'99 Astra Trouble

AstraOwner

Hi guys,
a regular reader of the forum and very impressed with the knowledge of some posters.
Having some problems of own now and looking for a bit of help/knowledge.

I drive a 99 1.4 Astra that is not running well most of the time and fails to start sometimes (maybe once every couple of months).


First the starting issue. It happens maybe every couple of months. A couple of times it has started for a second and then cut out (and refused to start again). I'm pretty sure the car floods itself. It turns over (sounds fast) but won't start. Jump leads don't do the trick but a push always does. The latest time it happened was after being started and moved a very short distance. From memory I think this may have also been the case at least 1 other time. I have read elsewhere that flooding can be an issue if the car is started and not allowed to heat up before being turned off again.


Second issue is that it runs like crap a lot of the time. Acceleration can be very(!) slow and jumpy, from take off or even accelerating after slowing down (roundabout etc.). It is fine at cruising speed.


There is one issue under the bonnet which may/may not be the cause of some of the issues.
In the following picture I have a part 'pointed to' with 3 arrows.



I am not sure what it's called but it is clipped into place (white plugs). The problem is that one of the clips is broken. This is at the side with the biggest arrow. It is still connected (sitting on it) but not clipped in. I have tried wedge it down and used cable ties but maybe this is not sufficient?

This clip is broken a good few months now. I can't remember if I had the acceleration problem before it but if memory serves me correctly I did have the not starting issue before that.
Maybe it has nothing to do with the problem but I said I better mention it.

After getting a push start for the first issue, the car often runs perfectly for a day or two after (before the acceleration problem comes back).



Hope I have explained that correctly. Feel free to ask any questions if needed.

Is it that clip? Is it the fuel pump? Something else?

Over to the mechanics.

GTDolanator

correct me if im wrong but thats your injectors,and if there loose that would explain all of your problems

AstraOwner

GTDolanator wrote: »

correct me if im wrong but thats your injectors,and if there loose that would explain all of your problems

Yeah I think it's like a distributor for the injectors.

Thanks

AstraOwner

Looking for a name for that part arrowed in the original pic?

Ronnie Beck

GTDolanator wrote: »

correct me if im wrong but thats your injectors,and if there loose that would explain all of your problems

II would say the injectors are under the cover just above the oil filler cap. That thing just looks like a plastic cover for the wiring loom. I doubt it has any thing to do with your problem.

Sounds like a throttle or distributor issue. Does it happen more when the weather is damp or after heavy rain.

AstraOwner

The piece above the oil filler cap is the ignition module which covers the spark plugs.

Ronnie Beck

A coil pack job, fair enough.

Have you had a diagnostics check done?

AstraOwner

You can forget some of the original post Ronnie. That was 6 months back.

Just need the name of that part arrowed for now.

AstraOwner

.

Ronnie Beck

AstraOwner wrote: »

You can forget some of the original post Ronnie. That was 6 months back.

Just need the name of that part arrowed for now.

Didn't notice that,

Is it not just a plastic cover?
Your injectors should be in underneath it.
Sorry, I'm pretty useless with anything that's been made in the last 15 years:o.

AstraOwner

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Didn't notice that,

Is it not just a plastic cover?
Your injectors should be in underneath it.
Sorry, I'm pretty useless with anything that's been made in the last 15 years:o.

No problem Ronnie. Someone surely knows what it is.

firefly08

Assuming that's where the injectors are, which seems likely, and that thing arrowed in the pic is just a plastic cover, then what's underneath it would be called a fuel rail. The rail is hollow and carries fuel to the injectors. If you can find a fuel line or 2 coming out of there, then that is definitely what it is.

AstraOwner

Thanks firefly08.

I have since learned that it's a 'plug strip assembly' according to Haynes. Not much showing on google for it though. Would have thought there would be a pic of one somewhere to give me an idea of what's what.
One of the wiring connectors between this and the injector is broken. Not sure if the broken piece is on the strip or the injector. Pretty sure it's on the plug strip though. Will have a look Monday and see if I can sort it.

coppercat

AstraOwner wrote: »

Thanks firefly08.

I have since learned that it's a 'plug strip assembly' according to Haynes. Not much showing on google for it though. Would have thought there would be a pic of one somewhere to give me an idea of what's what.
One of the wiring connectors between this and the injector is broken. Not sure if the broken piece is on the strip or the injector. Pretty sure it's on the plug strip though. Will have a look Monday and see if I can sort it.

that piece is just a conduit for the injector wiring but unfortunately the electrical connectors for the injectors are clipped into it , what normally happens is when someone tries to unclip the injector harness they break the clips on the injector connections so they just sit loosely on the injectors , if you carefully unclip the top part of the black conduit you can check the security of the injector connections DO NOT try to pull up the complete assembly you will break it , also i would recommend a diagnostic check as it sounds like you could have a faulty egr valve

AstraOwner

coppercat wrote: »

that piece is just a conduit for the injector wiring but unfortunately the electrical connectors for the injectors are clipped into it , what normally happens is when someone tries to unclip the injector harness they break the clips on the injector connections so they just sit loosely on the injectors , if you carefully unclip the top part of the black conduit you can check the security of the injector connections DO NOT try to pull up the complete assembly you will break it , also i would recommend a diagnostic check as it sounds like you could have a faulty egr valve

Thanks coppercat.
Would a connector sitting loosely on an injector result in poor and shuddery performance at times?
And what is the best way to repair it?

It was 'poor and shuddery' at times before and no EGR fault came up. But I will look into getting a blanking plate just to see if there is any change in driving performance.