Kudos to whoever can solve this car problem (old Astra)

[XCwillo]

A mates 1990 (ish) holden astra is on its last legs but untill he gets his new ute in a few months, he needs to use it.
So him and a few of his mates where out on his property absalutely thrashing the guts out, after all this, it now stalls whenever it hits over 40 k's

But its so weird what happens :S i took it for a drive myself to test it

approaching 40k's is fine, it has a bad idle tho, timing has obviously been rooted. but when you hit just over 40's (3rd gear) it jumps around abit (the sorta jumping you get from changing to a significantly lower gear quickly) and then it dies, but the engine doesnt die straight away.

So it jumps, then you lose everything, no acceleration, even tho the gear is still engaged its like ignition has stopped, but when i go to start it back up straight after this happens, it makes the noise you get when you try starting a car thats already running. so its still running, but if you wait a few seconds you can start it again.

Clutch starting it doesnt work either, after it happened i switched into second and let out the clutch, that just slowed us down and did nothing.

So breakdown, it turns off over 40k's and jumps before this happens, it has a **** idle, clutch starting it does not work, after all this is happening and the car is just rolling, pressing the acceleration makes a small noise but barely noticiable, hard to explain, but goes no where. and at the traffic lights it will just idle lower and lower till it dies, unless you slow down long before and get the car used to the low idle

Any ideas?
I think it could be the timing, once it gets to a certain point the ignition goes bonkers and goes out of sync?

[irish2]

Knowing how bad the timing belts were on these cars, I would dare say that the belt may have skipped a tooth or two.

[zdcol71]

Yuo've got me...What's the punch line???

[pottery beige]

Burn it and buy a cheap pushbike.....

[GasoLane]

To solve the problem... change mates.

I mean, he's getting a new ute and NEEDS this poor tired old Astra thingie. So him and a few mates go and thrash the bag out of it ?.

[3vXT]

Only drive it in school zones.

[foxtrot3]

Hi. No speed pulse to ecu shuts down injectors over 2000(?) rpm. Cheers MD

[geckoGT]

I have the answer, don't thrash the guts out of a car you still need

Wait till you have the new car and then let rip, kill it.

On topic though, with it in neutral will it rev through the rev range or does it die in the upper revs?

Does it die at 40 km/h in first, or second or is it just in third gear (third gear sounds a bit high for 40 km/h). you may have done some damage reducing power and 40 is just too slow for 3 rd gear.

Perhaps whip some spark plugs out and do a compression test.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

I have the answer, don't thrash the guts out of a car you still need

Wait till you have the new car and then let rip, kill it.

Sorry to be so blunt & unhelpful, but thats it. Sorry IMHO (& the no 1 rule ive always lived by) If you make a decision & make it freely, except the consequences of that decision without complaint. Simple. He chose to thrash the guts out of it, his choice, freely, too bad, live with it.

Maybe he will learn his lesson & use the ute peoperly, because he needs it.

*Flamesuit on*

[XRtowcar]

Its a Holden.
Its just how they are.

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by XCwillo

untill he gets his new ute in a few months, he needs to use it.
So him and a few of his mates where out on his property absalutely thrashing the guts out

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

I know I know I know geckGT, I have to be careful about selective text!

Bud Bud

[ebxr8240]

He has the vehicle he deserves ... In fact too fast.. Beats walk-in...

[mrbaxr6t]

I cant help buy say it - try a pack of redheads..

[Peuty]

Don;t you mean 50 piece took kit?



I'd be looking at fuel pump and coil packs.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

Its a Holden.
Its just how they are.

Great post.

Pity it's not quite true.

VTII, 10 years old, brilliantly reliable - defecates over our previous XF Wagon for reliability, comfort and fuel consumption.

As for the Astra's problem, no idea. Public transport :P

[Jimmyd]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

Great post.

Pity it's not quite true.

VTII, 10 years old, brilliantly reliable - defecates over our previous XF Wagon for reliability, comfort and fuel consumption.
As for the Astra's problem, no idea. Public transport :P

Gee, doya think the 15 years less wear and tear, not to mention automotive evolution might have something to do with that one.........

Back to the Nissan Pulsar, oops, I mean Holden Astra - will it free rev or is it only when under load?

[burkie_21]

ign module is shagged

[kinksta]

I say eat it....

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Don;t you mean 50 piece took kit?

Actually, its a pack of 45's now. & No im not joking.... Buy a packet. Its just like chocolate bars... They have lowered to content without letting it be known... Buy a pack & see.


Actually here you go:
http://www.redheads.com.au/matches.php
First one is the now standard pack...

[XCwillo]

Thanks for your imput guys but rather then spend time fixing iit (it would be more trouble then its worth) he's just gonna dump the thing.

I never got to drive it enough to see if it did it only in 3rd gear, now that i think of it i should of seen what would happen if i skipped 3rd entirely, but alas, its dead now

Thankfully it isnt on the roads anymore :|

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by Jimmyd

Gee, doya think the 15 years less wear and tear, not to mention automotive evolution might have something to do with that one.........

Back to the Nissan Pulsar, oops, I mean Holden Astra - will it free rev or is it only when under load?

He wasn't referring to the age of the car initially though.

He was referring purely to the fact that it was Holden.

Holdens can still be good cars and from my experience, better than Fords in some instances.

The XF at 13 years was reliable, but only after a billion problems from year 5-10.

There is good and bad in all makes and models, and to express a silly throwaway line in reference to the car make is a little silly considering I've had good experiences with whatever Holdens we've had.

[duaned]

[Danny]

He didn't go dump it in a river or in a park somewhere I hope...

[AWD Chaser]

Seriously, I'd put my money on the Fuel filter... had the same issue in my 1989 Barnia (mk2 Swift). Would only start to chug and splutter in 2nd or 3rd when floored. But 1st and Neutral floored were fine...

But yeah - Fuel filter



Make sure you tell us what the problem is in the end...

[TUF_302]

The problem is obvious, the thing is old and knacked and thrashing it has killed, stupid people do stupid things lol