Engine dies for a moment

[Toby Noble]

Experienced another interesting phenomenon on the 280i today. Full of them aren't they...? My sense of humour is waning as is my bank account.

Accelerating briskly (3500 rpm)in second and the engine cut out completely causing what felt like compression braking. Then just as I reached for the indicator to get off the road, engine kicked back in and away we went as if nothing had happened.

Happened again a lower revs a couple of minutes later and again leaving the car park this afternoon. By this time I was driving very gingerly.

I have noticed the same thing but to a lesser extent two or three times over the last couple of months (usually when engine is under load) then it goes away.

It's like I run out of fuel for a moment. Fuel gauge doesn't work yet so I went and filled up just in case my calculations were out....It only took 33 litres but since filling up no problem even though I revved it hard and put it in too high a gear to try and bring the problem on again near home. Nothing.

Any ideas?

Please don't tell me the injection in knackered...

Cheers,

Toby

[350zwelgje]

Simple one to start:
All ignition leads ok?
Had this myself (but engine died completely) when the coil lead had worked itself nearly of the distributor cap. Took less than a minute, but was afraid of something expensive as well. Very happy after the nearly quickest fix on the TVR. And then had a "fix" in reving the nuts of the beast.

Good luck,

Rob

[Toby Noble]

I'll check all leads Rob. I'm figuring either fuel or electrical problem.

Forgot to say that I got a nice big backfire out of it once when it died too...

[danny hoffman]

Sounds like it's electrical, ignition related. Where to start - all earth connections, fuse box, relays, coil etc. Do you have an immobaliser?

[danny hoffman]

Just remembered you have a 280 - try a new distributor cap and rotor, I seem to remember hearing a few people had these symptoms and it was the rotor arm