VS stalled and could not restart

[davros]

Hey guys.

My VS stalled at an intersection today and I could not start it again.
After I was offered a tow across the intersection, I left it while I arranged a lift. When my lift arrived 1 hour later, would you know it started first time.

It has happened once before and I took the key out, locked and unlocked the doors with the key then tried again and it started first time. I assumed it was something to do with the engine immobiliser as I was near very high voltage power wires (as I was today).

For the last couple of months I have been having rough idle sometimes at intersections and a stumble/hestitation on take off when I take off, but only intermittently and when the car/day is hot.

The car is also hard to start first time when cold but otherwise is OK to start normally.

Any ideas as to what is going on?

Thanks

[Harvs82]

Hey guys.

My VS stalled at an intersection today and I could not start it again.
After I was offered a tow across the intersection, I left it while I arranged a lift. When my lift arrived 1 hour later, would you know it started first time.

It has happened once before and I took the key out, locked and unlocked the doors with the key then tried again and it started first time. I assumed it was something to do with the engine immobiliser as I was near very high voltage power wires (as I was today).

For the last couple of months I have been having rough idle sometimes at intersections and a stumble/hestitation on take off when I take off, but only intermittently and when the car/day is hot.

The car is also hard to start first time when cold but otherwise is OK to start normally.

Any ideas as to what is going on?

Thanks

Check your error codes. I'd put money on the CAS (Crank Angle Sensor) failing. What you have described are the classic symptoms of the CAS failing, as it usually happens when the engine is hot, but is fine when it has cooled down. If it happens again, pour a bottle of cold water over the CAS which is located behind the harmonic balancer (the big pulley on the front of the engine) and this will sometimes get you going again, but only as a temporary fix.

Its a very common problem, especially now that the VS series is getting pretty old and most have highly mileage on them. If you aren't sure on how to check for error codes, do a search on the site, there is plenty of info about how to do it.

[davros]

Checked the error codes and there are none.

I did suspect the crank angle sensor (though not at time it stalled but when it started later). Next time it happens will try the cold water trick to confirm it is the CAS.

Looks like I'll have to price a new one.

Thanks.

[Harvs82]

Checked the error codes and there are none.

I did suspect the crank angle sensor (though not at time it stalled but when it started later). Next time it happens will try the cold water trick to confirm it is the CAS.

Looks like I'll have to price a new one.

Thanks.

The same thing happened to me, the first time it happened no error codes, and then it happened again, and I pulled up the codes... took it to Holden who couldn't find the codes at all.... but I told them to replace the crank angle sensor anyway and the car was fine from then on in. From memory the genuine crank angle sensor was about $85 and it cost about $70 to fit, I think the whole job came to about $160 or thereabouts, and that was at Holden too.

[vsholdenguy]

Also check the battery. I had a smiliar problem late last year when it was hot. A new Battery solved it.

[werlegiggy]

The same thing happened to mine last week, your fuel pump could be on the way out....check your feul pressure as well.