Car starting and immediately dying

Meesared · 14-01-2021 8:26pm #1

Hey all, so I'm having this issue with my car, which is a 09 1.3 CDTI Corsa. The other day I was bringing it to the NCT and stopped at a shop on the way, when I went back to it it would start and immediately die. Now thankfully I did manage to get it back going after 5-10 mins, and make the NCT, which it passed. After starting the car again though after the NCT it did it again, but only once this time. Any idea what could be the cause of that?

Thanks

yamaha4life · 14-01-2021 8:33pm

Meesared wrote: »

Hey all, so I'm having this issue with my car, which is a 09 1.3 CDTI Corsa. The other day I was bringing it to the NCT and stopped at a shop on the way, when I went back to it it would start and immediately die. Now thankfully I did manage to get it back going after 5-10 mins, and make the NCT, which it passed. After starting the car again though after the NCT it did it again, but only once this time. Any idea what could be the cause of that?

Thanks

What mileage on car?
When was it last serviced?
Was fuel filter changed?

Could possibly be lots of things!

Being opel is there a spanner light or insp message on dash or engine light coming up?

pippip · 14-01-2021 10:50pm

Does it have an immobiliser?

Would it start and die over and over or just once and then not even start again?

Meesared · 15-01-2021 1:01am

yamaha4life wrote: »

What mileage on car?
When was it last serviced?
Was fuel filter changed?

Could possibly be lots of things!

Being opel is there a spanner light or insp message on dash or engine light coming up?

55k

In April I think it was? 700 miles or so ago.
I think it was yeah.

No spanner light or anything like that though!

Meesared · 15-01-2021 1:03am

pippip wrote: »

Does it have an immobiliser?

Would it start and die over and over or just once and then not even start again?

I think theres an aftermarket one in it, bought the car with it, not sure how I'd go about disabling it.

The fact its starting at all makes me think its not that though? Or am I wrong in that assumption?

greasepalm · 15-01-2021 1:08am

Hard one immobilizer and key would be cranking and not starting

Crank sensor could be on its way out.

Diagnostics might throw up a fault.

Doubt at 55k it might be contacts in ignition switch.

CoBo55 · 15-01-2021 1:12am

Vag immobiliser problems display those exact symptoms so it could be your aftermarket immobiliser.

Rows Grower · 15-01-2021 1:12am

Could be the camshaft sensor is on the way out.

Meesared · 15-01-2021 2:50am

greasepalm wrote: »

Hard one immobilizer and key would be cranking and not starting

Crank sensor could be on its way out.

Diagnostics might throw up a fault.

Doubt at 55k it might be contacts in ignition switch.

I think i can get hold of a scanner, I'll check that out!

Meesared · 15-01-2021 2:51am

CoBo55 wrote: »

Vag immobiliser problems display those exact symptoms so it could be your aftermarket immobiliser.

I'll see if I can disable it and see if that helps

yamaha4life · 15-01-2021 3:13am

Meesared wrote: »

I think i can get hold of a scanner, I'll check that out!

Would be probably be you best bet really, make sure to check for pending faults aswell.
Sensors can be checked via live data on some better scan tools and can reveal a dead/dying sensor quickly enough even if theres no fault code triggered.

You can do a quick fault code check via ignition cycle and brake pedal, theres videos on YouTube on how to do it might be of use if you are in a pinch. I know it works on 09 ish astras so maybe corsa also.

On another note the astra diesel has ecu behind front bumper in the wing and is only protected from elements via a plastic splash gaurd infront of the passenger side wheel,

my G/F one splash gaurd had been removed by previous owner and not refitted and anytime it was raining the car would develop all kinds of weird faults including cutting out (sometimes while driving) and not restarting when stopped for a short period. Only to restart when it felt like it and drive fine again. Got splash gaurd from scrap yard dried out ecu cleaned connectors no electrical problems there after.

jimmycrackcorm · 15-01-2021 3:19am

I remember a similar problem many years ago. turned out to be the battery connector - it would start but then the connector was a little loose so vibration caused it to lose the contact.

pippip · 15-01-2021 10:30am

greasepalm wrote: »

Hard one immobilizer and key would be cranking and not starting

Meesared wrote: »

I think theres an aftermarket one in it, bought the car with it, not sure how I'd go about disabling it.

The fact its starting at all makes me think its not that though? Or am I wrong in that assumption?

On my old audi the immobiliser would allow the car to start and then kill it.
Like in this video -
https://youtu.be/xfQevsyarAw?t=28

Might not be but is possible problem.

dmc17 · 15-01-2021 11:53am

pippip wrote: »

On my old audi the immobiliser would allow the car to start and then kill it.
Like in this video -
https://youtu.be/xfQevsyarAw?t=28

Might not be but is possible problem.

I had the same issue from time to time. I'd just take out the key, press the unlock button again and that would sort it

listermint · 15-01-2021 11:57am

Start with the basics.

Battery, battery battery.

Check the connections especially the grounds.

Then voltage test it. There is plenty of youtube videos of it.

Dont go down a rabbit hole of immobilisers and fuel filters and camshaft sensors.

First things first - Battery.

Meesared · 15-01-2021 12:42pm

pippip wrote: »

On my old audi the immobiliser would allow the car to start and then kill it.
Like in this video -
https://youtu.be/xfQevsyarAw?t=28

Might not be but is possible problem.

that is the EXACT same thing thats happening

Meesared · 15-01-2021 12:43pm

listermint wrote: »

Start with the basics.

Battery, battery battery.

Check the connections especially the grounds.

Then voltage test it. There is plenty of youtube videos of it.

Dont go down a rabbit hole of immobilisers and fuel filters and camshaft sensors.

First things first - Battery.

100% not the battery, it starts quick when it starts, and didn't show any weakness starting after trying to start it 5-6 times

listermint · 15-01-2021 12:56pm

Meesared wrote: »

100% not the battery, it starts quick when it starts, and didn't show any weakness starting after trying to start it 5-6 times

I'm afraid you are wrong. A poor connection can kill a car instantly.

You start with the basics first and move up from there. By jumping over steps people start ordering expensive parts and not solving problems.

CoBo55 · 15-01-2021 1:37pm

Meesared wrote: »

that is the EXACT same thing thats happening

With the vag system you'll get a flashing key symbol but because yours is after market there probably isn't a warning light. But as was posted earlier, cover the basics first, battery, connections etc.

Meesared · 15-01-2021 1:40pm

CoBo55 wrote: »

With the vag system you'll get a flashing key symbol but because yours is after market there probably isn't a warning light. But as was posted earlier, cover the basics first, battery, connections etc.

Will do, I've got hold of an OBD scanner so I'll give that a try, able to check the battery with it

Lucifer · 15-01-2021 2:02pm

Corsa D wont start and cut out for an immobiliser issue. If it runs for a few seconds I would suspect the egr valve sticking open.

Hellrazer · 15-01-2021 2:32pm

listermint wrote: »

Start with the basics.

Battery, battery battery.

Check the connections especially the grounds.

Then voltage test it. There is plenty of youtube videos of it.

Dont go down a rabbit hole of immobilisers and fuel filters and camshaft sensors.

First things first - Battery.

Id agree - the earth strap that goes on to the top of the gearbox breaks up inside the outer plastic sheath. Causes an intermittent fault where the car will start and immediately cut out. Very easy to check. Get someone to wiggle the earth strap while you try to start it. It will be quite obvious if it doesnt start.

Its either something like the above or the only other time Ive seen it is with thetiming chain stretched causing the engine timing to be off a bit. Same symptoms.

kirving · 15-01-2021 3:05pm

My sisters O7 had a similar issue. Car would crank at first, but not start. Then wouldn't crank at all.

Spanner symbol showing on the dash. Battery symbol too I think. Nothing untoward on a basic OBD scanner - that is to say no engine faults.

Symptoms of dying battery. Tested it, charged it, checked cables, swapped it, checked starter wiring, earths, usual debug. It's usually the simple stuff, right?

It turns out it was the immobiliser which had to be reprogrammed. There's an issue with that model, up to at least 07, but has been fixed since, whereby a voltage or current spike (caused by low voltage) can wipe the immobiliser memory. Guy who came out to fix it was well aware of the problem and how to sort it.

Meesared · 16-01-2021 12:25am

Hellrazer wrote: »

Id agree - the earth strap that goes on to the top of the gearbox breaks up inside the outer plastic sheath. Causes an intermittent fault where the car will start and immediately cut out. Very easy to check. Get someone to wiggle the earth strap while you try to start it. It will be quite obvious if it doesnt start.

Its either something like the above or the only other time Ive seen it is with thetiming chain stretched causing the engine timing to be off a bit. Same symptoms.

Noted! I'll have some time to have a look at it tomorrow, I will follow up here

Meesared · 16-01-2021 12:26am

Kevin Irving wrote: »

My sisters O7 had a similar issue. Car would crank at first, but not start. Then wouldn't crank at all.

Spanner symbol showing on the dash. Battery symbol too I think. Nothing untoward on a basic OBD scanner - that is to say no engine faults.

Symptoms of dying battery. Tested it, charged it, checked cables, swapped it, checked starter wiring, earths, usual debug. It's usually the simple stuff, right?

It turns out it was the immobiliser which had to be reprogrammed. There's an issue with that model, up to at least 07, but has been fixed since, whereby a voltage or current spike (caused by low voltage) can wipe the immobiliser memory. Guy who came out to fix it was well aware of the problem and how to sort it.

It is an aftermarket one on this, so I'm hoping I can disable it, i have a code for the system, hopefully i can do it

Lucifer · 16-01-2021 7:38pm

Kevin Irving wrote: »

My sisters O7 had a similar issue. Car would crank at first, but not start. Then wouldn't crank at all.

Spanner symbol showing on the dash. Battery symbol too I think. Nothing untoward on a basic OBD scanner - that is to say no engine faults.

Symptoms of dying battery. Tested it, charged it, checked cables, swapped it, checked starter wiring, earths, usual debug. It's usually the simple stuff, right?

It turns out it was the immobiliser which had to be reprogrammed. There's an issue with that model, up to at least 07, but has been fixed since, whereby a voltage or current spike (caused by low voltage) can wipe the immobiliser memory. Guy who came out to fix it was well aware of the problem and how to sort it.

This happens the corsa D when the battery is allowed to go very low. Body control module needs to be reset and reprogrammed.

It wont be intermittent like the OP where it cut out, then ran fine, then cut out again.

If the bcm gets corrupted it wont start again until it is reprogrammed. Ive done plently of them.

Car starting and immediately dying

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