Corsa-B.uk - Vauxhall, Opel and Holden Corsa B Owners Club

Its a 98 Corsa envoy 1.0 that I've been given the job of servicing for a mate. I've recently changed the oil, plugs, clutch cable and most recently brakes. Till this point I'd never driven the car properly but had been told it was running a little rough.. No kidding(!)
While it starts and idles fine, the throttle response seems sluggish. When giving it full throttle the engine just seems to die and almost cut out. It just doesn't like to rev and generally feels like an old diesel to drive.

As the plugs are new, I've discounted that. The ignition lead block 'seems' fine but could it be damaged internally? Any engine sensors that could be at fault? I hear that the MAF sensors are a common fault or perhaps crank sensor? Is there any other common faults with this engine that would cause these symptoms?
The Corsa is new to me so any help most appreciated

Most commanly Mass Air Flow. Had same problem and changing this sorted it.

just do not get a brand new maf - they cost silly amounts of moment. go 2 your local scrappy and get one off either a 1.0 litre 12 valve or a 1.2 16 valve (they're the same) and fit it yourself. Im a muppet when it comes 2 cars and it took me 3 mins 2 fit it lol. Plus most breakers only charge 25 quid - not the 160 vauxhall charge

New MAF fitted fine, and the engine run great with no flat spot in the rev range.. for about 20 seconds...(!) then the engine just died and wont re-start.
Re-fitted the old MAF to no effect, also changed plugs and the crank sensor to be safe and its the same. What could I have done whilst swapping the MAF to cause this? Is it the ECU playing up or perhaps some other fault has been triggered?
I'm getting sparks from all 3 ignition leads so ruled out the coil/ignition lead pack.

Are you getting em light on the dash or any others when trying to start her up?

Im the least mechanical person going.. but just a thought, so dont moan at me if its wrong .. but you say you replaced the MAF and the engine died... would it help to reset the ecu so it can re-calabrate its self to the new one?

Yeh try disconnecting the battery overnight to reset the ecu. Another very obvious one is what about the battery? is the battery dead? like is the car ticking over and not being able 2 start or is it just trying to go then stopping straight away and all the em lights on the dash going dim? I know this is obv and im not insulting your intelligence but its worth a check. Also maybe check your starter motor

Not at all Thanks for the replies, the battery and starter are fine - the engine turns over no problem just not firing...
I have disconnected the battery a few times maybe half an hour max, does it really need so long to reset and would that really cause the car not to start at all? I guess its worth a try.

I have alwayss gone by the rule of leaving it disconnected over night or for at least a few hours mate, hopefully that will work for you

Any luck with this or still same problem?

I don't suppose it could be an immobiliser problem thats not allowing the car to turn over but not fire?

As i have said on previous posts when my mates corsa did this we set about changing, cam shaft sensor, maf sensor, crankshaft sensor, egr...just fortunate I have a mate who can get parts dirt cheap. Then I stumbled accross a post on the net regarding an "Earthing fault" which was cured by putting an earth cable directly from the ECU to the negative battery terminal.

not the 160 vauxhall charge

went to vauxhaul yesterday for one for my cars they quoted me..........£227

i laffed in his face and just walked away

have you tried cleaning changing the idel control valve (it like an auto choke). they can cause stalling and the engine revving its self etc.

might be worth a check also check the throttle body is niice and clean.

cleaning the idel control valve - http://forums.corsa-b.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=105&t=13412