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[Bigron]

I was just about to take my blind neighbour and his guide dog to hospital this afternoon to visit his wife and my car wouldn't start.
Green Flag attended and tried to diagnose the fault, but he said that his reader could not connect to the ECU. He confirmed that petrol was being fed by undoing a union to the injectors - big squirt!
He then used Easy Start in the air intake (bad, I know, but he did it before I could stop him) and it did catch briefly, so must have sparks, too.
We discussed crank sensor, but HE doubted it and went on about cam sensor - unlikely in a V6?
The bottom line is that I am now a pedestrian and perhaps there's a mobile Oofer who could come to me and find/repair the real cause of the problem?
My local garage man isn't that good; ok for MOTs and taking money, but not much else!

Ron.

[Lazydocker]

Do the pedal trick and report back Ron

FWIW, I'd put money on the Crank Sensor

[Nick W]

When you last started it, was it driven until it warmed up or just moved and turned off? Then it's probably flooded - charge the battery, pull the fuel pump fuse or relay and crank it over for about 20 seconds with the throttle open. Do that several times, refit the fuse and try it again.


A small squirt of Easy Start is fine if used as a diagnostic tool as here.

[Lazydocker]

A small squirt of Easy Start is fine if used as a diagnostic tool as here.

Agreed. Although when used to incorrectly confirm a spark it's a bit pointless

Ron, the use of Easy Start hasn't proven a spark being present... It will ignite under compression anyway

[Andy H]

crank sensor all day long - unless a certain admin takes a shine to fuse F18.............

(although thinking about it - if F18 fails you probably wouldn't be able to connect to the ECU with a code reader)

[Bigron]

Nick, I NEVER just run the engine for a few seconds and then switch off, the engine and/or the ECU doesn't like it! I did a long run last night and this was the first start since then, this afternoon.
I did suggest to the Green Flag man that the Easy Start may have caused "dieselling", but he (with 40 years' experience) denied this.
LD, I've forgotten how to do the pedal trick and cannot immediately find it here, but I'm sure that I will later.
Thanks for your replies so far, gents. I wish Serek were nearer to me.....

Ron.

[Andy B]

.
LD, I've forgotten how to do the pedal trick and cannot immediately find it here, but I'm sure that I will later.
......

Throttle & brake to the floor with the ignition on ...... count the flashes from the engine management light.

[Lazydocker]

.
LD, I've forgotten how to do the pedal trick and cannot immediately find it here, but I'm sure that I will later.
......

Throttle & brake to the floor with the ignition on ...... count the flashes from the engine management light.

This

Ron, if I get a job down your way tomorrow I'll send you PM

[Bigron]

The pedal trick revealed two codes:-
0430, which I got last February in Swanage, cured by Cataclean, Shell V-Power and an Italian tune-up, and
0335, which the OOF guide lists as "Crankshaft position sensor"A" circuit malfunction" - that's the crank sensor, yes?
I bought one from the OOF reco ::)mmended eBay supplier before my Swanage holiday, just in case.
The Green Flag man didn't seem to know where the crank sensor lived. 

Ron.

[omegod]

Should be an easy fix at least Ron, some green flag man wasn't he, 10 secs googling would have had you back on the road 

[Bigron]

Well, I don't know where the crank sensor is, eother! But from memory of the photos on here, I thought it was on the nearside of the engine, but Mr. Green Flag went looking at the offside.
He clearly was reluctant even to attempt to fit my new crank sensor, anyway.....

Ron.

[Andy H]

Yep. Nearside - nestling between the oil filter and the bell-housing.

[Bigron]

Ugh, I've just found the appropriate Guide - no wonder Mr. Green Flag didn't want to know!
My driveway is full of caravan and the Omega is on the (small) front lawn; not really conducive to propping a heavy car up on. 

Ron.

[terry paget]

When you last started it, was it driven until it warmed up or just moved and turned off? Then it's probably flooded - charge the battery, pull the fuel pump fuse or relay and crank it over for about 20 seconds with the throttle open. Do that several times, refit the fuse and try it again.


A small squirt of Easy Start is fine if used as a diagnostic tool as here.

Honest question. On a drive by wire 2.6 does flooring the accelerator in fact open the throttle with a dead engine?

[Lazydocker]

Ron, if I'm down that way I'll fit it for you... It only takes about 30 minutes.

Trouble is, I never know where I will be. I'm sure I'll pass by at some point in the next 4/5 days or so but can't say when.