aj84 Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 Hi all, Quick one- mum was driving on the north circ and as she turned, she thinks her key got caught (hand/knee whatever) and it may have "switched off" Managed to crawl up to the side of the traffic lights area but couldn't get car started again due to the brake pedal not going down. It was stuck in the up position and had no sense of movement at all. With that semi-auto, you need the brake pedal to start it. No error lights on dash and I could hear the hazard light clicks so there was power going through. Key was removable/reinsertable but no change and wheel wouldnt move either. In the end, one last attempt was to put the handbrake down and the brake pedal was able to go down again/start the car. Any reason for this do you think? As I'm typing this, I wonder if in a moment of panic she forgot the handbrake has to be down first, then brake, then power or is this not the case with the Astra? Appreciate comments as usual Interestingly, police car behind her didn't help and simply undertook her and away they went Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj84 Posted January 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 And again while thinking about it - ignore what I said above, course you wouldnt put down the handbrake first before starting the car up :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 Astra H not starting sounds like a crank/camshaft sensor problem, especially when warm. However, no brake travel could mean a dodgy vacuum servo. I would take it to your nearest Vauxhall retailer and get them to plug in the computer and check for any fault codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj84 Posted January 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 Thanks for your reply Do you know what diagnostic port it uses? I've got a ODB-II Vag-Com cable (genuine) and while I know most functions won't work, I'm thinking it might bring up the errors at the very least Failing that, I have recently just bought a Shark Tuning STS kit from Shark/Ben on here and that again has a error code functionality too (same connector as my Audi) Other thing is where the port is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 As far as I am aware everything on the astra H is Can-bus so wouldn't work with a VAG-COM OBDII cable. The port should be under the bit of plastic trim under the handbrake just backwards of the gear lever. Should just ping out with a screwdriver IIRC, although there is a wee bit of fingerspace at the rear of it you may be able to use to pull it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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