car wont start

[scott w]

ive got a vx ss as the family car and its developed a problem of occasionally not wanting to start you put the key in and turn it and nothing happens no lights nothing .
thought it may have been the key so tryed spare key we had and seemed ok for a while , thought problem was solved then last week-end the problem showed its ugly head again .
took the missus and kids down the street today and almost got stuck as car didnt want to start , unlocked several times , key in and out then all of a sudden it starts .
could be ignition barrel , any help would be welcome .

thanks scott

[bush_basha]

could be the silver ring around the barrel, aparently that plays up

[feistl]

Hey,

First step would be to check for ECU Error codes and possibly ABS fault codes (Bridging pins 5+6 and 5+12 and turning the ignition on)

I had a similar issue a while back, where turning the key didnt do anything. The after a while it would turn over, start for 2-3 seconds then die.

Im not sure if you need the 3 window cluster or not, but if you turn the ignition off, hold down the "mode" and "up" arrow, turn the ignition on and let go of the buttons it would enter "diagnostic" mode. One of the readouts (pressing mode to scan through) would be the coolant temperature. Mine was reading as -40 degrees...

Turns out the PIM module was faulty (had some corrosion on some of the chip pins). Cleaned them up and the problem is completly gone.

Its a very long shot and not likely, but if everything else fails it could be it (Especially if you cant get a read out from the ECU/ABS module using the method above).

Best of luck...

[scott w]

did a google search and it said something about the metal ring the key touches when its inserted certainly worth looking at , when i insert key and turn it nothing .
dont really wont to take it to a dealer if i can get out of it .

[maginoodle]

Hi, i have had a couple of commys lately that have broken the end of the barrel spline(unsure of what the correct term is) that turns the electrical switch.
To check that you would need to remove the barrel and check it( just put the ign on accessories and insert a nail into the little hole on the underside of the housing and pull the barrel out).
If that is good your electric switch could be stuffed.

Cheers Shane

[scott w]

cheers guys giving me some good places to start , dont need the missus getting stuck down the street with the kids

[bad88u]

battery terminals maybe?

[Jman]

battery terminals maybe?

Exactly what I was thinking. Sometimes a slightly loose terminal can cause an intermittant fault like you have described.

May seem obvious but have you checked the terminals for tightness??

[scott w]

put a new battery in the car a few years ago and i didnt use the car much until i traded the missus car in on my new ve ss and the vx ss became the family car .
will check terminals , talked to a mate who's a mechanic and are going to check out ignition barrel on week-end .

thanks scott

[LS1-5.7]

Sounds like it could be a couple of things of which some have been mentioned. If the slipring (at ign barrel) is ok then you'll have to start digging further. Try main fusable link, ignition relay etc.

Good luck and hope you get it sorted soon :)

[scott w]

put a second hand ingnition switch in the car on the week-end (couldnt get a new one unless i wanted to wait a day or so ) every thing seemed great then on way home from work tonight hit a bump in the road and car stalled .
turned ignition off then on nothing , tryed a few more times nothing , started to push car to side of road as happened just before set of traffic lights and lights came on dash jumped back in and it starts but trys to stall .
got car off road and turned it off then started it again , all running fine , IM REALLY OVER THIS CAR :flamin: .
had a mate whos a mechanic check it for fault codes nothing , not sure if i have a dodgy conection somewhere as it seemed to stall after hitting bump , but then in the past it wouldnt start after parking it every so often then all of a sudden no problem .

[rgmast]

why dont u just bite the bullet and take it to an auto elec

[scott w]

mates a mechanic whos been in the trade for over 20 years , its one of those things when they have to be there when it happens , then try and fault find .
problem is intermitent and bloody annoying

[bad88u]

try looking at your fuel pump? it will only be a minor problem. but if i was you i would take it to a workshop.

[scott w]

fitted a new fuel pump couple months back .
going to start going thru the wiring , just seemed odd it hit a bump and stopped .
could be a loose or corroded connection .

[bad88u]

what bout the battery terminals? give them a sanding with sandpaper.

[scott w]

yeah checked all the basic's like the terminals , fitted new battery while back .
mate who's a mechanic and i are going to start going thru the wiring saturday unless its stops on the way home from work fingers crossed .

thanks scott

[Ned_Flanders666]

Got a similar problem. It cranks but wont start. The pump primes, changed fuel filter, got a new key, new battery. Only found out today my PCV hoses have broke but I doubt that would be the cause of the car not wanting to start. Good luck with it all.