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Intermittent starting of Vauxhall Astra
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Pegasus
New User
Jun 20, 2012, 8:22 AM
Post #1 of 4
(2690 views)
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Intermittent starting of Vauxhall Astra
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This concerns a Vauxhall Astra, 1.3L petrol engine, 1987 model with about 150 000 miles, obviously with a carburetor.
The history is this: I totally ran out of petrol and then totally refilled tank. After I left the petrol station within a mere 50 metres the engine stalled and would not start despite many attempts then it started easily after about 30 minutes. I stopped and started again without problems and then after about a mile it stalled and would not start then restarted easily after about 30 minutes. I brought it home and next day it would not start but started the day after and apparently the problem disappeared for 2 - 3 weeks then started again, no more stalling while driving but failure to start virtually after each ride though this time it takes much longer to be able to start after a failure, it takes many hours not just 30 or so minutes but many hours.
Some people say I may have damaged the starter with the many attempts to start it after the first two stalls, others say the carburetor sucked in dirt from the empty tank and is clogged up, others say it may be the high humidity of the summer that short circuits an already aging distributor or its cables to the spark plugs.
Also the starter was serviced 6 or 7 months ago and the mechanic said he changed the carbons and brushes. Otherwise it was never changed, it is the original one.
So what do you think is the problem, I know intermittent failure to start is something of brain teasing riddle.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 20, 2012, 10:01 AM
Post #2 of 4
(2649 views)
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Re: Intermittent starting of Vauxhall Astra
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Vehicle not sold where I am but no matter. If mechanical fuel pump should be OK. If electric and out of fuel it may have harmed it.
Cranking: Is it cranking at normal crank speeds? Let starter cool off after 15 seconds of trying for perhaps 15 minutes should save that from being added to the problem.
Priming carb may make it start up and run or start and stall in a few seconds. If the later, fuel pressure and volume check would really help. My guess is a guess only that carb engines want 4-6 PSI and fill a glass jar with reasonable volume just cranking. Fuel filter if not recent would help and dump that out into clean jar to inspect the fuel.
Hey - this is playing with fuel/petrol with a cranking engine so if not equipped to do that without fuel getting all over the place DONT!
In tank pick up should have a "sock" on it for larger debris. May need to check that and clean out fuel tank, clean or replace that sock.
You can check for spark and ignition problem but with this problem beginning with running out of fuel I'd suspect troubles there first,
T
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Pegasus
New User
Jun 22, 2012, 7:57 AM
Post #3 of 4
(2599 views)
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Re: Intermittent starting of Vauxhall Astra
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Hi Tom, thanks for the reply, in the end I despaired and took the car to the mechanic and he found that the rubber fuel pipe coming off the fuel tank was badly worn and cracked leading to fuel leakage and also air entering the system and creating a lean mixture and difficulty in starting. Anyway after he changed the pipe the problem seems to be solved.
When I filled up with fuel I found that something like 10 litres of fuel had been wasted, I did 160 Km since previous maximum fill up and that usually takes 16 - 17 litres of fuel (it was all urban driving) instead I had to put in 27 litres to go to maximum fill!!! All the fuel leaking out and getting wasted trying to start a reluctant engine so many times.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 22, 2012, 8:59 AM
Post #4 of 4
(2594 views)
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Re: Intermittent starting of Vauxhall Astra
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This makes sense and never feel bad seeking professional help. May cost something but should have the equipment and know how both and a place to make a mess that you may not want where you are.
It makes perfect sense that a silly hose if pump on engine is just sucking air in thru the leak or if after a pump is pushing it out - no win on either and would explain the whole issue.
I'd say you have this fixed. Never any harm to look for stuff like that wherever found and do ahead of time. Sorry for losing fuel and no doubt two or three times what we complain about here!
T
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