URGENT! CAR IS ON HIGHWAY BROKEN DOWN help IT WONT START

[majac]

Have a VS with a VT engine. it has been on and off not starting. sounds like it wants to but just doestnt then next time starts straight away.
Has cut out a few times whilst driving and it did it today and wont start.
I at first thought it was when I was low on fuel but it does it when I have heaps.
Might not start 5 times in a week or might start every time.
Am now thinking could it be the ignition coil? or anyone have any ideas?
its sitting on the side of the highway and i need to get it going before it gets vandalised.
Any help any suggestions? anything???

[lufkin]

checked everything like leads on battery, alternator, all that jazz?

[HoldenOnn]

Call RAC or Tow Truck. Fix the initial problem of being a target for malicious vandalism by removing from side of road and getting towed to somewhere safe, then work out the solutions for the mechanical issues. Spending a little bit on towing will far outway your car possibly getting vandalised and then claiming insurance and paying excess etc etc.

[benno9911]

having full road side assist pays it self off

[wana s' charge stock vt]

ya done trouble code test ????????/

[lout]

does it crank over normally?
Is the red mode LED flashing when you are cranking?
Has your remote been working normally?
check your electrical connections especially the 3 plugs on drivers side under bonnet near windscreen
possibly crank angle sensor, pour some cold water around the bottom pulley

[majac]

ok its turning over fine, just wont start, though sounds like it wants to.
led is fine.
Now, the key needs replacing as Ive had it checked and the error code was replace key.
so yeah the key needs replaciing.
have checked the 3 plugs, they seem fine.
Now, can you tell me where to find the bottom pulley on the sensor? I'll try that now.

Also, I put fuel in it while on the side of the road and it started first shot. (although it already had heaps in it)
I drove it home. put all my work gear back in it and went to move the car and it wont start again.

[vn_v6]

swirl pot? air in fuel lines?

[dunky]

I reckon you have a crook key. Sometimes it "talks" to the computer....sometimes not. When it doesn't talk, the engine can't get the signal to activate and fire; it's as though someone is trying to steal your car by using a foreign key....it just won't fire. Get a replacement just like your codes are indicating.

[Mick1988]

if you have a bad key head, the car should turn over but not start. Or sometimes start for a split second then cut out. If that's the case, press unlock on your keyhead right before turning the key in the barrel. This bypasses the computer checking if the keyhead is earthed to the ignition barrel.

[wana s' charge stock vt]

the key being dodgy wouldnt explain it cutting out 'while' driving thou, once the security's switched off and ignitions turned on, the security stays off till the ignition is off for 20ish sec's or till ya lock it with the button... (thats with my vt anyway)

[Mick1988]

the key being dodgy wouldnt explain it cutting out 'while' driving thou, once the security's switched off and ignitions turned on, the security stays off till the ignition is off for 20ish sec's or till ya lock it with the button... (thats with my vt anyway)

True... very true

[riki7454]

Hi mate your symptoms sounds like fuel pump could possibly be dying, one way to check is get a mate to bang the fuel tank fairly hard with a rubber mallot or hand while cranking over the engine, if it starts after some whacking then its likely the fuel pump. Good luck, and roadside assistance would be handy.

[wana s' charge stock vt]

actually- it sounds exactly like the probs i had with my old vl, cut out randomly, start randomly, not start, start, and it was the crank angle sensor . (like lout suggested)

[riki7454]

yeah could possibly be crank angle sensor or even cam angle sensor, ignition leads, blocked fuel filter, keyhead and probably heaps more, I've had and overcome all problems I've mentioned (sometimes twice) in a vt with over 470000 k's. I'm pretty sure cam sensor is easy, fuel pump 1 hour from mechanic + $75 for pump, fuel filter is easily changed, leads easily changed keyhead easy fix and crank angle sensor was easyish if ur confident with mechanics but still costly and involved. once again good luck with the hunt. Also just give a general look at electrical connections/earths and making sure nothing is loose (can't hurt even if its not the problem right now)

[riki7454]

EDIT: could possibly be called cam position sensor

[shifty6]

sounds like typical crank angle sensor symptoms. pretty common on ecotecs.

[majac]

hey guys sorry for not getting back on here, had a family member sick and went away. Well, My wife did the key thing with it in ignition and it started. Worked for a week no problems. I put fuel in it and drove home. Went to start it next morning - NOTHING AGAIN. has sat in driveway for 2 days. Tried banging tank, tested nothing was loose. I have a mechanic mate coming tomorrow to look but he seems to think it could be one of 50 things and our problem is I live on a property 30 kms out of town.
Anyway, Im abit dumbfounded how 6 months ago the fault number said key problem, yet this has only just started playing up?
Secondly, how does it try to kick if its the key? wouldnt it just have nothing when I turn it over instead of it trying to start? AAARRRHHHH....

[vt josh]

i think its your dfi plug on your harness pull it off and look at the holes where all the pins slot into if they look shitty and all over the place its most likely that if it is just go to holden and get a new plug there like
$20 get a auto elec to put it in if your not to good on the tools

[majac]

ill look at the dfi plug tomorrow after work, i think its just gonna be a process of elimination, but one that i hope doesnt cost to much.
thanks to all with your suggestions. Will see what the mechanic says on Saturday when he comes. cheers

[vt josh]

well i would start there because it happen to me and i would allso start there because if it is that plug it would be like your brain not talking to your body

[tk55]

Secondly, how does it try to kick if its the key? wouldnt it just have nothing when I turn it over instead of it trying to start? AAARRRHHHH....

when i had to push the unlock button on the keyhead to start the engine, it was exactly like you said, it was just nothing, won't even crank. so i think you can rule that out.

there was once where my engine cranked but won't start one morning, it was a clogged fuel filter. my mechanics replaced both the filter and the pump. i wasn't sure if the pump was faulty. if the car started after you put in fuel, it could be that,as the fresh petrol could have flushed the filter a little allowing fuel to get through.

but i'm not ruling out anything else since i'm not a mechanic. just telling you my experience in the past.