Engine temporarily died whilst driving (again)

[scorcher]

Out and about driving and I had just started squeezing the throttle nice and gently in third ( after coming off it to slow for an oncoming car at a traffic calming wotsit )when my engine completely cut out for about 3 seconds before firing again and carrying on as normal.None of the warning lights between the speedo and rev counter came on.It has done this once before (about six months ago )whilst bimbling at a steady 80 in fifth but died for what seemed like 6 or 7 seconds before just firing again on its own and carrying on.I also picked up an occasional *cough* about 8000 miles ago just after a 6k service when I also had the leads/dizzie cap and rotor changed.(Its just had a 12k service/clutch/cam ) Its been back a few times to see if they could find anything but apart from a couple of corroded connections nothing really came to light.The cough is totally random.Sometimes when cold/or hot/accelerating hard/constant throttle/sometimes not at all in a 200 mile journey /sometimes twice in a 10 mile journey.Any thoughts /ideas?.More annoying than anything else!
Thanks

[OscarT]

I would check the two Bosche fuel relays in the footwell first - try switching them about. Might be worth changing them for new ones - about 9 pounds each if they haven't been replaced in a while.

[GreenV8S]

After checking the fuel pump relays I'd check the throttle pot. You can't easily prove it's good, but sometimes you can prove it's bad if you see what I mean.

[scorcher]

Tried swapping the relays after reading about it elsewhere on here sometime back.Might try some new ones ! If it were fuel would it not splutter first rather than cut straight out ? Would you like to elaborate on "throttle pot".What and where is it and can a idiot like me see if its wrong or right?Ta!

[old64er]

The main power feed to the fuel pump near the nearside rear wheelarch? A bad location and prime for salt and road debri.

[crackedfinger]

If it is like turning the ignition off and then back on again - I had this on another car years ago (vauxhall) and it was the imobaliser playing silly buggers - took ages to figure this out as the car was running perfectly when anywhere near a mechanic. I lived with it until it gave the game away by cutting out the rest of the electrics as well which helped to point the finger in the right direction! It can be loads of things though, trace up the path from the king lead, distributer, coil, ignition amp ..... through to the ingition barrel.

[Seasider]

Broken wire (inside the insulation) on the LT side of the coil possibly near the resistor/diode things

[coetzeeh]

My Griff showed the same symptoms. I became aware of the occassional "hickup" at a steady 80 mph down to Le Mans last year.

One HT lead had "perished" and disintegrated when I removed it.

King lead was not properly seated either.

I replaced all the leads and connectors (with Magnecors) and problem was solved.

[Crazycraig]

scorcher said:

Tried swapping the relays after reading about it elsewhere on here sometime back.Might try some new ones ! If it were fuel would it not splutter first rather than cut straight out ? Would you like to elaborate on "throttle pot".What and where is it and can a idiot like me see if its wrong or right?Ta!

Hi Matt.

The throttle pot is shown arrowed. IIRC there was a post only a couple of weeks ago about setting it up. Try a search or go to the RPI site for details on how to measure/adjust and what voltages to expect.

http://www.rpiv8.com/carbs-2.htm#setting-up



edited to add RPI Link

Edited by Crazycraig on Thursday 6th September 11:36

[scorcher]

Hopefully now sorted.Checked all the leads this morning and had a play with the wiring up around the coil area whilst it was running .Couldn't source any relays locally yesterday and couldn't do anything with the throttlepot.Went for a blast and after replicating the problem many times today by accelerating hard then coming off the throttle then rolling the power back on again I hope I've got to the bottom of the problem.I took the wire off of the fuel pump when I got home and cleaned and re-attached.When I went to start the car the pump never primed.Arses I thought.Took back off and re-attached and everything ok.Left it running and wriggled the black wire on the bottom of the pump and I could hear it cutting out.Chopped a bit off and put a new connector on and eveything seems ok.Time will tell...........

[Hoover.]

Hope its fixed......

If not.......I had a similar problem fixed by changing the coil.

Hoover.