It sounds to me like the voltage is dropping a bit low (hence the traffic master starting a conversation).

Get the battery checked out.

 

My traffic master chirps up say once a week to tell me the licence has expired. The other day it even gave me real traffic advice for about 15 mins unprompted. It then reminded me to renew.

If the traffic master is doing this then I think it could well be unrelated to your starting problem.

When you say reluctant to fire - can you decribe the problem more fully. i.e. does it turn over fine but not fire at all, or does it cough and splutter for a while until it starts?

 

Hi Jason, Yes the engine seems to spin quite merrily but does not fire at all. When it does fire its as smooth as silk. This is whats so puzzling.

Mark, Will get them to check the battery when i have the service done. will have to check whether the radio (std) has a code or not. If so will go thro' the paperwork for the car to see if i have the code, if not extra money getting it recoded.

 

Yes i agree with MarkDTM. Either the battery is low or the starter motor is drawing too much current and folding up the battery.

Being as it's very cold and dark outside, you'll be using your heater and driving lights much more than you would in the summer. So if your battery is on it's last legs then using the heater/lights more ofter will break them.

Let us know how you get on.

 

Doesn't anyone else suspect the cranksensor?

Wildemick - does it start just fine sometimes, but on other occasions turn over but just not fire. You try the key a few times, even leave the car for a few minutes, then on the next turn of the key it starts just fine?

 

Well spotted jason.

I suspect the crank sensor is not long for this world....

 

Yes jason, that about sums it up.

Right, where from ? and how much ?

 

These guys.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Omega-B-1994-2003-2-5-2-6-3-0-3-2-Crank-Sensor_W0QQitemZ4575305509QQcategoryZ10404QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Being a 97, it should be a "round" sensor, but you need to check to be certain.

To do this, check the how 2, here. http://www.cavweb-forums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=62628

 

Hi again,
Just been looking thro' service history that came with car and discovered receipts for battery july '05 and new crank sensor july '04 (£80). The mileage recorded for crank sensor was 75569. the cars mileage is now 83052.
What is the estimated life expectancy for the crank sensor ?

The recent service history receipts shows 2 X tech 2 tests(?) performed by local vauxhall dealerships. I think this has been a ongoing problem. Maybe the service will help, its booked in for monday.

Must add that the car was 1st registered june '98 and not '97 as originally stated.

 

Apparently although you need to replace the crank sensor it isn't the sensor that fails - it's the wiring. It runs very close to the exhaust and even has a heat shield around it.

I suggest crawling under the car and having a look at the route the crank sensor wiring is taking. The sensor is just below the oil filter and the wires should be tucked in behind the oil cooler pipes. As it's nearly impossible to get the old wires out without disconnecting the oil cooler pipes the replacement sensor wiring is usually routed a little differently.

If the replacement wasn't fitted very well the wiring may be in contact with the exhaust.

 

It would be very unusual for a crank sensor to fail that quickly unless some muppet had routed so it was touching the exhaust!

Assuming the wiring is fine, I think we need to explore other avenues.
I would still test the battery to see what the readings are.

 

Hi, Fully charged the battery on Sunday and had the car serviced yesterday. They also looked at the crank sensor and wiring. No probs there.
He had noticed the grommet that the cold air valve is fitted to into the inlet manifold hadn't been replaced correctly which meant that the mixture was too lean.
This morning the car turned over then fired up no problem. Hopefully that will continue.
Thanks for your replies.

 

Hello, back again.

Since the service the car has behaved reasonably well, with the occasional 3 or 4 turns to start. That was until Tuesday when it couldn't be coaxed into firing at all.
Called the car sales co and they promptly came to pick it up Tues lunch time. They called me yesterday to confirm that the crank sensor was at fault and were waitinf for the part to be delivered later that day. It arrived, they fitted it but they wanted to keep hold of the car overnight to test it this morning. Waiting patiently now for them to call to say I can go and pick it up...HOORAH !!!!
It seems to have paid off paying that little extra from a car sales when you get service like I've received. Its only a little "back street" business but the service is what you expect to receive from a main dealer.
The wife has already told them when she will be replacing her car and what cars she likes. Hoping that they will be able to supply her...lol

 

Good service on their part. The sensor will be fine now, as long as they have routed it correctly. You could have easily changed it yourself though

Hopefully all will be fine now.

 

Then it would be a waste of the warranty they put on the car when I bought it....lol:Cool2:

 

Hi Folks, A newbie to the registered forum but have been reviewing for some time. Thanks for all of the advice on this one.
I have had this 2.5 Omega since October 05 after losing patience with an oily leaky and underpowered 2.0Gls. The 2.5 has now on 4 occasions developed the symptoms Wildemick described on the original posting, running absolutely fine otherwise. It has always started after up to 25 mins break from last failed attempt until today. Completely failed to start, AA guy scratching his head after nearly 2 hours interrogating his database and taking various resistance and voltage readings. He suggested it might be the crankshaft position sensor but could not guarantee it and wants to know what it was if I fix it. After a 30 min drive home attached to rear of aforesaid AA vehicle through M60 roadworks, my nerves were close to breaking point (not much of a view to see where to steer with the daily changes in road layout not helping much).
Will check links tomorrow to find out which sensor type it is (plug shape) and hopefully get it on the road later today (friday). Thanks for all the invaluable advice

 

Welcome to the forum sms01.

Thank us if it works!

I am pretty certain with it being a 98 model you will have the "round" edged connector (ie. cheaper one).

Any problems, let us know.

 

Might be worth checking the earth connections under the battery tray, they can be green and furry. The engine management has its own power and ground feeds directly from the battery terminals so a bad body earth should not degrade the sensor signals but it is easy to check so why not eliminate it?

 

After a 30 min drive home attached to rear of aforesaid AA vehicle through M60 roadworks, my nerves were close to breaking point (not much of a view to see where to steer with the daily changes in road layout not helping much).

Hope your Omega is manual!
That tow wouldnt have done an autobox much good.

 

Hi Folks,

Didn't check the ground under the battery tray although I would be surprised if it was bad - everything on this car seems clean when I have looked at it. Will check if I have any more problems or need to take the battery out again. Car is a manual luckily so no fear of wrecking the box on a tow.

After charging the battery on Thurs night I thought I would give it a try on Friday before ripping it apart - It Started.... albeit reluctantly.

Spent a few hours on it yesterday, finally managing to source a sensor from Stockport - apparently there are three different sensors on the 2.5 omega, early, middle and late - according to the VX garages anyway. Mine was the 'middle' one - part no 90 492 061 - black plastic, round end to sensor with chamfer on it, rounded edges to the connector - Had a fax sent from VX with diagrams of the early, middle and late ones sourced from eccles if anyone needs it. Got it fitted eventually after spending an age trying to get the wires to go via a reasonable routing avoiding exhausts etc. Fired up - started very eagerly and so far has been fine. Hopefully that will keep the problems at bay for a while.

Once again, thanks for the support and advice.

 

Good to hear you got it all sorted but why did it take you so long?

The how2 details the change, and rerouting is a doddle with a couple of cable ties.

20 mins tops.

 

Wasn't really in the mood for fiddling about so took my time, oil and filter change at the same time and replaced the pollen filter also (was not a nice sight - looked like it could have been the original one).

Reckon I could do it in about 1/2 hour now I have done it, trickiest bit was getting the wiper arms to separate from the spindles then realising there were clips under the rubber windscreen apron to get the scuttle panel off.

Most of the time was in getting the bit off, tracing a part, collecting it, refitting was easy apart from the wire routing bit.