sv8 starts then stops

[sv8chris]

we have a vz sv8.

my wife drove it home this afternoon perfectly. about half an hour after she got home tried to go out in it again when our little problem occured. the car would start, idle up to about 1500 rpm then shut down. no wierd noises, nothing. just starts, idles up then stops. this process takes about 5 seconds. also unless i turn the key all the way to the off position it won't fire at all until i do.

anybody else had this problem and if so what was the fix?

[Ewok]

Did you notice that the car was running a little lethargic or anything on the way home? You have stated that it drove home ok, but did she "stretch it's legs" so to speak and if so notice a lack in power? Might have gone into "limp home mode" ? Don't know if this would stop it from starting up again though ...... Probably have a look at the O2 sensor aswel, if it's not reading the air flow properly will usually shut the engine down as far as I know.

[steve_t]

No Check Engine Light?
Check Crank Angle Sensor and Cam Angle Sensor
Also fuel pressure
Check key... try spare key
When the engine cuts out, are the lights on the dash on or off. If they're off, check the key barrel. This can get worn out especially if u have a heavy set of keys

[Wonky]

Don't know if it's the same thing but on my old VY SV8 a couple of times in 2 years it did something similar except it would only run for a second or so before cutting out, not 5 secs. I pulled the key right out of the barrel, gave it a couple of minutes and tried again - ran fine. Similarly when it happened again a few months later.

Never did find a reason for it except did hear if it runs only briefly and then dies it is probably related to the car's security getting its knickers in a knot temporarily, so possibly not the same thing.

[macca_779]

Don't know if it's the same thing but on my old VY SV8 a couple of times in 2 years it did something similar except it would only run for a second or so before cutting out, not 5 secs. I pulled the key right out of the barrel, gave it a couple of minutes and tried again - ran fine. Similarly when it happened again a few months later.

Never did find a reason for it except did hear if it runs only briefly and then dies it is probably related to the car's security getting its knickers in a knot temporarily, so possibly not the same thing.

On the ball Wonky. My car does this occasionally too. For the OP. I'd say his BCM or key is stuffed.

[sv8chris]

thanks for the responses guys.

after speeking to the wife about a the way the car drove it appears that it was spot on the trip home.

the car does start idles up then shuts down. the lights on the dash stay on.
the radio stays on and all the usual things occur. when i try to start it again it seems almost as if a lockout has occured like an automatic. you all know what i mean, if it is in gear it won't do anything. then when i pull they key out and then put it back in to try again the exact same thing occurs.

have tried the spare key and it still does the same thing, also there is only the car key and two house keys on her key ring so the weight won't be an issue. as for the check engine lights she daid that there wasn't anything on, and she loves this car more than i do so i am inclined to believe what she has told me


that is the second time tonight that i have had somebody say body control module. what sort of dollars am i looking at if that is what it is. sounds expensive.

chris

[steve_t]

Sounds like it's time to get it to someone's workshop

[redvxr8clubby]

thanks for the responses guys.

after speeking to the wife about a the way the car drove it appears that it was spot on the trip home.

the car does start idles up then shuts down. the lights on the dash stay on.
the radio stays on and all the usual things occur. when i try to start it again it seems almost as if a lockout has occured like an automatic. you all know what i mean, if it is in gear it won't do anything. then when i pull they key out and then put it back in to try again the exact same thing occurs.

have tried the spare key and it still does the same thing, also there is only the car key and two house keys on her key ring so the weight won't be an issue. as for the check engine lights she daid that there wasn't anything on, and she loves this car more than i do so i am inclined to believe what she has told me


that is the second time tonight that i have had somebody say body control module. what sort of dollars am i looking at if that is what it is. sounds expensive.

chris

I did notice a few BCM's on Ebay for $20 with one key head. Don't know new price. A bit more than $20 no doubt.

[Wonky]

Sounds like it's time to get it to someone's workshop

Probably not many places who know what they're doing up there (Vic/NSW border) with BCMs etc except probably a Holden dealer........ :(

[OUTAtheBloo]

Cost me around $500 to do a bcm at the local holden dealer on a VT V6, included the new key, and getting it there by the tow truck.

[sv8chris]

not sure if anybody know the holden dealer up here but i wouldn't take my golf cart to them. the problem only popped it's head up at about 6pm tonight so it's not been an ongoing problem. one of my customers is coming over to have a look at it in the morning with his scan tool and to have a look to see what he thinks. if that's a no go then i will prob not have much choice than to go to the dealer. but unfortunately they will be a last resort.

[nogotooslow]

On the ball Wonky. My car does this occasionally too. For the OP. I'd say his BCM or key is stuffed.

ditto for my VZ. It sometimes fires briefly then shuts off. the only fix is to remove the keys completely, wait a couple of seconds then it starts straight up no worries. N.F.I. what is causing it. interesting thread.

[sv8chris]

so just to keep some kind of an update to this ongoing saga.

7 days later and the car stillsits in the driveway. wednesday saw the bcm replaced, new keys coded and still no go. however all the initial fault codes have dissapeared except for one. i can't remember the exact code, but it came up as a powertrain interface module (pim). i rang the local dealer and spoke to the service manager, he basically told me that it was impossible for that particular module to have failed and that something else must be wrong. he appeared to look for and service updates and recalls etc, however still told me the problem was elsewhere. the guy who is doing the work for me has a mate in the tech side of holden so he put a call into him today to seek some advise. it turns out that the vz has started to give a pim problem. the bcm fails, taking the pim with them. but 99 % of guys just replace the bcm and so it doesn't fix the problem. the issue is you have top replace both modules at once, or this is how it is told by a guy from the holden tech department.

the new pim should be here tomorrow so hopefully we will have some success then.

will keep you all posted how it turns out.

[HSVGTS215i]

Definately not impossible for the PIM to fail seen it a couple of times

[SV346]

Theres nothing that s..ts me more than people trying to tell me something cant be a problem especially when you know it IS the problem. Its just their way of saying their incompetent and have no idea or cant be fuc.ed. Its worth going somewhere else when this situation occurs as if they try at it theyl bugger the whole car somehow.

[bad88u]

it might not be the problem you have. but my vn ss did this and it was the fuel pump. took me days to find out what it was. good luck with it anyways.

[FASTLS1]

have you tried resting the pcm.....my vy sv8 sometimes does some wacky things like last night the door ajar alarm went off every time i locked it?? stopped this morning

best wishes..

[karter42]

Hi Mate,

I was told my BCM was stuffed. Disconnected the battery and left it for a while. reconnected and have not had a problem since. we drive 300k a week and have done 3 trips Melb to Syd return with no issue.

Worth a try.

Australian LS1 and Holden Forums (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=115421)

Dave

[Wonky]

I was told my BCM was stuffed. Disconnected the battery and left it for a while. reconnected and have not had a problem since. we drive 300k a week and have done 3 trips Melb to Syd return with no issue.

Worth a try.

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=115421

Certainly worth a try given it costs nothing and seems to cure a few odd gremlins.

[Mohit]

Sounds similar to the problem that affects some late model Magnas and Veradas. If the battery's on its way out the immobilizer shuts down the engine due to receiving low voltage from the battery. Sometimes a new battery helps but other times it's the connector plug between the BEM and the ECU that needs to be reseated as described here (http://martybugs.net/articles/magna-stall.cgi).

I know this is a Commodore issue but could it be similar to what happens with the Mitsus?

[sv8chris]

Well after all the stuffing around the car lives again. Has for a few weeks now, i just havn't had a chance to get back and fill anybody watching the final result.

bcm failed, pim crapped itself in the process. replaced bcm, no fix. replace pim, no fix. Got a scan tool to read car and it was asking for a tis code. Only place you can get one of those is through a dealer.

Car towed to holden dealer, plugged in and within 5 min the car started perfectly.

Just a lesson learned i guess, not all problems have that majic simple fix. This one was simple, just took the winding road to get there.

[Alister]

My Calais was doing this sometimes back a couple years ago. I lived with it for awhile but once it wouldn't start, just kept shutting down after trying for a couple hours. Took someones advice on these forums and bought a new key reader (the metal ring that sits around the ignition barrell) and replaced it myself and it hasn't happened since. I upgraded it to the VY/VZ design (one solid ring compared to VT/VX two small rings). The part was under $20 from memory and most Holden dealers carry stock.