Holden AStra-2003 starting issue

**KYU** · 09-03-17, 04:02 PM

Hi
I just got Astra-2003. The very next day of the purchase the check engine light came off and starting was an issue with it started after many tries. Then I figured out that to start you need to constantly put pressure on gas paddle until it starts. I noted that once warm up ,you can start normally. Any idea what could be the issue?
Regards
KYU

**Godzilla** · 09-03-17, 09:27 PM

Pull the codes that triggered the check engine light from the ecu and report back with them.

May tell us what the issue is.....

**Rick** · 09-03-17, 09:42 PM

Purchased privately or through a car yard?

**VroomVroom** · 10-03-17, 08:11 AM

Astras are a piece of junk , just push it off a cliff

**KYU** · 10-03-17, 04:49 PM

Thanks for all the replies. Well I understand that it is a piece of shit that I privately purchased, however, tight on money, didn't have any other choice.
Code it showed was 1130 and for one time 1895. My friend who has little bit knowledge did something with it, including cleaning the EGR valves, cleaning spark plug. reset the codes. The code did not come back till to date even after 2 weeks. The starting problem, however, is still there. Once started ,it runs fine.
Regards

**VroomVroom** · 10-03-17, 06:17 PM

check for 12v at the fuel pump. when IG is turned on there should be power for about 5 secs , then again when key is turned to Start. once engine is running there should be power at the pump the whole time.
if thats ok then check fuel pressure. if not ok try swapping the pump relay.

**Rick** · 10-03-17, 06:45 PM

Just out of interest, have you removed and cleaned the MAF sensor?

**shred** · 10-03-17, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

Astras are a piece of junk , just push it off a cliff

Yes. Really.

Astras have a terrible reputation for developing weird, intermittent electrical faults that can consume thousands of dollars without being fixed. Get it sorted, then sell it - quickly, before something else goes wrong. My guess is that is exactly what the previous owner was doing when they offloaded their problem on to you. These are not cheap cars in any way.

**VroomVroom** · 12-03-17, 06:23 PM

not just electrical faults - the engine oil and water pumps let go without warning and the auto transmission has 3 major design faults - the input splines chew out , the valve bodies fail and the primary thrust washers chew out. Goes for anything 4 cyl made by holden - based on a crappy Opel design then copied by Daewoo under licence.

**shred** · 12-03-17, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

not just electrical faults...

And brake rotors that only last for 60,000km. There's a good reason that they're very cheap second hand - to keep them on the road costs a bomb.

What is it about Holdens with names ending in "a"? (Astra, Vectra, Craptiva, Camira, Viva...).

**KYU** · 13-03-17, 11:44 AM

Thankyou guys for all your replies. My friend ran a check on it and ame up that front O2 sensor might need replacement. We will do this on upcoming weekend and hoping for the best. And yes It is a bad purchase. I will sell it but after fixing this issue.
Cheers

**mm401** · 13-03-17, 12:41 PM

i had 2 of these and have been great cars for me. Try cleaning the throttle body with carby cleaner. Had the same type of problem. Mick

**VroomVroom** · 13-03-17, 08:18 PM

wont be the O2 sensor. the car's ECU ignores the O2 sensor while the engine is warming up. go back and perform the tests i described earlier.

**KYU** · 15-03-17, 04:25 PM

Thanks everyone. I will act on some suggestions this weekend ,hopefully. I will keep posted

**allover** · 15-03-17, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by shred

And brake rotors that only last for 60,000km. There's a good reason that they're very cheap second hand - to keep them on the road costs a bomb.

What is it about Holdens with names ending in "a"? (Astra, Vectra, Craptiva, Camira, Viva...).

You mean any thing starting with H