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Engine died suddenly, any idea why?

Paul 290T

PCGB Member
Member
Hi,

My 1986 944 turbo had its engine cut out suddenly today. Over the course of the next 10 minutes I found some times it would restart immediately, then die 3 seconds later, other times it would run 20 seconds then die.

After leaving the engine switched off for 10 minutes I fitted a new DME relay that i carry. It restarted then cut out once. I restarted a second time on the new DME relay and it ran fine until i got home twenty minutes later. I then switched it off.

When running its perfect.

Any guidance would be very much appreciated on where to start.

 
Thanks Elliot.

I guess I'm going to have to work my way through various relevant component replacements. Otherwise I need the car to actually exhibit the fault when its being tested, which I suspect might be fleeting, and so not the way I eventually bottom this out.
 
Sorry to hear about your mishap . When it first happened ? Did you go over any big pot holes or hit any grids , speed bumps ? Just thinking if any wires many have come loose ? Might be intermittent fault with your fuel pump it self ? Coil over heating and breaking down ?
If it happens again ? Check fuel delivery and spark ? Check all plugs under fuse box make sure none have come loose ? Have you replaced the fuel filter recently ?
 
turboman,

I'm not ruling out loose wires, but the problem occurred many times, including a handful of times whilst stationary attempting a restart.

Fuel filter is 15k miles old. When it dies it dies instantly, no spluttering or jerkiness. Its the same as turning off the ignition. All fuel related problems I've known end in splutters, what do you think?

Your ignition system and central electrics plugs suggestions are going on the checklist.

Thanks everyone so far.
 
Flywheel sensors / plugs is my dianosis, is it running ritch, using more fuel than ususal which is what is going on with my 220 at the moment ?
 

ORIGINAL: Frenchy

Is the replacement DME relay a 993 pat no (First 3 digits) if not get one.

Even they are not immune. My 993 relay ending in 00 despite not leaving me stranded at any time would cause the car to not start in the morning with the ignition side of the relay flicking in and out. The new item ends in 01 :).
 
Frenchy,

If its running rich it can't be too much. It runs, accelerates normally. Fuel consumption seems about right too. Can faulty flywheel sensors cause rich mixture?
 
ORIGINAL: Paul 290T

Frenchy,

If its running rich it can't be too much. It runs, accelerates normally. Fuel consumption seems about right too. Can faulty flywheel sensors cause rich mixture?

just take a spark plug out and you'll see if its running rich, re coil and ignition amplifier ......if there no spark at the plug then it probably one of those two, when I had the same symptoms, the RAC patrolman tried everything ......then found the cause was the amplifier
 
When I had these symptoms it turned out to be a frayed wire under the carpet in the boot - meaning the power to fuel pump cut out at random times. Of course, it didn't happen "on demand" when I took it to garages for diagnosis so took ages to track down and fix. All sorted now though.
 
Well I've got plenty to go at. Thank you to everyone for your experience. If anyone else can think of other possibilities, then please add them to the thread. All help is very gratefully received.
 

ORIGINAL: J4CKO

Mine did this last week, was the ignition amplifier.

Symptoms? Cranking but no spark?

Interested to collect common faults and cures (to store in my anorak pocket!).
Cheers
Mick
 
951 does not have an ignition amplifier. This was on the S models, the 951 DME has high current coil driver circuits in the DME. Do the injectors tick when cranking, does the fuel pump run when cranking and do you have a spark when cranking?
 

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