Starting woes

[kevinfourlegs]

Today the car started everytime as Vauxhall intended. No waiting for engine management lights to come on with the ignition, no flashing sport mode light when the engine light didn't come on.

Tomorrow I will have a look at the ecu plug, depending how my joints are. I've been in agony recently, so I haven't been able to get down far enough to remove the kick panel.

[kevinfourlegs]

Whatever it was, it isn't doing it now. Fingers crossed that it is problem sorted.

[chrismec]

Fairy's must have fixed it Kev

[man of kent]

Had big trouble with my 2.6 auto last winter starting it. Murph, carlton mad and jasmin lee spent a lot of time trying to get it to start after i spent weeks on it. No solution was found. Then a while later it started and continued to start!

Funny thing cars..............

I still think the most relaible cars were pre electronics IF YOU MAINTAINED THEM. Electronics came in first to get rid of the maintenance bit on electrics. Problem was people did not maintain them before. Unfortunately the carlton is post electronics where most of the problems are. They also have the emissions electronics as well.  I'm afraid you have to be 50 or more to remember the pre electronics days. My cars always started and ran as I maintained them. I always fit an oversize battery! I ran pre electronics cars for at least 30 years and was only recovered once because of a mechanical failure. The cars always started or I could get them started.

[Murph]

That one turned out to be the fuel return valve on the rail.

You're right though - old school was more reliable and if it didnt go it was pretty easy to find a cause.

[kevinfourlegs]

As the old saying goes, if its got tits or wheels it will give you problems.

I'm not quite 50 yet, but yes, I do remember pre electronic cars.

Renault launched the 25 to replace the 20 and 30 models. The 25 V6 and Turbo models had the electric gizmos and gadgets. One came in the workshop and I got the task of removing the dash as the car had developed a fault. I took the dash out, only to be greeted by a multitude of colourful wires. I called the foreman over, showed him the wires and his words were "leave it, we'll get a sparky in. We aren't touching it." Sparky was duly called and turned up. His words were along the lines of 'hucking fell' as he hadn't seen anything like it at the time. That was back in 1986. And the rest is history.