vauxhall combo 1.7 2003 plate

[mickyyoungplumb]

Evening,
I was driving home today and my van cut out when i was coming to a halt. Initially it did not start again for a few minutes.
From then on it would start mayby every other time. When it did start it would run for about 3 - 5 seconds then cut out. I do not know anything about cars and do not intend to attemot to fix it. I popped the hood and there was no leaks or smoke. When the van did start it all sounds perfect.

Can someone please give me some advice so i do not get ripped off by a machanic. I have had a few suggestions, like mayby the microchip in the key, its the immoboliser cutting it out????

Anythings i can check, before i toe it to the garage??

 

[Peter.N.]

If its diesel could be the fuel filter. I would take it to a diesel specialist rather than a garage, the are usually cheaper and know what they are doing.

Peter

 

[Burnerman]

Thankfully, immobilisers seem to be remarkably reliable.....I usually go for a crank position sensor if the fuel system seems ok. Replacing this part at least rules it out- they are notorious for picking up clutch dust.
John

 

[mickyyoungplumb]

Ok, i just do not trust mechanics. Every story you hear is people being screwed over. Filters are cheap and pretty basic to change right? I can do something really basic . Im a heating engineer so im not a dummy. lol

Alot of people are saying the edu/ecu unit?
Are there no checks i can carry out?

 

[Burnerman]

Plenty of remedial work to be carried out before suspecting the ECU, Mick.
John

 

[mickyyoungplumb]

yes i know, i am going to get a mechanic i know to look at it. he doesnt work saturdays or sundays. So all i want really is a helpful basic checklist and things i can do tomo and sunday to rule things out.
Also its not overheating so if i can drive it 1 mile back to my house would it cause damage?

 

[Mursal]

Ok, i just do not trust mechanics. Im a heating engineer so im not a dummy.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle ....................

And then they expect advice

A basic checklist, well I want a date with Cheryl Cole but the chances of getting one .....................

 

[Burnerman]

No reason not to drive it Mick....treat it to a small service if you can but at the end of the day a diesel specialist may be your best option.
Often enough, they may well have seen this all before, so don't chuck cash at it without good reason.
John

 

[mickyyoungplumb]

thanks burnerman for your simple but re assuring advice. Im hoping its just a fuel filter as its a cheap fix. For £80 i can get a timing belt kit, fuel, air and oil filters. So im guessing thats 2hours labour max at a garage?

As for you mursal.....im unsure why people who are not looking to be helpful even bother posting on here. Your banter is poor!!
and fyi i undercharge if anything because i feel bad.

I often find myself fixing peoples problems over the phone for free opposed to going out and charging lots of money! There are some good guys left.

 

[mfarrow]

What is the engine code?

How many miles has it done?

Is it a 1.7DTi or 1.7CDTi?

There is a common problem with the 1.7DTi (Y17DT/Y17DTL) which doesn't give any warning or symptoms, is commonly misdiagnosed, and can be fixed with a soldering iron and a tube of silicone sealant.

 

[Burnerman]

thanks burnerman for your simple but re assuring advice. Im hoping its just a fuel filter as its a cheap fix. For £80 i can get a timing belt kit, fuel, air and oil filters. So im guessing thats 2hours labour max at a garage?

As for you mursal.....im unsure why people who are not looking to be helpful even bother posting on here. Your banter is poor!!
and fyi i undercharge if anything because i feel bad.

I often find myself fixing peoples problems over the phone for free opposed to going out and charging lots of money! There are some good guys left.

I'm not aware of whats needed for a timing belt on these but I reckon two hours is a bit on the light side.....the garage will be happy to give you some idea but of course this is no guarantee of a fix to the initial problem!
John

 

[Burnerman]

What is the engine code?

How many miles has it done?

Is it a 1.7DTi or 1.7CDTi?

There is a common problem with the 1.7DTi (Y17DT/Y17DTL) which doesn't give any warning or symptoms, is commonly misdiagnosed, and can be fixed with a soldering iron and a tube of silicone sealant.

Sounds like a water ingress issue.....care to share this one?
John

 

[Belle427]

http://www.ecutesting.com/vauxhall_common_ecu_failures.html

some common failures here

 

[AlanE]

Im a heating engineer so im not a dummy. lol

+

For £80 i can get a timing belt kit, fuel, air and oil filters. So im guessing thats 2hours labour max at a garage?

Love the logic!!!

Before I retired I was a heating/boiler engineer and could buy 22mm elbows for pennies but that could not be related to labour cost (nor time taken) of fitting it if say cylinder needs to be drained/removed and then replaced to gain access to faulty pipe fitting. More like a days work really for small cost of parts

 

[mickyyoungplumb]

Alan i wasn't suggesting that the parts reflected the labour. I do know a mechanic who is about £50 an hour though. Just doesnt work weekends.

ther replies, could you please explain these common problems? water ingress??

soldering iron and a tube of silicone??

I picked the van up today and it started first time and run fine? I mean wtf??
Im worried to drive it now though. It seems the immobiliser may have been kicking in when it happened and is not now. Anyone shed any light why it works now?