**URGENT HELP** car wont start

[CUTS1K]

so i head back to my car tonight adn its been sitting in the cold for a few hours and turn my key the engine kicks over at a normal rate and the engine just doesnt want to seem to fire. Any ideas what the problem may be?????

[Jonno]

how many volts u got on the batery?
is the fuel pump priming?

[ch1mp]

this has happened to my car twice in 4 years...odd thing. it just kept turning but never fired. first time took me 2 or 3 minutes to start it, last time took about 10 minutes...hasn't happened for years now though...still curious to find out what it was though...

[Hansen]

ignition module? or could be loose screws on your key and its not completing the circuit properly to cut the immobiliser. im having the odd problem with mine where it winds over and wont start. have to take the key out and try again to complete the circuit.

[wrx884]

ignition module? or could be loose screws on your key and its not completing the circuit properly to cut the immobiliser. im having the odd problem with mine where it winds over and wont start. have to take the key out and try again to complete the circuit.

is urs a series 1 or series 2 vt? if series 1 could b ur key reader that needs changing. the series 2 were better made.

[Hansen]

is urs a series 1 or series 2 vt? if series 1 could b ur key reader that needs changing. the series 2 were better made.

not sure.. first time i have owned a holden. how would i tell?

[ch1mp]

easiest way...if it's a series one, it won't say anywhere. if it's a series 2, go to your boot garnish and somewhere close to the "commodore" badge it will have another badge that says "seriesII". usually on the opposite side of the garnish

[Hansen]

mmm that might be hard aswell.. it was debadged before i got it. only has the holden emblem on it now. lol

[wrx884]

easy way 2 tell which card reader u have reguardless is the series 2 have a full contact ring around the ignition where the series 1 type only cover half the ingition ring, these type r a common 2 go faulty

[Hansen]

easy way 2 tell which card reader u have reguardless is the series 2 have a full contact ring around the ignition where the series 1 type only cover half the ingition ring, these type r a common 2 go faulty

oh ok i must have series 1. mine does not have full circle ring its split into 2.

[Hansen]

thank you for your help.... sorry to steal your thread CUTS1K

[theghostoftime1978]

if it is like the battery seems flat when you try to kick over the engine. It could be fuel pump not delivering enough fuel, or it could be the crank angel sensor or broken mass air flow meter wire or dirty wire

[wrx884]

thank you for your help.... sorry to steal your thread CUTS1K

no worries they r fairly cheap 2 replace i think mine was $15 from holden and its a plug and play fit, so if its an issue thats the easiest place 2 start, even 4 the OP so ur not really high jacking the thread

[Cúl-Báire]

Have you got spark at the coil?
Does the fuel pump prime when you turn the ignition on?

Two questions that need to be asked!

[CUTS1K]

cheers for all the tips guys. i ended up getting it going (after about the 10th time) but the last time i waited till i heard the fuel pump go off dunno if that was why it wouldnt fire??

[Dougs.8]

My VU has been having the problem of starting but stalling staight away, it turns out that its the BCU not letting the ECU activate.

To get it going I have to lock the car then unlock it.

[CUTS1K]

this only seems to happen when the car hasnt been running for a few hours and its left in cold weather usually i can get it to start after the second attempt but today it took a bit longer than normal and i think the problem is only degrading

[tony801]

hi, my vt wagon 98 model series1 is playing up its not been running for about 3 days now,
i cant figure out what it is, the car turns just about fires then brrr, nothing and if i turn the key some times there's
nothing at all just the reds, I've checked the error cods and it just keeps coming up with 12 over and over.
also my central locking doesn't work either not sure what the go is there but some mates of mine said to get a new key that should fix the problems
but it didn't do anything
if any1 has an idea please dont hesitate i need all the help i can get thanks.

[xeanerix20]

ignition module? or could be loose screws on your key and its not completing the circuit properly to cut the immobiliser. im having the odd problem with mine where it winds over and wont start. have to take the key out and try again to complete the circuit.

i agree with hansen with regards to the loose screws on the key...this exactly what happened to my car (doesn't start properly, sometimes not even cranking) coz i got a loose screws on my key, tried to fix it but the tread is gone. so i used my spare key, and without a problem it started nicely eversince!

[nitrowarrior]

Hmmm the old Keyhead - Body Control Module issues...,....keyhead could be the issue, key head ignition contact, BUT could be Body Control Module, and or even sticky starter ( bad solenoid/sticky armature)
My plan of attack is to get a new keyhead programmed at Holden, and hope for best $100 fix.....If this does not fix issue, change BCM, means another trip to holden to program new bcm to car.....This should fix issue.....Outside chance you may also have faulty Starter motor, independently test starter out of vehicle.

Other than that, problem solved.................

Point.....Change BCM over in Holden dealership car park,,,,,lot less hassle to get the TECH2 to your vehicle to program replacement module, CAR WILL NOT START WITH OUT BCM BEING PROGRAMMED TO CAR. Same issue with keyheads, need to be programmed to car using TECH2..............
This fix is dependent on the Holden Tech2, you are gonna need to pay the dealership a fee....sorry no other way around.....may as well change you dash over and then reset airbag lights at same time.

dealership prices, $45 to reset airbag light, $100 new key head and programming, $80 Program new BCM to vehicle............Dealership are dependent on dealership, so dont qoute me unless you are using SALE CITY HOLDEN

[tony801]

I brought a new key, But the key wouldn't turn in the barrel whist checking the steering lock was on still nothing even tried to jiggle the key, so i changed the old key head over to the new key and tightened the screws as tight as i could get them (thanks for that pointer) but still just cranks for a bit then doesn't fire.
I've bypassed the starter and the battery and that seems okay because it kept cranking for as long as i held it there but it just wouldn't fire.
So i was thinking that it could be the cas and its just not reading on the error codes because i had the battery off on charge for a bit.
but i don't understand why the cntrl locking ain't working because i have a new key.
thanks for all replies

[nitrowarrior]

Body Control Module..........No doubt.....Also as a point of interest, did you check the connecting ring on the Ignition?? if it is series 1 it will have 2 silver tags surrounding ignition, serie 2 has a complet ring and is a revised item......make sure your key is contacting the silver ring/tags.......series 1 tags type assembly can be lifted slightly to provide better contact........If this doent work then definately BCM faulty.....Central Locking issue is all BCM

[tony801]

yer its a series 1,
Is the two tags already lifted or do i have to lift them myself ?
and so by what you have mentioned above your pretty sure that its not the crank angle sensor correct?

okay so i want out to my car pulled the tags out a bit to try get a better connection and it just about fired but then when it dropped out this time
it back fired and also i dont know if i mentioned earlier but my fan keeps coming afterward.

Didn't mean to snake your thread cuts1k but also having similar problems with my car.

[PRAVX II S]

so i head back to my car tonight adn its been sitting in the cold for a few hours and turn my key the engine kicks over at a normal rate and the engine just doesnt want to seem to fire. Any ideas what the problem may be?????

First of check for codes.
Check for spark. If there is no spark then check the IGN side of things. Cas,Dfi module,coil pack,
If there is spark check for fuel. Fuel pump. Injector trigger. fuel pressure on the rails.
or could be the security system keys,bcm

[tony801]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRR okay, so ive replaced the air flow meter , cas, coil pack, bcm ecu and got a key also, inhibitor switch, fuel pump
and still wont fire but when it does it for a split second then cuts out then the thermo fans come on
really bugging me if any one has an idea plz don't hesitate