2004 Astra elite auto - throttle problems

[RustyNuts]

Alright lads

 

So we got this astra that is a 2004 elite 5 dr auto. Makes all the right whining noises with the autobox lol.

 

The last few months i've noticed rough idling when its cold and on the odd ocassion its nearly stalled when crawling out of the car park. Yesterday i moved it round to the front of the house, went to get something, got back in and it refused to start. Tried again and it started. Crawled out of the parking space, hit the accelerator (electronic) and nothing happened - it just wouldn't open up the throttle at all.

 

Shut off the engine, tried to restart, tried again, , tried again... restarted.. .still no throttle. Turned off, tried to restart, started, no throttle. Turned off, several restart attempts, no throttle, crawled back into car park with it. Got gloves, popped the bonnet, started the car (first time) hit the pedal and the accelerator was working again.

 

It all seems a bit weird to me. I'm assuming this has an idle control valve somewhere? - which would explain the rough idle if thats sticking but what would cause the accelerator to play up like that and then come back to life?

 

Aprox budget for repairs is £virtually nothing - eek.

 

Help!

 

Rusty

[Asimo]

First things first - spark plugs. Clean and check gaps or replace them with shiny new ones.

[mrbenn]

Have heard of these having trouble with something called a CIM module, which can cause a non start and odd electrical happenings. Might be worth investigating.

[SiC]

I assume this is a 1.8 Astra H?

 

This age is likely not to have a ICV, the throttle body will be fully controlled by the ECU. If you haven't done so already, I'd take off the throttle body and give it a good clean. I know the 1.6's have a small hole in their throttle body for vac which cloggs up all so easily.

 

Not sure if these had EGRs (probably do as most Vaux pez of this era did too), but that's another suspect if clogged. Also as there is cold issues, I would check using a diagnostics tool that the coolant temp sensor is reading sensible values. Again Vauxs of this era are known to have their temperature sensors die.

[RustyNuts]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'd completely forgotten abouit this thread so a nice surprise to come back and find useful info waiting for me

[Cavcraft]

..and when you've fixed it, get shut asap. They have a common problem of shitting their boxes because they share the radiator with the engine, a seal between the two goes and it's game over.

[Split_Pin]

The electronic throttle potentiometer can throw a wobbly also. Mine went through a phase of doing this (Astra G) many years ago but it cleared up by itself, not before I'd shelled out £115for a new one.

 

That threw up a light though, yours isn't. Could be a range of issues, MAF sensor might be my first port of call.

[beko1987]

When we got the meriva I removed the throttle butterfly thing a d cleaned it (and cleared the little breather/sensor hole). Must do the same to the Zafira soon. That made it run loads better!

[Guest Hooli]

It's worth doing on any injected car tbh, they all breathe in the crankcase breather fumes to reburn them & that's what causes the gunk to build up. I'll do the Saab next weekend (doesn't seem to need it, but rude not too) when I do the stat as the intake pipe is coming off to make more room.