Keeps cutting out

[mk1fan]

Samy clearly doesn't want to head back North.

Tried to run some errands tonight. Car ran fine from cold then cut out. Wouldn't restart. Thought it was some rubbish in the dist cap (I had sprayed some contact spray in it). Cleaned it out. Car started.

Ran for about 3 miles. Then cut out again. Fiddled with dist cap. It restarted. Just got home and then cut out again.

It cuts out suddenly. I don't think it misfires first. Engine turns over quickly. Nothing seems to be unplugged.

I'm hoping to get it in to the garage first thing. In the meantime, any thing 'TVR' specific to check?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Sounds like a camshaft position sensor or something...

[phillpot]

my money is on the "something"

[mk1fan]

I'll hand it to the garage.

I still have the Beast to go to Oulton in.

[Griffinr]

Yellow connector?? If you still have it.
Common failure, located on the steering column in the cable to the back of the ignition switch. The terminals get burnt as they are not big enough.
Rob.

[mk1fan]

Would that cut the engine but still let the engine turn over on the starter?

[phillpot]

It could do.

If I remember correctly there are two wires in the connector, live feed to the switch and feed to nearly all car electrics when ign. is on.
Starter is fed by another cable off the switch so if the "out" side of the connector is playing up power would still be available to the starter.

[mk1fan]

The cars electrics were still working lights were fine, fan etc...

[glenrobbo]

Fuel pump / relay?

[mk1fan]

My initial thoughts are either fuel or ignition.

Garage is full today so the Beast is heading to Oulton.

[phillpot]

mk1fan said:

My initial thoughts are either fuel or ignition.

Yep, I think you could be right.

[mk1fan]

Booked in for Tuesday. Compiled a list of the works done so far - to check they haven't caught or blocked something.

Trying to find the indicator relays has meant me messing about around the fuse box and the steering UJs meant messing areound the big yellow connector.

I'll have to book another trackday soon for Samy!

[glenrobbo]

phillpot said:

mk1fan said:

My initial thoughts are either fuel or ignition.

Yep, I think you could be right.

I agree with Phillpot.

The only other possibility is Divine Intervention preventing you ( & me ) from doing the trackday on 8 yr old P6000's.

Stewart, what's The Beast?
Shirley not the Touran?

[Mr Clifford]

Griffinr said:

Yellow connector?? If you still have it.
Common failure, located on the steering column in the cable to the back of the ignition switch. The terminals get burnt as they are not big enough.
Rob.

I would check this first, happened to me.
Started with cutting out !!!!!

[Mr Clifford]

Griffinr said:

Yellow connector?? If you still have it.
Common failure, located on the steering column in the cable to the back of the ignition switch. The terminals get burnt as they are not big enough.
Rob.

I would check this first, happened to me.
Started with cutting out !!!!!

[Le TVR]

Seems that fiddling with the dizzy can cause it to come back temporarily?
Checked the in-line connector between the dizzy and the loom? or the connectors to the ignition amp?

[phillpot]

Le TVR said:

Seems that fiddling with the dizzy can cause it to come back temporarily?

Or a "red herring" ? something cooled down or whatever while fiddling with dizzy?

[mk1fan]

Although I think there was some rubbish in the dist cap which didn't help, I did just leave the car the last two times it cut out - that is I fiddled with nothing - and it started again after a period of time.

Although the black Box would be a laugh round the circuit, the Beast is a Bora (VW not Masa).

I'll have a fiddle on Monday - check the relays, the yellow connector and maybe change the plugs. I'll try and find the fuel filter(s) too just so I can identify them to the garage.

[NiceCupOfTea]

phillpot said:

Le TVR said:

Seems that fiddling with the dizzy can cause it to come back temporarily?

Or a "red herring" ? something cooled down or whatever while fiddling with dizzy?

This - which is why I suggested a cam/crankshaft sensor or the like. Common failure point when an engine runs from cold and then suddenly dies when warmed up. Miraculously starts working again after 15 minutes' cooling down time.

I have no idea if it affects Ss (presumably from phillpit's response the s doesn't have them) but have seen it several times on other cars with electronic ignition. My money is on something mission critical failing when the engine gets warm - distributor is likely a red herring I think.

[glenrobbo]

Fuel filter is an in-line canister type situated next to the fuel pump in font of the fuel tank. Accessible by removing rear nearside wheel.
But do check that the fuel pump relay & relay base shows no signs of overheating or arcing. It's located on main fuse/relay panel behind the glovebox.
Can you hear the fuel pump run for a second when you turn ign on?

Simple & quick enough to do to rule out this possibility,
then it's:
check the yellow connector,
the little ign module that plugs into the dizzy.
etc. etc.

Someone on here has the S Club communal Star Tester available to borrow for the price of return postage if you get desperate.
These intermittant faults can be a PITA sometimes.