Engine cuts out then restarts

[Ellie]

Hi, I know we all love an intermittent issue that is hard to pin down but I have to throw it out there for some clues as to where I should start looking.

Car starts perfectly, runs perfect too. Drives lovely with no noticeable issues with power or acceleration etc. then at random times the engine just dies. However I can quickly depress the clutch pedal turn the ignition off and on, and she starts up straight away and release the clutch and continue driving as if nothing happened. Sometimes I might roll over to the side of the road and stop, but she always just starts first turn of the key.

It may do this once on a drive or several times. It’s a bit disconcerting but I always get back home fine.

I’m thinking electrical, maybe even the fuel pump playing up?

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Cheers

[Nut124]

Does the engine struggle before stopping or just stop instantly?

If struggling, then I'd think fuel delivery. If instant, then spark, bad ICM or pickup, loose connection somewhere. Possibly bad ignition switch.

Next time it does this I'd try to troubleshoot before touching the ignition key. Need to check if there is +12V at the coil when it's dead. Do you have a volt meter?

Since it always starts when you operate the key I'm thinking the ignition switch. If it were anything else I would expect it to sometimes not start right up.

[Ellie]

Thanks so much for those pointers, the engine dies instantly, it’s as if the key was turned off suddenly. The first few times it happened it was barely noticeable because as I was doing 40 mph, the momentum of the car jump started it almost immediately and I just kept going. But now it die’s completely until I turn the key again.

Bit of a puzzle but I like your suggestion of ignition switch

Many thanks