VS urgent help needed

[antwillow]

i have a 95 vs wagon, broke down a few weeks ago....r.a.c.v came out banged the fuel tank and up she startred....advised a new pump which i did...then was told it was the fuel pump assembly aswell...had that replaced aswell...picked up car drove about 25ks to a friends joint.....started when i got there to see if it would start and it did! go inside for hour n half come back out and the bastard wont start......get it towed home put it in the drive way and it starts up straight away????? mchecked error codes n code 12 always! BUT at mechanics he had batterty disconnected so no logged codes i presume...problem is dont wanna drive it incase it breaks down again and il get stuck...with no tows left ANY HELP/ADVICE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED!

[strgas]

can you hear the pump buzzing when the key is turned to on ??? try switching the fuel pump relay with the horn relay change the fuel pump fuse for a new one ??? any other electrical problems you have noticed ???

[antwillow]

can you hear the pump buzzing when the key is turned to on ??? try switching the fuel pump relay with the horn relay change the fuel pump fuse for a new one ??? any other electrical problems you have noticed ???

yep can hear the fuel pump priming...already changed around the relays but not the fuse....its got me baffled...and @ the worst time to break down....had to deliver my baby @ home 3 weeks ago...had it to 2 mechanics but ??????? oh n havent noticed anything electrical going on

[hako]

Can you explain a bit more about "it won't start" - like does it turn over, fire now and then, is immobiliser light out etc etc. The more info you can supply the better.
Also how full was the tank when it wouldn't start?

[antwillow]

Can you explain a bit more about "it won't start" - like does it turn over, fire now and then, is immobiliser light out etc etc. The more info you can supply the better.
Also how full was the tank when it wouldn't start?

just keeps turning over...like theres no fuel, sounded like it wanted to fire a tiny bit but nothing! dont think it has immobiliser fited but? the tanks reading about quarter to half full...stupid thing is i can start it now no probs.....the guy who towed it wasnt a tilt tray..he had the old grab the wheels at the back job n tow via the front wheels. and as i said b4 soon as put it down it started so dont know whats up with it

[Brett_jjj]

I had a similar problem once.Replaced the fuel pump and still had problems with it cutting out when driving.Then it wouldn't start.Then ten minutes later it would go.It ended up being the wiring that goes to the fuel pump near the fuel tank.It had a break in it ,but wasnt broken all the way through.It took ages to find the problem.It might be worth checking out yours.The wires seem to get knocked around in that area from dirt etc being flicked up from the wheels .

[antwillow]

I had a similar problem once.Replaced the fuel pump and sill had problems with it cutting out when driving.Then it wouldn't start.Then ten minutes later it would go.It ended up being the wiring that goes to the fuel pump near the fuel tank.It had a break in it ,but wasnt broken all the way through.It took ages to find the problem.It might be worth checking out yours.

yep yep!!! which is exactly what me and a mate "sort" of figured out when we had a look at it! AND thats exactly what i said to the mechanic "who supposed" to of fixed the wiring and fitted new pump and assembly.... but looking under there now....no wirings been changed.... so im wondering if that might be it.......but it doesnt cut out while driving @ the moment so ??

[hako]

In addition to what Brett jj says, it can happen that when the new pump was installed something went wrong. When the car refused to start was the tank below 1/4 full?
All VS have an immobiliser fitted AFAIK - the red flashing light below the radio indicates the immobiliser is ON....when you try to start the engine it should be OFF.

[Brett_jjj]

If you crawl under the car and get someone to turn the key to on(not start) you should be able to hear the pump priming the system.(runs for 2 seconds)If you wiggle the wiring while the pump is priming and there is something wrong with the wiring,you should be able to hear it cut out as the wires are moved.One thing to remember is that when you have turned the key to on once,then turn it off,then on again ,the pump will sometimes not start up again.You might have to turn it off and wait until the pressure drops before the pump will start again,usually around 10 - 15 seconds.You might even be able to hear the pump running while the engine is going.Just wiggle the wires,if theres a bad connection it should stop the engine.

[scozz76]

Also spray the connector with contact cleaner (at the tank end)

[antwillow]

OK.....[played with the plug while it was running and it didnt stop pumping and could hear it still going so could prob count that out...AND yeah my brain wasnt working immobiliser turns off when you start it up......earlier i took off the air inlet to the throttle body and gave the body a clean out....pulled out the little springy thing (???) and it was covered in grease n shit so cleaned that as well seems to start easier and idle better. could it have been that???

[Brett_jjj]

I cant see how that would stop it from starting.It just controls the idle speed.It always makes a difference when you clean the throttle body etc.Better idle ,easier startup.I do mine every few months.Id say it will be something else causing it(but Ive been wrong before).You might just have to see if it still does it.Let us know how you go with it.If I think of anything I will get back to you here.Cheers.

[363 hsv]

I had the same problem on my vs , did the pump ,didnt start but could hear the fuel pump priming , suggest to check spark is there. mine ended up being the crank angle sensor , if this helps.

[antwillow]

thanks BRETT....il kep ya posted on this one


AND 363 hsv thats the next part in line...seems it only does it when it gets a bit warm or hot and thats a classic crank angle sensor problem......theres definately spark (dont ask lol) worst thing about it i wouldnt know where to start to change it

[Brett_jjj]

That would be my next step.The CAS is a common cause of problems like this,They usually throw up an error code though..Maybe swap it out with another one and see what happens with it then.

[antwillow]

yeah the dip shit mechanic disconnected the battery so no codes......i used to work for R.A.C.V batteries til about 3 mnths ago so i know about NOT disconnecting the battery......im the man for batteries/alternators n a few other things but this has got me fkt! hada road side guy come out n rubber mallet the petrol tank and up she fired but so i replaced pump and then pump assembly!

cas is what im gonna get next also was told coil pack modulator are a bit common as aswell

[VS_Pete_1]

The CAS is a common cause of problems like this,They usually throw up an error code though..

Not always.
Bit of a read but please read this and the other link in my post.
My car cut out at 60k/hr. No code logged checked by holden. Cas replaced all good.


VS V6 cutting out randomly

[Brett_jjj]

Thats why I said "usually" throws up a code.Most CAS problems do.I have seen a couple that havent though.And thats also why I told the guy to swap it out with another one and see what happens then.

[antwillow]

dunno.......went out this morning..was gonna take it for a drive to see if it would log some codes....startred up alright then stalled..started ok after that...let it sit for 10 seconds stalled and now wont start at all...can still here the pump so its got me stuffed

[VS_Pete_1]

Thats why I said "usually" throws up a code.Most CAS problems do.I have seen a couple that havent though.And thats also why I told the guy to swap it out with another one and see what happens then.

So you did.

[hako]

dunno.......went out this morning..was gonna take it for a drive to see if it would log some codes....startred up alright then stalled..started ok after that...let it sit for 10 seconds stalled and now wont start at all...can still here the pump so its got me stuffed

So from the above, it does run for 10secs then stalls - can you confirm that you can hear the fuel pump after it has stalled? - I've always understood the pump will not run if the engine stalls for safety reasons. Have you degreased the engine lately? - if you have, water may have entered the oil pressure switch - this powers the fuel pump once the engine starts and if the contacts inside the oil pressure switch are dirty.corroded they may may not make contact which means no fuel pump. However you say you can hear the pump???

[antwillow]

So from the above, it does run for 10secs then stalls - can you confirm that you can hear the fuel pump after it has stalled? - I've always understood the pump will not run if the engine stalls for safety reasons. Have you degreased the engine lately? - if you have, water may have entered the oil pressure switch - this powers the fuel pump once the engine starts and if the contacts inside the oil pressure switch are dirty.corroded they may may not make contact which means no fuel pump. However you say you can hear the pump???

yep can def hear the pump running 2 secs b4 sart up and after when it stalls just cuts straight out no splutter so to speak. i pulled he plug on the oil pressure switch and it was pretty oily inside gave it a clean out with a rag (got no spray) still no go. so
could be the battery...have seen it myself a few hundred times... but dont think so, it tests ok

[antwillow]

found out what the prob was.....the "mechanic" who had it put the pump assembly in wrong so pump was on its side and not picking up the petch! so i had a fiddle turned it round a screw hole and no probs so far "touch wood"

[Brett_jjj]

I wouldnt be going near that fool again.Its a shame so many places are like this.They only seem to care about how much money is being handed over.

[antwillow]

yeah exactly Brett! seems you always need to go back twice nowadays.