Cutting out...

My car keeps cutting out after i been driving for a bit. The only constant cause is temperature. It only does it for a second or two, most of the time it just dies and then comes back to life. A couple of times today it has failed to start, after i have stopped, but then the next turn of the key - it goes... And it seems to be getting progressively worse. Was just wondering if anyone has had a simular problem or has any ideas to the cause?

have a wee look inside your distributor cap, it should look like new. if not replace it. this is the best place to start looking for the fault.

[pgoldsmith]

I had an identical problem.
Turned out to be the flywheel sensor which is tucked up 3/4 way on driver's side of the engine/gearbox. They are known to fail.
It's the same sensor as used on a R25 V6 but with a heat shield.
Doesnt cost a great deal but bit of a pig to get at.

I first thought it was something to do with the Renix unit and replaced it only to find that it was just the sensor.

[pgoldsmith]

Sorry, I meant to add that it's this heat shielding that over time breaks down and thats why when it gets hot it's more prone to failure.
Leave it to cool down and should start ok again.
Real pain in the £$£"

Sounds like it could be the TDC sensor - I had similar issues late last year. There is another thread on here labled "cutting out" and if you look on that you'll see the advice I received.

I had the sensor changed and since then not a single problem!

How much did it cost to get the sensor changed Darren?

and as ever check earthing and battery connections...
do all the electrics die or just the engine? could it be the fuel pump ?

Do check the earths etc as Rupert mentioned (particularly from the battery to the chassis) but it really sounds like the sensor to me seeing that heat is the main factor.

Check in that other thread that I spoke of - the sensor is not expensive (about £30 or so from memory). I had major work done at the same time including fitting an exchange turbo so that made the job particularly easy -though the total was expensive as you can imagine!

Some people have said its possible to do with the turbo still in place, I'm sure someone can advise more on this.

Basically on the right hand side of the engine bay, in the pipe that links the turbo to the manifold is a 6" removable pipe between clamps. Once you taken this out its fairly easy to get to the sensor.

Ive had my sensor out a couple of times......you can do it just by removing the rubber turbo inlet pipe but its a botch of a job. Much easier without the section of pipe david mentioned......45 minutes to do it I reckon.

Hi,
I bought my A610 knowing it cut out when hot and boy did it do just that in all the wrong places (yes it was me on that traffic report). It has had every sensor, switch and other part replaced or checked to no avail (ignition pack, ECU etc) prior to my purchase. I spent the whole of last weekend on it and can report that the problem is the lousy quality of the engine harness. I have repaired, patched and replaced various parts of it and the car (so far) is much better. I think this must be a common problem with these cars and I know of one other that had similar difficulties. Although the harness is not a job for the faint hearted or big fingered, it is at the end of the day relatively inexpensive. If the TDC sensor has been done and it does not cure it, then a series of measurements with an accurate meter need to be taken from the engine harness multi plug (right hand back of engine bay to each of the sensors etc. Oxygen sensor is the most critical. I would be pleased to give anyone further information from what I have discovered. Hope that helps. Geoff

Well done Geoff, just dodgy electrics, so will we see you around and about on the road now?

Hi Simon,
In Farnham yesterday (I like traffic jams!!!!!) and did 68 miles locally since Sunday. Just making sure the car is now fully reliable. It has a few minor things to sort out but is vastly improved, much smoother than previously as well. I LIKE IT EVEN MORE THAN I DID.

Got the new TDC sensor (18 quid + vat) and fitted it. Nightmare of a job, but done now! But it hasn't fixed the problem. So now im thinking distributer cap and rotor arm?

As a new boy to these cars I should not be the main person to advise you but once you have done the basic things advised here and previously I really would check the engine wiring harness as I outlined above. It is a disaster waiting to happen. The three cables to the oxygen sensor being critical in terms of continuity and not really up to the job. If you dont have the kit, get an auto electrician to check these and the big multi plug at the rear right of the engine bay. Good luck.