Car starting poorly - cause

toil

Hi All,
I have a 03 astra convertible about a year - 90k on it.
When i start it, it is not jumping to life quite like it use to. I did have problems with the battery, but that is fine now.

When i start it, some times i have to hit the accelerator for it to catch\start.
Could it be time to change the spark plugs?

Thanks for all suggestions,
toil

astra22bertoneauto

it could be lots of things. is the engine rattly? any EMl (engine) lights?

Prob best just to get a tech 2 diagnostics done on it then go from there

toil

No, the engine seems good\fine when running. No lights etc,
I think i am also getting poor mileage (but not 100%). As each day goes by i think the car is barely starting - dont think it will start if i dont hit the accelerator...

astra22bertoneauto

I say get the tech 2 done just to make sure its not a sensor etc then go from there. mite just be a dirty throttle body. after it starts do you have to keep your foot on the accelerator or will it just idle without any input from you?

BURT150

It could be the coolant temperature sensor or possibly egr stuck open.

If it needs a good service tho give it one aswell as cleaning out the throttle body and pipework :thumbup:

toil

Yea, the car idles fine once started (dont need to touch accelerator)

toil

Sjdickso

Start with cleaning the throttle body out as said. Blank the EGR valve off both will cost you hardly anything. Then maybe coil pack or give the CTS sensor a swap over.

toil

So i have not had time to check the throttle body etc (or leave it into a garage)
but i had not driven it for 2-3 days and went out to it yesterday.
Car started similar to before but i did not touch the accelerator.
I drove around the city for about 20-30 mins and then stopped the car. When i started it again, about 10mins later, it sat at higher rev's than normal. When i touched the accelerator it gave no power. I was able to drive it home(only 1 km thank god!) on the high rev's - its an automatic. The emissions light and abs lights were on.

I have gone out to it this morning and it started and is idling at the normal rev's but the emissions light is still on now.
Any more ideas before i put it into a garage?!

Thanks for all inputs,
toil

astra22bertoneauto

Time to get the Tech 2 diag done or get a reader yourself and then ask what codes mean on the forum.

Lovely cars the automatics, esp when sitting in traffic lol.