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[duggs]

Thoughts please chaps !

Tonight while driving, car gave a little hop, management light came on, went out, car continued.

5 mins later, she stalled, console lit up like a Xmas tree. She wouldn't restart.

10 mins later, while speakin to recovery service, I tried again and she fired up right away so drove 5 mins to my office.

After a rest of a further 10 mins. drove home. At 75 in the outside lane she faded and stalled again. Sure please she's so heavy...coasted about a mile without power to a layby.

Message came up saying "Auto Gearbox" but suspect that was cause she didn't like coasting that far on a autobox....anyway..message went away but car wouldn't start until a 10 mins. rest then she fired up again and got me home.

Have to say, the last 2 miles, she didn't seem that "comfortable". Any ideas please.

[TheBoy]

paperclip it, there may be a 19

[duggs]

Hi JB,   a 19 being ?
Would I have damaged the autobox by coasting so far without power ?

[Andy B]

Hi JB,   a 19 being ?  ......

Crankshaft sensor 

[feeutfo]

The infamous one and only crank sensor. Rectify before driving obviously.

[Broomies Mate]

A mile shouldn't have caused any damage to the autobox.  A few weeks ago, the AA refused to tow me (arse drag me) about a mile home..... I signed a piece of paper to say I demanded it, and they obliged.

[duggs]

Thank you for the advice. She's down with the mechanic now so I have to slum it tomorrow in the wifes Vectra.

What sort of cost should I expect to be paying for the replacement of said crank sensor ?

[pscocoa]

£100 ish with labour - depends if it is dealer or not - sensor trade is around £55 I think.

[Broomies Mate]

Unless they have experienced this problem (or you tell them that it is the crank sensor) they could charge you a hefty bill for trying more 'obvious' things first, such as dispack, leads, plugs etc etc etc

[duggs]

Thank you for your advice. Fortunately, over the years, my mechanic has done several sensors on my various Vauxhalls.

When I left it with him, he suspected that would be the problem.

Silly question perhaps...but if the sensor is playing up would that allow the car to run...but roughly. That last 1 mile of carriageway down to the garage...she didn't seem too happy.

[05omegav6]

when the crank sensor went on mine, the car ran /idled ok, but would then cut out as you went to pull away. was trying to drive it gently so as not to upset it seemed to behave itself after a 10 min break, then would play up. sometimes ok for 4 or so hours,then would cut out again. diagnostics showed a fault with the crank sensor, but aa reckoned it to be a pig of a job,mostly because he couldn't see where the lead went to... :-/ popped it into local dealer and all sorted after an hour and £125 :-/ not amused when i did my first oil change, and found the sensor just above the oil filter . still all sorted

[CaptainZok]

when the crank sensor went on mine, the car ran /idled ok, but would then cut out as you went to pull away. was trying to drive it gently so as not to upset it seemed to behave itself after a 10 min break, then would play up. sometimes ok for 4 or so hours,then would cut out again. diagnostics showed a fault with the crank sensor, but aa reckoned it to be a pig of a job,mostly because he couldn't see where the lead went to... :-/ popped it into local dealer and all sorted after an hour and £125 :-/ not amused when i did my first oil change, and found the sensor just above the oil filter . still all sorted

Which is why he's an aa man not a mechanic it's a 10 minute job.

[bob.dent]

A mile shouldn't have caused any damage to the autobox.  A few weeks ago, the AA refused to tow me (arse drag me) about a mile home..... I signed a piece of paper to say I demanded it, and they obliged.

Bl00dy hell! I had to call out the AA a few weeks ago due to crank sensor failure and they towed me about 20 miles (although didn't go over 40mph). Didn't appear to cause any problems. :-/

[ianu]

..just had exactly the same problem on mine. I'd had a little bit of a warning as last week it had been taking just a few extra cranks to start and on one occassion wouldn't start at all. I left it 10 minutes and all was fine - but I knew it was only going to be a matter of time before something was going to need checking.
I'd heard about the sensor problem - so it was on my suspicion list.
Thursday - got home and decided to do a peddle check - lo and behold code 10 3 3 5 flashed up (0335).
Friday morning complete fail to start, Recovery duly called and trailored to my Frequent 'flyer' Garage membership Club for a replacement sensor. All in £120.

What stands out the most for me though (and I've said it before) - how fantastic this Forum is - the time and effort that those that contibute to it have taken to put up such valuable information about pretty much every issue you're likely to come across is amazing - I can't thank you all enough. I had the ability to diagnose and even pull off the How to Guide to give to the Garage just in case they hadn't done one before (and make sure they knew that I knew the size of the job)
Rewind to Thursday Peddle test - heard of it - how do you do it ? - look it up BINGO!
How to read the codes - look it up BINGO there it is
What do they mean - look it up BINGO - oh dear!
Result - "Hello I've broken down at home - the Engine management codes are telling me it's possibly a Crank Sensor issue......" "We'll be there within the hour.."
"Hello mate ..Crank Sensor......" " Ok - where do you want it taking as I can't fix it......"
" Hello - is that the Frequent Flyers Club...... Omega......Crank Sensor....... about an hour...." "Yes - we'll have your Omega VIP Lounge waiting for you... sounds like you've cracked the problem - we'll sort it out for you....."

Blooming marvellous chaps - thanks so much.

What's next ? I think my garage are starting a book on it ...I've put my money on Lambda sensor as I don't think that's gone wrong yet 

Cheers
Ian.

[TheBoy]

3.0/2.6/3.2 crank sensor is about £40 +Vat iirc.  I never leave home without a spare