close sensor to satisfy ECU. Sorted it, I was well pleased at the time. I have also done the same mod to a mates astravan with over 200k on it. Initially, just check between Batt V- and Glowplug V+ that you are actually getting voltage when you turn key to first position and then go from there.

 

[jon4381]

Had the same problem, turned out fuel was draining back into the tank when it was parked. Fit a one way valve on the incoming fuel line and see if that works. This wasn't on a vauxhall combo van but still could be that.

 

[ruston]

Had the same problem, turned out fuel was draining back into the tank when it was parked. Fit a one way valve on the incoming fuel line and see if that works. This wasn't on a vauxhall combo van but still could be that.

That is what I was leading up to, there is a one way valve on top of the filter housing , when this fails it allows the fuel to drain from the pump back into the tank . Some will start by bleeding themselves , or not if the battery hasn't got the guts.

 

[Matt85]

Does it it eventually start if you keep winding it on , if not how do you start it?

When it doesn't start I can some times bump it off 2nd gear or I have to get jump started. When jump started it starts like a new can.

 

[ruston]

When it doesn't start I can some times bump it off 2nd gear or I have to get jump started. When jump started it starts like a new can.

If that is after you have run the battery flat it does sound as if the fuel is back flowing to the tank.

To prove this (if you can depending on the piping) run a clear plastic pipe from the filter head (after you have warmed it up , so you can start it again) to the fuel pump inlet, start it up and let it run. When you stop it look for bubbles running back to the filter head.

It could also be corroded and holed supply pipes in the fuel system.

If you can park it head down an incline when parked for long periods , this will help.

Try these if you want before buying a new filter head.

 

[TJ Anderson]

When it doesn't start I can some times bump it off 2nd gear or I have to get jump started. When jump started it starts like a new can.

Hold up. If it always starts 1st time of a jump then surely you need to be looking at your battery.

 

[ruston]

Be running Battery flat to fill the fuel filter if it's running back into the tank.

 

[Matt85]

Hold up. If it always starts 1st time of a jump then surely you need to be looking at your battery.

It's had a new battery plus I've had the new battery drop tested today to make sure it's not a duff battery.

 

[Matt85]

I will get it checked for fuel bleeding back. The van is always parked over night nose down on a steep slope.

 

[ruston]

A diesel engine needs cranking speed to start it, especially in the cold , if the fuel is draining from the pump you will lose the best from your battery after around 30 seconds cranking depending on the amp/hour capacity .
Try what I have said -nothing to loose.

 

[ruston]

Sorry I was typing that as you posted.

 

[overskilled]

Poss perished spill off pipes. ..Black rubber on top of injectors. ..can start to let air in and causes pain in the rear starting issues

 

[overskilled]

Could also be bad meg connection to starter..easy fix...add a ground strap between battery neg and starter neg post

 

[overskilled]

Also unplug the EGR electrical plug...If it starts better then EGR isn't sealing properly

 

[ifindoubtdont]

If you've got the fault codes (and their meaning) then start from the 1st one. The 2nd, 3rd ,4th etc may have nothing to do with the fault. If 1 sensor isn't working properly (eg. not sending a value to the ecu) then the ecu flags up a fault, other systems on the vehicle also rely on that value for them to trigger, no trigger and the ecu flags up a fault and so it cascades. This is from experience, Landrover wanted just over £1000 to rectify all the faults, so I did it myself. 30 minutes and some scuffed knuckles later no fault lights and it was running perfectly. And all because a wire to a wheel speed sensor had chaffed through.

 

[Lenny]

Injectors??

I had a combo that I had intermittent starting issues with but like you once it was warm it would start every time. A bottle of injector cleaner and I never had that problem again.

 

[UNG]

The leak off / spill pipes may also be used to prime the fuel system if these are shot then you will struggle to start it

What fault codes are showing? Due to the cascade effect some fault codes are red herrings and can mask what is the actual fault

 

[PEG]

Hi,These engines have a well documented set of issues,that a quick trawl of the GM forums will enlighten you.

If there is any discrepancy between crank and cam sensors,or even not coded to show,check cam timing.

Chains jump,tensioners fail,and the drive sprockets are locked up by clamp pressure only,no keys

Them old Bedford HA vans never suffered from this...:conehead: