Cavalier mk3 2.5 V6 Help

[Blake922]

Hi Guys Thanks for adding me
im new to Vauxhall but have inherited My dads Mk3 1993 Cav 2.5 V6. it has been sat for around 15 years after going into limp mode and nobody knowing how to fix it, went to Vauxhall specialists nobody had a clue.
so I have decided to bite the bullet and going to try and go for a full restoration .
so im here looking for pointers on where/how to start on restoring this beast as its currently a non runner does not start.
turns over but nothing else.
any help much appreciated.

[Robsey]

Welcome aboard,

We will try our best to help, although non starts can be quite tough to diagnose.

Start with the basics...

Fuel -
Clean fuel in the tank,
Is fuel getting to the engine?
- fuel pump working, injectors triggering.

Electrics -
Good strong battery
Fuel pump relay okay.
Engine ecu clean and dry
Plugs etc clean and dry
All connectors and grounds clean and dry

Check fuses 11 and sometimes 30.

Normally the best thing is to give it a good service to cover the usual areas.

I would say do the paper-clip test, but with none start, you will always get a crank angle sensor issue, as this will not clear until the car starts - regardless of how good or bad the sensor is.

[Blake922]

thanks I will give these a try I knw the road ahead is a long one lol so just looking for the basic starting points

[Robsey]

You could do a lot worse than get a Haynes manual for the basics, however

The V6 C25XE is not in the standard Cavalier manual.
You would probably be needing an Omega-B manual. (X25XE)

If you pm me your email address, I have it in pdf format.
So I could send you a copy of it if necessary.

Thankfully early 90's technology is quite straight-forward, so no major rocket science.

[Blake922]

sent mate thanks

[Robsey]

2 x emails sent.

I hope they help.

Both James McGrath and Cavalier342 (Andrei) have (or have had) V6s, so they should be able to assist with many of your ongoing questions.

As said above - it is not a complicated car, so mainly a job of checking for the basics.

Checking and cleaning parts and their connectors.
A good fuel supply, and
a good battery supply voltage and
sound wiring.

[Blake922]

cheers mate got it, Legend

[Cavalier342]

The cars aren't complicated but the V6 lumps are! lol. Biggest headache is keeping track of the massive number of wiring plugs, breather hoses, pipes, and nuts and bolts that have to be removed/replaced every time you want to even look at the 3 spark plugs under the throttle body. As you will see, the engine is literally sqeezed into the bay, so there is no room to work around it without taking half of it apart. Make sure you keep an eye on what goes where and don't lose track of the small important nuts and bolts, as that is a logistical brain killer.

[Blake922]

haha thanks man I will bare that in mind. I did notice that when I was only able to easily access 3 of the 6 plugs and had a scratch the head moment.

[Cavalier342]

The engine is fantastic when running properly, good torque and a really nice soundtrack, but the way the engine is mounted in the bay, it's not designed for front-wheel drive cars, which is why the throttle body and inlet manifold cover one of the cylinder banks, hence the amount of labour involved in servicing and repairs. All you can do is take your time and do it one step at a time, learning as you go, that's the only way to do it.

[Blake922]

yeah I figured as much, just need to bite the bullet and get started on it now lol

[Cavalier342]

Remember to ask if you're unsure about something, and good luck with it.

[Robsey]

By the sound of it,
Plenty of containers,
Plastic bags,
Sticky labels, marker pen,
Photographs as you go along,
And plenty of written notes for good measure.

And cleaning cloths...

Sounds like great fun,
Although a bit scary until you actually get started.