Car almost cutting out while driving

[Meg888]

My car has done this a couple of times while driving at speed (I use motorways to and from work). For a split second it's as if I've turned off the engine and I jolt forward as it halts - but then it (so far) fires back to life. What could be the problem, and heaven forbid if it didn't re-start itself, would it just stop dead in the lane I was in - I have horrible visions of cars plouging into the back of me, not having time to be able to give any warning to other drivers that there is something wrong

[Toureman]

You might get answers if you give details of what car

[Meg888]

Oops sorry Toureman! It's an diesel Astra Enjoy 1.4 almost 8 yrs old. I must add, it's a cheap car but it's always been very reliable, apart from wear and tear I've had no trouble with it at all. Mileage is 105k, so I know it's getting old :-(

[Meg888]

bmp! I supplied car details.. can anyone advise please?

[jake-the-peg]

Could be a number of things but try the simple things first

When did the air filter last get changed?

Does it have a fuel filter?

Sounds a bit like something is giving up the ghost under load - I might have also suggested high tension leads had it not been a diesel

[firewatch]

Battery, is it connected properly? sometimes it can work itself loose. Also a pipe may have worked loose or split have a look, doesit get warm just before it dies? IT may be a sensor has gone or going, dotn really know unless im looking at teh carx

[harley_Husky]

Ok first of all, are you at all mechanically minded ?
If so, my first suggestion would be to begin with the basics as per Firewatch - check the battery terminals/clamps/leads carefully for tightness and damage. check the wire to the alternator for tightness / damage.

At the moment, that's about as far as you can go.

One point to note carefully - when you suspect that the engine ' cuts out ' can you monitor this and report back what lights on the dash come on please.

There were some problems with the connections behind the dash on these cars. The pump belt can loose it's teeth if not changed. Any loose main earth straps could cause this problem. You can always run a jump lead from the engine across to the chassis and see if that stops this proble. - that would tell you if you have a damaged/corroded earth...

[sinderella]

if it cuts out get ya foot on the clutch,hazard flashers on.fast!

[elliemay1]

It could be something simple like dirt in the diesel.

[zebo]

Sounds like a fuel problem, a dirty filter, defective pump or even dirty petrol. Happened to me in the outside lane on the M62 in a brand-new Rover 200, not a nice experience. That was a fuel pump, since 1999 it's had nothing other than routine stuff wrong with it.

[carrust]

I had a similar prob with my lantra. It only occured when I came off the motorway & accelerated again. Over time it became worse & the fault turned out to be the engine management unit. The car is now in the great scrapyard in the sky:-(((((( If I were you I'd go & have it checked out at the garage, they may be able to put it on a diagnostic machine.

[Meg888]

Hi All thanks for the replies, sorry for taking so long to come back - I'm one of these old fashioned folk who still do internet on PC's not phones!

It's always been too quick to monitor dash lights, plus panic sets in! But if I can I will, I've got it booked to be checked over early next week - but over weekend I will see if my better half will check all the things you have mentioned. Thanks for the advice :-)

[RATTER15]

Sounds like a fuel problem to me.

[jomifl]

It sounds as if there is not an adequate fuel supply under load. seceral possible causes have been mentioned but another possibility is that the fuel tank vent is blocked partially reulting in a partial vacuum developing in the tank under heavy load which disappears at low load. This happened once to a company car that I was driving.