100% Free

No Scanner Needed

Carly logo

Carly Community

stefanhimmel65

Astra Starting Stalling Issues

I've got a bit of a head-scratcher with my 2023 Vauxhall Astra hybrid. It's got about 195995 km on the clock. Lately, it's been a pain to start, sometimes it just cranks and cranks. Then, even worse, it occasionally stalls when I'm sitting at a light, which is pretty unnerving. Oh, and of course, the check engine light is mocking me from the dash. I'm thinking it might be a sensor thing? I've read a bit about crankshaft and camshaft sensors causing similar issues, but I'm not sure where to even start testing. Any ideas?

4 comment(s)

ralf_schmid67

Sounds familiar. I had a similar headache with my Astra a while back. Those starting and stalling symptoms definitely point to a sensor issue. From what you're describing, especially the stalling at idle, I'd lean towards the camshaft position sensor being the culprit. Have you tried getting the error code read? That would give you a much better idea if it's the camshaft or crankshaft sensor. But if I had to bet, I would say it's the camshaft sensor. Before replacing anything, check the wiring and connectors to the sensor first. Make sure they're clean and properly connected.

stefanhimmel65 (Author)

Thanks for the quick reply! So, you reckon it's more likely the camshaft sensor than the crankshaft one? And you mentioned checking the wiring – is there anything specific I should be looking for besides obvious damage?

ralf_schmid67

Yeah, based on my experience and the stalling at idle, camshaft is my primary suspect. As for the wiring, look for any signs of fraying, cracking, or corrosion. Also, check the connector itself for bent or broken pins. If you have a multimeter, you could test the sensor's resistance, but you'd need to find the correct values in the service manual or online. Honestly, given the symptoms and the potential hassle of diagnosing it yourself, I would recommend taking it to a trusted workshop. They should be able to pinpoint the faulty sensor pretty quickly.

stefanhimmel65 (Author)

You nailed it! Took it to the shop, and they confirmed it was indeed the camshaft sensor. Apparently, the encoder wheel on the camshaft itself was defective. Ended up costing me 695€ for the repair, but at least it's running smoothly now. Thanks for the guidance!

Join the discussion now: