Corsa wont start but wants to! Help needed

[steviewonder]

Hi my corsa is a 1.2 8valve 1997 corsa b and my problem occurred around a week ago when i tried to start it thinking i had more petrol than i actually had in it and it cut out on me. There was a slight squeel like that of a belt and a small puff of black suit out the bonnet. Upon putting petrol in it via a gerry can and changing the spark plugs, charging the battery too it seems to turn over but doesnt actually start up as when you let the key go it cuts out if anyone can help me out i'd be very grateful. P.S i hadn't used the car in about a month before so thought i'd let you know incase that has anything to do with it.

[CraigC]

I might be wrong, but it sounds to me like its the Air Flow Meter
Same problem with mine

[haydn1987]

need a bit more info than it just wont start.
is it getting fuel?
is it producing a spark?

a belt squeel and a puff of smoke does not sound good. if the timing belt slipped then it won't start, shouldn't of damaged anything tho but you need to check the timing.

[steviewonder]

HI the engine is most definetly getting a spark but im unsure if its getting enough petrol as it seems to be catching but every so often is wanting to go. I tried starting it up with the MAf sensor off and the carb exposed by taking the big ugly cover off and the car fired up but wont rev above idle with the foot flat to the floor. As soon as you take the foot off the gas the engine cuts out. What would it mean if the timing is out and how would i check it? Should i try replacing the fuel filter and see if that works by hopefully getting the correct fuel in and see if thats anything to do with it?

[haydn1987]

try the paperclip test it will tell you if the ECU has recorded any faults.
Read these for info:
http://www.allcorsa.co.uk/forums/showth ... -8479.html
http://www.topbuzz.co.uk/info/fault_cod ... _codes.htm

I'm a little confused you say your engine is a 1.2 8v they don't have MAF sensors can you confirm that its a an 8v and not a 16v.

How long has it been since you did a full service e.g. oil, filters, spark plugs, leads ect?

to check the timing you need to remove the timing belt cover on the left of the engine and then turn the engine over so the bottom pulley lines up to the timing mark and check that the top pulley is also lines up.

[steviewonder]

Problem sorted its the alternator. Its has siezed and therefore the engine wont rotate took the belt off and it frees everything up so having to order a new alternator and belt and possibly tensioner. Also noticed the timing belt is about 3 teeth out but the car starts fine and sounds sweet as a nut, so dont know if i'll really bother my backside with changing it as it works.

[haydn1987]

glad you found the problem alternators can be taken apart and serviced it shows you what to do in the haynes manual. But you can get one cheap enough from a scrap yard.

a siezed alternator shouldn't have affected the timing belt but I recomend getting the timing properly looked at. the timing belt needs to be changed every 80,000 so If your close to that milage then you might aswell do it now.

[steviewonder]

The engine has done approx 115,000miles so just going to do the timing belt too. I've been looking for alternators cheapest i can find is £79 new from euro car parts or a refurbed one is the same price plus trade in from autoparts. I tried a few local scrappies but none have any corsas i thought the scrappies would be riddled with them hoping to have new alternator and belts done by friday or saturday at latest so i can go golfing this weekend if the weather keeps up

[haydn1987]

euro car parts and ebay is the cheapest I have found parts on the internet.
You can get an alternator out of nearly any vauxhall, there were four different types of alternator in the corsa any one will do.