Sudden Death

[KARL]

If there is anyone with good knowledge of car mechanics, or in fact particularly electrics, I would be grateful for advice.

This evening we left for a dinner appointment in our 1990 Golf2. The car has just been taken back into use after six months of standing still, resuscitation was easy and we have been using it since the past weekend. Within a short distance from home, after a single stutter it abruptly stopped stone dead. There is plenty of fuel in it and the battery is good. Yet there is no power for starting at all, as if the battery has in this matter of minutes been completely drawn down - there is not even sufficient power to operate the central locking, but the charge (not charging) light comes on.

What is the likeliest cause of this ? I am wondering whether the alternator might have failed, but I have to admit this is a complete mystery to me. It will not be until the morning that I will begin to have a look at things and no doubt involve someone else.

[ummmm]

Karl...my car at the time was an N reg Vauxhall Astra. It did indeed break the engine and rollers and stuff costing 3.5k to fix. It had only done 18k miles though so Vauxhall replaced the engine FOC.

[Ryzen]

If all connections are clean..and you have a fully charged battery,the alternator would be my first choice...based on the evidence given.

[KARL]

I am very pleased to have the lively interest, thank you all. Ummmm and Woofgang, just goes to show that a big price tag does not preclude serious faults - although admittedly you get the guarantee included. On Monday or Tuesday I should get the opportunity to discuss all sides to my adventure with someone said to be an excellent auto electrician. We'll see what transpires and I'll update here.

[KARL]

I don't know if anyone is watching this one any more or at all interested but here is in effect the bottom line.

To recap: A faulty/weak battery and/or connections would not explain why with a generous boost with jump leads from a running car and replicating the earth connections could not get the starter to turn the second time (it would the first time and then the engine came to life but promptly died again). A fuel problem (pump failure or other) is not indicated as fuel seems to be coming through (the filter is full of it).

I arranged an appointment with an auto electrician who had no obvious suggestion to offer and the car was to be delivered to him today.

I can't explain why but late on Tuesday I decided to have a last try before arranging the transportation to the workshop. This time the starter kept turning after/past the first burst of engine life. I persevered, nurtured the thing along and eventually got the car going and brought it the short distance home. Yesterday and today I drove it around and although it is not running particularly well, it does go. I cancelled today's appointment pending further developments because, unless there is a clear fault, it is impossible to tell that/what if anything is (seriously) wrong.

I am at a loss as to what was up but maybe it will eventually come to light. If this happens again I'll not try to get it going but instead have the auto electrician do his diagnosis.

[alavahalf]

Nice to get a follow up .. even though we still dont know the answer.

[jno]

Karl, it's well known that whatever rattles your car has will fall silent as soon as you're in sight of the garage. Likewise, it will suddenly start running again just before you take it in to be looked at, but will fail again once you've cancelled the appointment.

It would be wise to get it checked out anyway; you could be somewhere a lot more remote the next time it happens.

[Hopkirk]

Since you didn't answer me, I presume you are not in the RAC / AA or similar. If not, perhaps join now before the fault recurs.

[KARL]

Apologies Hopkirk, I do have access to emergency rescue but there are certain limitations.

[Atheist]

Very ancient suggestion. Our old Morris minor had a sticky starter motor. When it wouldn't turn we had to put a spanner on the end of the motor shaft to give it a hand. That usually got it moving.

[melv16]

My Mrs had a similar problem with her car. A dead capacitor in the alternator was the culprit.