car is not starting

[Timmy corsa B]

weird thing with my corsa

usually runs and starts fine but this has happened twice now and its getting abit worrying to be honest

il put my key in as usual then put my foot on throttle a lil bit then il turn it over but all it does is just turn over no fire so then i pop the bonnet and get my girl friend to turn the key for me and il move the throttle cable a few times and then it will start

any one got summit similar or the same help please??

i was thinking maybe its the chip in the key but not to sure if 1999 corsa keys have chips in them im thinking of selling the car soon and want the problem fixed be for sale

can any one help???


thanks tim

[dannicoll]

If it's a problem with the immobiliser (chips in the keys etc) the engine electronics warning light will flash when trying to start the engine. It should just stay lit constant till the engine has started.

[Jimi137]

I had a similar problem the other day - it was well weird. I thought it was either a random bug in the enigne (they sometimes have random problems but if urs has done it twice then this is unlikely) or maybe something to do with the battery. After it happened i went on a long run without the stereo on and its never done it again. Sorry if that dont help much but im pretty baffled by this problem as well

[haydn1987]

When was the last time you serviced the car, plugs/leads/filters/oil if its been a while it could be any ine of these.

You should never need to press the throttle when starting the ECU knows exactly how much fuel and air is needed to start the engine. However if your engine is sick then sometimes the only way it will start is with your foot to the floor.

All corsas from 1995 have immobilisers so yes you will have a chip in your key but as said you will see a warning light flash on the dash when you try to start if its the immobiliser.

Sometimes a battery on its way out will be able to turn the engine over just fine but not have the enough juice left to make a spark.

[Timmy corsa B]

ok thanks every one big help

im an apprentice hgv mechanic and tbf ur right i suppose it could do with a good service

i think it could poss be the battery because when i switch of my car the battery light does come on and it sounds like it stalls so will check the battery at work tomorrow

thanks every one (Y)

[Timmy corsa B]

i found the problem but i dont know what it is lol

under the bonnet where the throttle cable is there is like a lil compressed spring that moves when the accelerator was pressed this was jammed in so i think i may buy a new one but have to find wt it is called

[LesterPiglet]

Idle control valve I think you mean.

[Timmy corsa B]

i dunno it just did it outside my house now it just turns the engine over man im outta breath it was on a blooy hill lol

[George611]

is it held in by two torx bolts?? i had sumit similar il be driving then itl sound all out of breath lol if yu know what i meen..as soon as i touch the throttle its trys to cut out revs drop n finally cuts out..to start it agen yu gota crank it n hold yur foot flat to the floor lol quite funny really well was for me cos it wernt my car lol

[Timmy corsa B]

no its not when im drivin just to start up

[Ryanb123]

i would chek the battery first mate
then see if there is a constant healthy spark from all plugs and leads
then have a look at the fuel system things such as the fuel pump, the pressure regulator and also the filter.


hope this can help - Ryan

[Timmy corsa B]

well i was told today that it did have it replaced but they replaced it with another old one so im assuming it is that im doing a whole service on her soon tbf