Vauxhall corsa 1998 1.0 starting problems?

well surprise surprise i have the same problem on a 1.0 corsa c ,, no oil light coming on or engine light or spanner light . dont know about the speedo or rev counter as car wont start .. but the front of the plastic on the speedo is split from top to bottom ,, it was like that when i brought for my daugther very clean car and cheap at £200 for an 2002 and in black .. some one must have got fed up with it cutting out and not starting and just wacked the speedo front and broke it .lol .well it was a none runner but i will fix it tomorrow have the speedo out its that for sure .. but on reading this site i have noticed most of the cars with this fault are 2002 and 52 plates ,, not all but most must have been a bad year , but its an easy fix

barry best
January 2015

Hey any luck with this as my corsa just did the same thing??;(

Bradley
April 2011

i am so so annoyed with my 02 plate corsa put into garage same problem turn key eyerything seems fine then i will just die sometimes if i try it again it will come on - but then again most times wont start at all and will need to get a jump start - put into garage whole new electrical pannel 400 quid - and still the exact same problem afeter about 1 week of getting it fixed - anyhone help me ?????? i am so so frustrated with this stupid car now !!!

annoyed and will never get a vauxhall again
April 2011

hi car wont start fuel pressure there turnin over but not firing checked the fuel pump and works fine but cant hear it kick in when turn ignition on? but there is pressure at the fuel rail and help would be very greatful

robert
October 2010

I have a 1.2 and was having the same problems with the dials dropping off whilst driving and not starting whilst the dials were not working. The problem is with the connector to the speedo housing. fairly easy to get to but not as easy as just 2 screws. Take off the cover under the steering wheel 2 screws and you have to remove the parcel shelf first. remove the cover over the steering column. 3 screws and 2 clips for the top part. remove the 3 screws holding the cowling on which reveals 2 more screws for that hold the dials on. Pull the dials forward carefully as the problem connector is at the back of the dials. Hope this helps.

peter
June 2010

Hi I have the same problems .Its to do with a loose connector behind instrument panel . You have to take panel apart and put some two way tape on plug to hold it in . Seemingly its a common fault in earlier corsa,s

Ian
March 2010

I have the same problem with my 1.0i 12v 2002 Corsa! I took it to Vauxhall, diagnostics didn't find a problem but they said that the connections may have come loose behind the dashboard They fixed it and it was fine for just over a week, then i noticed the handbrake light coming on intermittently, and the dials stop working as I'm driving! Now i'm going to have to take it back again It cost me £125 to get it fixed the last time... any ideas?

Cheryl
February 2010

hiya mate that sounds like ya sensors in ya engine mine did the same you need to put it on a diagnostics machine and find out witch sensor needs replaceing

phil
February 2010

my corsa on a 02 plate, has ignition problem where trip light for mileage does not illuminate, car wont start or it will but only run for 5 seconds.in with west end vauxhall at the mowment. 01/12/2009 wiil let you know what happens.

lawrence.
December 2009

I also have the same problem. That is i have to turn the ignition on for approx 3 minutes. When the lights turn on then I can able to start the engine. I ll continue driving without any problems.

The moment I stop for more than 10 min, I have to redo the process again. It's bit annoying though.

I sent it to the dealer and was told it's an ignition relay and have to purchase a new one. They managed to fix it temporarily however they indicated that should this not be fixed, it will cause further problems. I don't trust them they just want to rip me off.

Andrew
December 2009

i have a 2000 1.2 16v vauxhall corsa...when driving along would cut off and not start again for 10-15 mins. Very Dangerous. took her to garage they thought it was petrol pump but turned out to be petrol motor beside manifold that was problem.this solved all my problems with car chugging and not startin.Very happy!!! =]

Kerry
November 2009

The starting problem you have got is the crankshaft sensor.
Fits into the gearbox bell housing at the bottom.
I have changed lots of these, starts, stops, leave for a while, starts again, then stops, etc.
Very common fault, ask dealer!

tony (garage owner)
October 2009

I have a (02)1.2 Corsa SXi with very similar problems, including erratic non start. Your answers were very helpful.
I had problems getting into the dash, below and to right of steeing (2 screws, HT type), but once I removed them a bit of brute force was required to pull the plastic cover upwards and away from dash. Once inside I could see a horizontal blue/black plug into side of steering column.I pushed and waggled this. Another Yellow one points forward towards engine(push and waggle again). My problem appears solved!!
Have I waggled all the multiplugs or are some still to be found?
Vauxhall dealer (Cars older than 6 years will be charged) quoted me £78 +vat for diagnostic and £130 +vat (labour and plug cost ) to rectify!!

Bernard
August 2009

at the back off the instrument panel there is a plug harness use a cable tie and a bit of grease to get it sorted and you should have no problems if you take it to a garage it only takes 10 min to do. the garage owner explained it to me i have had no problems since 2007

jeanette
June 2009

well guess what? my husbands 52 Reg corsa has the same problem. Can be driving along and the speedo will drop to zero & intermitant starting problems. Had it in the garage in Jan and they spoke to Vauxhall who said this was a comming problem with the connector behind the dashboard. Got it fixed and it happened again this week. The mechanic fixed it again for me but says it's a rubbish design - there is nothing to hold the connection tightly enough in place so with engine vibrations, bumpy roads and things like speed bumps, no wonder the connection works loose. Am going to phone Vauxhall to see if a perm. fix can be achieved as it's no fun having a car that you can't be sure will start - and frankly dangerous if the dials lose all power when driving.

K O'Kane
May 2009

i have a corsa sxi 2002 and have the same problem. when i go to start the car i get 2 lights come on and the car will turn over but will not start and when driving along the dials will suddenly fall and sometimes will not come back for up to 10 mins. i took it to vauxhall and they did the same thing with the connector behind the instrument panel, padded it out, they also said that if it kept happening that i would need a new instrument panel. when these things happen i have found that if you smack the top of the dash above the instrument panel everything comes back on and works. have lost all faith in my vauxhall and can't wait to get rid of it.

rachael
April 2009

I have had the same problem with mine. I rang 'a man that can' and he showed me what to do. Its a problem with the coding in the key.
What you have to do is turn the ignition so all the display lights illuminate, then press and hold the key as though unlocking the door. Hold it to the count of 5, then turn ignition off. Lock the doors using the key thob and unlock, then lock and unlock again. Then put key back in the ignition and turn until the lights are illuminated and again press the key for 5 seconds. Turn the ignition back off, then start the car normally. This will reprogram immobiliser. If you have had this problem you may need to do this process a few times over the following few weeks. It will go away, it is a known problem and if you dont know the right people you may well get ripped off!!
Hope this helps.

Emma
November 2008

i have the same problem to. the dial do off and all lights on the dial but car carries on driving ok if im driving along when it happens, but if i try and start the car when the dials are not working the engine starts tehn turns off. this is on a corsa sxi 2003
this must be a common problem, has any one got a bodge fix that fixs it forever? if so please post...

wess
August 2008

hi ive had this problem for ages and when you ring vauxhall they say there isnt a common fault,i fixed it today behind the instrument panel is the multipin adapter put some packing underneath where it lies so it pushes more hard up against the instrument panel because they come very loose honestly you should see how crap and flimsy the adapter is, its a joke, it should be more solid buts its not. it took me an hour to do, you just have to remove a couple of screws if you do want any help email me at jockeyhanson@yahoo.co.uk i know how annoying it is.

allan hanson
May 2008

I have a '98 Corsa 1000cc that rarely starts first time, but has never not started. I was told when I bought it that it was a problem with the immobiliser. It's a bit of a pain but only need it until July when I return overseas. OK for six months but don't think I'd want to put up with it long term! I sometimes leave the key in for a while before I attempt to start it, and this sometimes works. Once it starts though everything's OK and it doesn't cut out.. not a bad car otherwise, but would probably steer clear if I was buying new!

Pat

Pat
May 2008

The corsa C has a data bus connection as part of the imobiiliser circuit - if there is a poor connection at the back of the dials the immobiliser will cause a non start condition (starts but cuts out immediately) - you may also notice the dials are dead - the fix is to replace the loom at the back of the speedo dials (ouch) - has amyone managed to find a premanant bodge yet? - ill update if i find one!

ian
April 2008

I have this problem too, I have a Corsa SXI 2002. I did take to Vauxhall when it was under warrenty several times. However the fault still persists. When you turn the engine on and only two lights come on, put slight pressure on the clear plastic that covers the dials and then all should be ok, probably for about ten minutes after you start driving. This is a fault with the connector behind the dials, which comes loose. Vauxhall didn't ever replace the sensor on my corsa, they just "mended" the connection to it. I did take it to Vauxhall about 5 times with the same problem! Has anyone taken their corsa back to Vauxhall to get this problem sorted once and for all? If so, what was the cost? When I took my car in for a service (not to a Vauxhall Dealer) they did say that it is a common fault with the corsa, so they don't know why there hasn't been a recall on it. I also have problems with the drivers window and drivers side central locking....But thats a different story! Think I got the Duff Corsa...Would buy a Vauxhall again though!

David
February 2008

I have the same problem, occassionally will not start. Once started it is fine for a few days. Watching for an answer to this.

Richard
February 2008

i have a corsa sxi 2003 same fault, all dials in insrument panel go off, engine is ok still, but if this happens while starting car, engine will die after start up, problem is with the connector to the instrument panel either loose or needs replacing

andy
January 2008

i have a corsa sxi 2003 same fault, all dials in insrument panel go off, engine is ok still, but if this happens while starting car, engine will die after start up, problem is with the connector to the instrument panel either loose or needs replacing

andy
January 2008

i have a vauxha,, corsa sxi, 2003. the engine turns over then dies. In the last couple weeks the brake light comes on and all the needles drop. the engines runs ok when this happens. Any ideas?

colin
January 2008