Starting from hot

[Mark Wake]

I'm having an intermittent problem starting up my Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6
(1990) from hot. It seems to start fine from cold, but even after a short
journey I have real problems firing her up again (but once running
everything is fine).

The ignition system seems fine but the engine just refuses to fire, it
normally does eventually (after 20 minutes or so).

I've been advised on a few possibilities but wondered if anybody here had
any thoughts.

Thanks,
Mark.

 

[Scott M]

I'm having an intermittent problem starting up my Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6
(1990) from hot. It seems to start fine from cold, but even after a short
journey I have real problems firing her up again (but once running
everything is fine).

I think it's one of those "they all do that, sir" things. Vapour lock
probably.

 

[Paul W]

Mark,

I had this exact problem on my 2 litre Cavalier, a very kind AA man told me
what the problem was (apparently it's a common fault)!

A dry joint in the fuel-pump relay !

Open the bonnet and near the bulkhead on the passenger side of the car is a
black box about 6 inches square, open it up and there should be a relay
inside (I think it's the biggest one in there). Its a complicated relay as
it receives pulses from a sensor that tells it the engine is turning, and
only turns the fuel pump on if its receiving a signal - so vauxhall will
quote you about £40 to replace it !.

I work in electronics so I got a hacksaw and carefully removed the casing,
and lo and behold what did I find ? - a cracked solder joint. I touched it
up and superglued the casing back together, and it never gave me any
problems again.

Hope this cures your problem, (to check if it is this - next time it does
it - open the relay box and tap the relay with a screwdriver, if it starts
you can be pretty sure you've got the same fault as I had).


Regards,

Paul.