Unknown Starting Issue?

[Thurlz]

Hey guys,

Need some help working out what is wrong with my car..
I've searched through the forums a bit, but it's a bit hard because I don't know what I'm searching for.

Anyway, as of late the car has been struggling to start every now and then. It's completely random, sometimes starts perfectly, other time struggles a bit and once or twice it hasn't started and i just turned the key again and it started. Also, it stalled on me once as i was rolling out of my street doing like 20km/h (lights came on, steering wheel and brake locked up). I was told it was my battery, so i replaced that 2 days ago. Now since then, I thought it was all sweet, but i believe it is still struggling every now and then.

Any ideas what it could be? I've read about:
- Crank Angle Sensor?
- Fuel Pump?
- Spark plugs?
- Dodgy connections?
and a few other things I can't think of right now.

Any suggestions on how I can find out what the actual problem is? Like process of elimination? Or key signs that it is one more than the other?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I would prefer to not waste my money on something I don't need.. again. Hah. Thanks

[IBLOWN]

My VT V8 was similar.

Sometimes it would kick over fast, then sometimes slow. You would be driving along and the engine would stall but because its manual it would clutch start again because it was in gear.

Turned out after alot of mucking around, the whole positive battery cabling from the battery all the way to the starter needed replacing with larger gauge cable. Also did the earth while i was at it.

[Thurlz]

My VT V8 was similar.

Sometimes it would kick over fast, then sometimes slow. You would be driving along and the engine would stall but because its manual it would clutch start again because it was in gear.

Turned out after alot of mucking around, the whole positive battery cabling from the battery all the way to the starter needed replacing with larger gauge cable. Also did the earth while i was at it.

Sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing. Luckily it's only stalled on me once so far. Will see if I can get someone to have a look at my cabling for me.

Or any tips on how to check/replace myself?

Cheers mate

[IBLOWN]

The autoelec that looked at mine said its a common problem that the wiring is too smaller guage from factory. Over the years it deteriorates. Not sure if he meant the 5L only though.

I actually had 2 different autoelecs look at it. The first one had no-idea and tried to charge me $100 callout lol.

Cost me $400, he came out to my house and did it.

[Mirkz]

nice, might check this out also.

I've got an auto VT 5.0L and when the engine is warm generally it'll kick over quite slowly a couple times and then start.
I've also more recently had issues where it would tick over a few times and I've had to give it some gas to get it to fire, but again it's only intermittently this happens.

[s_ikari2015]

Funnily enough my VT had the same starting and stalling problem. Not good to stall going around a corner, you lose all steering control
I gave the positive terminal and cabling a bloody good clean and sandpaper, then tightened the hell out of it and it never did it again. As said, that problem is almost positively a simple battery lead problem... sorry for the pun.

[Thurlz]

^Haha decent pun.

Thanks, I might give this a go and see what happens.

[Dayvo]

replaced my cable a couple of weeks ago with a thicker gauge , Had the same problem now all good

[Thurlz]

Okay, so I took it to my mechanic and he said my car was fine. It was running really well, and in great condition for it's age. So all was sweet, and it never struggled for most of last week, then Sunday and yesterday it began again. I don't know if it's the heat or what, but it goes to start, struggles, then just doesnt start. I turn the key once more and it starts. I'm really confused as to what it could be :S
(Only thing eliminated really is battery and recharging of battery)

[IBLOWN]

Needs to go to an auto electrician. Not a mechanic.