I’m still struggling to diagnose a warm starting problem on my Vauxhall Zafira Life 1.6 petrol (2006). HJ suggested a fuel evaporation problem. My mechanic thought it was the starter motor, which he checked and refitted. The lack of diagnostic codes gives no pointers to the problem, but the warmer weather has occasionally made even the second start more troublesome. The cold start is strong and no problems, the first warm start is usually just a click. The second warm start (especially now we have some sunshine!) sometimes suggests a fuel mixture issue. I’ve tried removing the air filter to ensure good air flow, run a diagnostic to see what the sensors think is the current state of affairs. But no pointers.

I think the clue is somewhere in the fact that a cold start is strong but the warm start is weak. It’s almost as though the car wants to use a fuel mixture unsuitable for starting because it thinks it’s still running at a steady 60mph. I think the EMU is getting stuck in some way. Warm starting issues on the whole generally seem to be ‘complete’ none starting eventually. Do I just need to wait? I’m surprised I haven’t found more pointers with this being such a common engine across a range of Zafira and Astra models.

UPDATE - Forgot to mention car runs and idles well. mpg is fine. Just had an idea about trying to bumpstart the car from warm and found the car starts first time without problems. What I'm I bypassing here that could be the issue?

Edited by Micky Myers on 07/06/2018 at 15:19