Engine cutting out

[SwanJack]

So, tootling along in the outside lane of the M4, the rev counter drops like a stone and the engine cuts out Move over to the middle lane and turn the key off and immediately back on again and the engine starts. I get home and the next two times I use the car its fine. Today though, a mile from home the same thing happens, but it wont fire up straight away, it just turns over for the first few times and then fires up. Decide to head for home and it does it one more time, but fires up straight away and I make it back.

The engine just cuts out, no warning, no kangarooing or spluttering as if I'm running out of petrol. Its just like turning the car off by key. Anybody have anything similar happen to them or have any ideas. Thanks.

[Quietlybonkers]

I had something like that happen on a Mercedes......it was a fuel sensor malfunction, which caused the ECU to go into limp home mode, which in the case of that car meant slowing you to a total stop. Of and on again seemed to reset it, though I had to actually stop for that to happen. The fault recurred whenever I really needed acceleration, like half way past a 38 tonne truck with one coming the other way!

[peaktorque]

Sounds like an electrical problem..

You say that the rev counter drops, do the dash lights illuminate too?

I would check the obvious like battery terminals. It may also have something to do with the Vauxhall derived ignition switch.

[haircutmike]

Mine did that, Austec Racing eventually found a short behind the fuse box!

Kept me on my toes for 6 months while I tried to find the problem.

[SwanJack]

Pretty sure the lights don't come on.

[ChimpofDarkness]

Given you say "the rev counter drops like a stone and the engine cuts out" my money would be on the coil or ignition amp, or possibly a break in the wiring associated with these two components.

Replace the coil with a Bosch one & the ignition amp with a decent Lucas unit, then see if the fault is eliminated.

Periodically fitting a new coil & ignition amp should be seen as routine maintenance in my opinion.

PM also sent

[EGB]

META Imobiliser ? Cutting out ignition/fuel pump?