Calibra 16v problem

Hi,
About a month ago i bought a 92 calibra 2l 16v red top and it drove home
about 120 miles no problem. The next day i drove it around quite a bit and
in the evening it just died. It wouldnt start although it was turning over
ok so i called the AA. I tried it again 20 mins later and it started ok so i
cancelled the AA man. As i pulled away to drive home it cut out again and
wouldnt start so i called the AA man out again. When he got there it started
again so we left it running for a couple of minutes and it cut out again.
After a quick check the AA man said i wasnt getting a spark and was probably
a faulty coil module. I bought one of these and replaced it and it broke
down exactly the same again. It went into the local garage who put the
management sytem checker on it and after a day fiddling about he changed a
spark plug and the distributor cap and said all was well. The next day i
drove it 1 mile to go shopping and it wouldnt start up again. I left it for
half an hour and it still wouldnt start. I got it towed back to home where
its sat on the drive. When i go out to start it now it starts every time
but im scared to use it as i think its going to cut out on me again.
Has anyone got any ideas to what this fault could be???

 

pull the codes, that is the best way. try the paperclip trick.
it could even be the cam sensor or amplifier module .
there are quite a few reasons, even earthstraps.

mike

 

Nothing is shown by the codes, like i said it had the management box on it
in the garage and it picked up nothing. I was hinted at the speed idle valve
which apparently doesnt show up as a fault. I drove it down to birmingham
last week and it went fine. Then once i started it again it went 1/2 mile
and died. Then the next day after breaking down once more it drove all the
way back (120m) Whis i hadnt bought it now (

Graham

 

i would doubt it is the Idle Control Valve.
but that is very easy to do & worth it anyway as if you clean the large pipe
to the top of the engine as well in the same area it brings back quite a bit
of performance.

if you wish the link
here it is:
http://82.34.51.160/sytemsandsoftwa...automotive/How_to/General/ecotecidlevalve.htm

if you are careful when you take it off the gasket should be aok to reuse
also be very careful about the bolts, they can get crossdthreaded & be over
tightened

do them finger tight first

mike

 

Hi

Had exactly the same problem twice on my Astra! Nothing shopwed on the fault
codes and no spark! Used to cut out in the most awkward places as well - car
parks and traffic lights were great favourites!.

Both times it was the trigger unit (amplifier module)(on an Astra it sits
under the coil). Costs £60 a go though!

Mike

 

Thanks Mike, ive already replaced that and it cost me £45 (friend works in
the garage ;o) I have purchased another coil + amplifier off a guy on ebay
as i got the coil, amplifier and door mirror control £25 all in. I replaced
the coil tonight and been out a few times in it and its been behaving. That
said its still early days yet so fngers crossed. The coil itself is some
sort of a special item and costs over £150 new so i think i got a bargain
off ebay even if it isnt whats at fault its well worth it as a spare.

MikeFNB doubted it was the Idle Control Valve and so do I so thats that
theory out the window as when i disconnected a pipe from it the car wont
tick over but will when re-fitted which leads me to believe its ok besides
which when it first packed up the AA man said there was no spark. I paid £25
from a dealer in seconds in Brum for that too.. oh well...

If anyone else has any ideas let me know and if in a few days its cured it
ill let you all know even if it hasnt.

Many thanks,
Graham

 

Hi.....
Not spark related BUT ......
I had a similar problem with an old Cav. cutting out periodically, sometimes
spluttering. Went on for a long time before eventual failure - no codes to
pull.
It was finally corrected by replacing the fuel pump relay - I did it twice
in about 170K miles, so not too bad, but damn annoying when you can't find
it!
HTH
RobO

 

Thanks Rob i might try this as my car wouldnt start again after a quick trip
down to the shops. It cant be the coil or module now so your idea seems my
next step.
Regards,
Graham