[Corsa B 1993-2000] X10XE Engine not starting after a short drive

[GarethEvans]

Hi all,

I started having this problem a few days ago when I drove 10 mins to the bank (engine started fine originally), and when I got back to the car from the bank it would not start. Ignition turned on fine, stereo and sub turned on, and engine was cranking but just wouldn't start.

I unplugged the rail that the spark plugs plug into (not sure of the name lol), and disconnected the negative terminal of the battery - left it 5 mins and connected all back up, then the engine fired first time. Drove home with no problems, and then turned off and on a few times when home with no problems at all.

Same thing happened today when I got to the shopping centre car park, pulled the ticket from the barrier and stupidly stalled it when pulling away - wouldn't start again. Tried same technique and it started again. When I got 5 floors up the engine warning light came on and it actually cut out - tried the same thing, and started again!

Went shopping, came back and it started fine.

Car was serviced (plugs, oil, and oil filter) under 1000 miles ago, and if it's related - it was raining both days.

Any ideas? Cheers

[Taurus]

Without wanting to make random suggestions because obviously I can't check the car over, one common problem on those is the crankshaft sensor. They are cheap, just fiddly to get at unless you've got ramps. They're on the back of the engine just above the inboard end of the offside driveshaft.

One way to check is when it won't start press the valve on the fuel rail, it ought to spray petrol so be careful. If it doesn't it shows the fuel pump isn't running.

What happens normally is that when you first turn the key the fuel pump runs a short priming run. Then it cuts out and waits for the ECU to tell it that the engine is cranking before supplying fuel again. It is the crankshaft sensor that tells the ECU the engine is turning over.

The sensor is basically a magnet that picks up the revolutions of the crankshaft, you get a very tiny fracture in the windings which when cold remains closed so the sensor works. But once the engine gets warm the fracture opens and the sensor fails. Leave it a few minutes to go cold again and it works again.

You can test with things like Opcom which will monitor the fuel pump relay. You don't always get a fault code because the 'incorrect engine rpm' is often the same as the engine simply being stopped. Since you got the EML on you may have a code stored.

Check if it is the crankshaft sensor by checking the fuel supply - a replacement is best obtained from Autovaux. Ring them rather ordering off the website 01924 376003

[GarethEvans]

Cool thanks for that Taurus! Can always count on a very informative diagnostic from you.

I'll give that test a go tomorrow and see. Apart from it being in a pain in the ass place, is it easy to change?

[Taurus]

Cool thanks for that Taurus! Can always count on a very informative diagnostic from you.

I'll give that test a go tomorrow and see. Apart from it being in a pain in the ass place, is it easy to change?

One bolt is all it takes. Just watch out for the O ring, if the old one stick in the block then the new sensor won't seat properly.

[GarethEvans]

Tested the engine last night, but didn't let it warm up enough I don't think because it started up again fine after turning it off. But the petrol was streaming out of that valve when pushed.

Though the engine just died on me just as I pulled up outside my house from work, and tested the valve again and no petrol came out at all. Got a sensor ordered from ebay last night, should arrive tomorrow so hopefully that will sort it!

[GarethEvans]

Just went out to my friends house to pick up my axle stands, and the engine wouldn't start again 20 mins later. Eventually got it going, and it cut out whilst driving 10 mins down the road.

This happened a further two times. My friend gave me a tow in the end because I couldn't be bothered messing around waiting for it to start working again.

Is there a chance that it is something more serious than this sensor?

[Taurus]

That fact there was no petrol in the fuel rail points to a fuel supply issue. The most common reason on that engine is crankshaft sensor. So hopefully that will fix it.

There's no 100% guarantee of course without being able to check the car hands on - eg using Opcom you can activate the fuel pump relay independently so it overrides the usual system, that allows you to check each component separately. But given the description of what's happening a new crankshaft sensor usually sorts it.

You said the sensor should arrive today - so fit it and let us know how it goes.

[GarethEvans]

Just fitted it and it seems to have cured the problem! Though can't be too certain, it did seem to happen randomly. Will give it some longer journeys over the weekend to properly test it.

It has however developed a quiet high pitched whine as you rev higher through the gears.. is that something to worry about? Never noticed it before. :/

Thanks for your help Taurus, really appreciate it.

[Taurus]

[GarethEvans]

Cool will check that. Thanks bud

[GarethEvans]

Just to update a few days on, car is cured of all symptoms! Much better, not skipped a beat since. And that whining seems to have stopped as far as I can tell. Thanks again Taurus.

[Michael]

Hooray

[ditch p]

Superb thread this, friend of mine has got a 53 plate 1.0 12v that won't start at all after it was brought home by the AA 2 days ago, they have changed coil pack last night but still won't start and when I plugged opcom in this eve it said nothing other than an abs fault, no noise from fuel tank / pump when key turned and I thought straight away fuel pump, when I undid the fuel line and turned it over there was no fuel coming out of it at all, will order a new crankshaft sensor and see what happens then....

[Taurus]

Sounds like a crankshaft sensor - they can fail quite frequently on the Corsa. Just worth noting that they rarely throw a code since basically the 0335 code simply means the engine isn't turning. Sometimes you'll get it, usually not.

[ditch p]

Cheers Taurus, been on Ecp website and can only find cam shaft sensor or crank angle sensor ???? Guessing it's the latter that I need.