Engine stumble and cut out

toopy

toopy

Club Member
So, used the car yesterday, 5 mins or less into the journey, before the temp guage has even moved, the engine stopped.
Not just cut out, but like you whipped your foot of the gas and dropped a gear to slow down, if that makes sense!
and then cutout when i dipped the clutch.
Wouldnt restart, so checked for leaking fuel and fiddled with the HT leads, cap and rotor arm.
Nothing obvious, and after 5 or 6 attempts of churning on the starter without even an attempt to start,
it did and ran perfect, when 1/2 hr later it happened again, only this time it restarted after a couple of attempts :confused:

Any ideas, as im nervous now that its going to happen when i have no where to safely pull over, or worse on the motorway!

Oh and when it happens, pushing and/or stabbing at the throttle to attempt to get it to pick up before the car stops rolling has absolutely no effect!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yeah, similar thing happened to me. I was out for a thrash when it sounded like it dropped onto 3 cylinders then died. Half an hour later, it was fine, got 300 yards down the road and the same happened again. It was finally put down to a faulty coil.
 
Thanks guy's

By chance i got a brand new 280zx coil to keep as a decent spare from Moggy240 last week!

Will get that on pronto

:thumbs:
 
My advice would be to make sure that the petrol filter is not restricted with fine rust particles from the tank. I've had 3 240Zs and had that with all 3.
 
Rob Gaskin said:
My advice would be to make sure that the petrol filter is not restricted with fine rust particles from the tank. I've had 3 240Zs and had that with all 3.
Click to expand...

I did consider that, filter looks ok though, was renewed back in October before winter lay up, couple of hundred miles since.

Would it not cause rough running/stalling more akin to fuel starvation though, as apposed to what was happening?
 
Anthony, that to me also sounds electrical. Had identical cut out to you just yards from MOT garage entrance - turned out to be loose connection on one of the spade connectors on the coil. Was very pleased I had seen it quickly as I was already late ;)

Yours though sounds more like coil heating up.

Just to be safe, give the spade connector a test too and maybe a gentle squeeze with pliers if loose or easy to take off. Also whilst you're there run a needle file down them for good measure.

Never underestimate the voice of experience though, worth checking the fuel filter also as Rob says. Take off the bottom fuel hose and put your mind at rest on that one too.
 
Hi - I had a very similar problem to you a couple of years back. Car suddenly started running like a pig then just died. It would re-start, with difficulty, then after a while suddenly do it again. Turned out I needed to replace the condenser. A fix that cost just a couple of quid.
 
You still on points Mr Riddler!?

I think Mr T has 280zx electronic ignition.
 
RIDDLER said:
Hi - I had a very similar problem to you a couple of years back. Car suddenly started running like a pig then just died. It would re-start, with difficulty, then after a while suddenly do it again. Turned out I needed to replace the condenser. A fix that cost just a couple of quid.
Click to expand...

Appreciate the info :D but i am indeed running the electronic dizzy and associated coil.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top