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The OH reported that our '97 2L 16v saloon had just "died" on her a couple of times. After leaving the engine switched off for 5-10mins, the car will normally start up and go OK. I've used it for the past couple of days to work without problem until today, when it died twice on a 15 mile trip home. The symptom(s) are basically loss of power (sometimes rapid) leading to engine stall, it will not start until it's been left turned off for 5-10mins, but will then normally restart OK (but sometimes will run rough for a time). Also, will possibly hesitate for a split second randomly).Popped the lid and had a quick look and everything looks OK (belts, connectors OK , nothing hanging off).
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

Do you get any warning lights up?

Sounds like the stepper motor. It controls the idle and is prone to playing up.

Jameslxtd on here sould be able to confirm this, cos he's dead clever and helpfull

Welton wrote:
Jameslxtd on here sould be able to confirm this, cos he's dead clever and helpfull

Creep

Benner wrote:Do you get any warning lights up?

No, I actually looked at the dash as it died on me the first time and no lights came up until it finally stopped.

Quick update, the OH tried and it wouldn't start from cold in the morning yesterday. Tried it a few minutes later and it started OK. It then stalled at traffic lights but restarted straight away, without any more problems
I'll have a quick look at the stepper motor when I get a chance (err, just in case the Haynes manual isn't so good in this dept, where would I find it?).

Thanks for the replies

it could be the tdc sensor breaking down, what usually happens on your car is the thermostat housing seal fails and water runs down onto the sensor and shorts it internally, but when it dies the K light would come on, but it could be the stepper motor, but i doubt it, its screwed to the throttle housing with 2 torx 10 (i think) screws
i had a similar problem with my car, turned out to be the map sensor in the end, if you fiddle arround under the inlet manifold you will find a plug attached to the map sensor bolted to the manifold, when it dies, disconnect this, if all is well then this is your problem

Thanks James,

I've just read your reply as I've just taken off the stepper motor. It was covered in a fine soot, so I've got rid of most of it. Then, having forgotten it's a stepper motor and thinking (for some unknown reason ) that it was a solenoid, I tried pushing the "plunger" in and out and thought that it was very stiff, so I may have knackered it up yet. I'll put it back together, and check out the MAP sensor (make sure I can find it first!) the next time it fails as you suggest.

Thanks for the reply.

I'll post when I have some news.

Catflap.