Help with Starting Problem VT Commodore

Wombat 280 · Guru

Help with Starting Problem VT Commodore

aussie_paul · Guru

I had a problem with our VP commodore and it was a spring in the ignition barrel had failed and not holding the contacts together sometimes.

Aussie Paul. smile

Hylife · Guru

Wow, a VT. Don't see them anymore outside of a wreckers yard.

Not what you want to hear, but a new battery is going to cost you as much as the car is worth.
VTs sell for approx. $200 but the wreckers will give you $500 for scrap.

Sarge9 · Senior Member

Had a VS that caused major expense but not fixing the problem, in desperation took it back to the Holden dealership, mortgaged my first born and waited.... by accident the 2nd year apprentice discovered the problem, the bonnet was up he was leaning on the car looking intelligent with his hand on the black box.... well actually his hand was on the relay switch box and he was able to feel the relay clicking with each try, they pulled the relay and found burnt contacts, cost me $30.oo including parts.

Your problem is to find which relay switch to pull.... it was not listed as a start or ignition relay from memory.

Good Luck

Sarge.

Hey Jim · Guru

Hi Wombat,

Need a bit more info please. I had a 1991 VN limited edition V6 from new. All have EFI. It may be that it is sucking in air from the manifold bleed screw. Q. Dose it start at all from cold.

Q. If it dose, does it run rough? When warmed up, does it seem to run normal. Get back to me with PM as to what in total you replaced and why.

Regards Jim

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Is the fuel pump priming when ignition is turned on ? First find if its a fuel, ignition or compression issue ?? First check battery terminals , fuses . If no spark ? Coils or ignition module ? Crank angle sensor etc ? As said relays etc ., I guess it's turning over ? Just not firing ? One way to tell if it's fuel Is to pour some petrol "carefully" down or into manifold through crankcase vent ., Some deodorant spray into inlet works ok as start ya bastard too . If has had an alarm ?? Pita to fix .,

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 09:46:54 PM

hako · Guru

As above - first thing is it priming when first turned on (whirring noise from fuel tank)?....then is it cranking over fast enough due to old battery (they only last 2-3 years nowdays)
Nothing wrong with VT Commodores which are comfortable reliable vehicles and great value for the money.
Next time this happen call the RACQ/NRMA if a member as mostly the dude who comes out has experience in the older vehicles and will be able to pinpoint the problem.
This forum below may also help.
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/vt-vx-holden-commodore-1997-2002/

Good Luck.

KevinC · Senior Member

Watched an NRMA service bloke diagnose a similar problem with a car a few years back. Got a large rubber mallet out of his truck and belted the underside of the petrol tank. Car started. Diagnosed fuel pump on the way out. May not be your problem but I remember the event because in these days of high tech, his method was a bit more home grown.

Murraman · Senior Member

They did that with our VN it wouldn't start and he belted the fuel tank and away it went new fuel pump solved the problem for us.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Doesn't fix pump .. Just shows its on its way out !! $150 for new EFI fuel pump .

Cloak · Guru

Yeah, fuel pump 1st then coil packs.

Nooms · Member

My VT was randomly not starting properly (never when it's visiting the mechanic, though!). It would sometimes turn, almost start, and then die and refuse to turn over again unless I turned the key all the way off, waited ten seconds and tried again. The cause was apparently little tabs in the barrel. It doesn't do it any more, since the barrel snapped clean and got replaced Oh, and then there was the time when it wouldn't start cos it's body control module lost it's memory. I've been told these things never happen to Commodores and that mine must have driven over a sacred burial site or something... It feels like it. I've just been towed home for the 9th time in 12 months...

What kind of not starting is it doing? Fuel pump and electrics are good suggestions but exhibit different symptoms.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.