....Cuz thet's what happened to me today

I was driving along the road, and the car just cut out
No warning, no splutter, nothing

I put my foot on the clutch and all the dashlights illuminated (although this could have been a coincidence as far as timing goes)

I got my car towed home, I haven't tried to start it or anything else yet

I'm guessing the first thing to do is buy a code reader and see if anything pops up

Where's the best place to get a code reader - I know nothing about them, are there different sorts, etc....

In the meantime whilst I wait for my code reader to be purchased

Who fancies a little guessing game?
Rep points are on offer for the closest guess

 

The durametric is the best. I'm not very mechanically inclined, but if everything cut out but your dash lights were still ok, i'm guessing it's fuel system related and not electrical system related

 

OK, we're just guessing here... had you just gotten done washing the car, or driving in a heavy rain storm?

 

And there's some rep points at stake!

Nope, normal dry day, just plodding along on the motorway

The fuel computer showed ~150miles remaining

 

That happened to me as well. Driving along, went to downshift and died. Fuel pump went bad

 

Yep, my fuel pump died a week after i bought the car and exhibited the same symptom you describe. The (overly complex) fuel pump has a main body and two separate scavenging arms which operate via a venturi system. Lose a seal on either arm and it's all over because the suction is gone. New pump ~$950. Good luck. Do a search here for fuel pump and see one convoluted device.

 

Just googled it, thanks!

Is there a relay which goes bad, or is it always the pump?

 

It also happened to me but was not the fuel pump. There was a short in the ECU.

 

Sense we are rolling dice, how about the ignition switch. That will not throw a code. Fuel pump will not effected the electrical system.

 

I had some stalling issues recently, turned out to be a dirty throttle body, possibly due to the bmc filter. A dirty MAF can also present in this fashion. Could you restart the car? Any CEL?

 

Wait.

It cut out, you coasted to a stop and had it towed home...

AND HAVE NOT YET ATTEMPTED A RESTART????

 

In my case it wasn't the pump.. and usually its not... its the fuel pick up assembly.... disconnect the battery... if the car turns and doesn't start... then you know where to start...

 

I am just a bit bewildered TBH. You haven't tried starting it again even though the car just died. Why didn't you just try turning the key again

As to the dash light well of course there going to come on the engine will have stopped so all the dash lights will come on as the ignition is still switched on

You might have absolutely no problems at all, it could just have been a glitch, there is no way anyone on here could diagnose a problem before we know it wont actually start.
If the car doesn't start then you need to get some codes with a Durametric. I got mine from here: http://www.hickleys.com/diagnostics/durametric.php

My 2003 tip 996tt died once without warning as I made a turn into the drive. Restarted again first turn of the Key.

 

It could be as simple as a coil going bad as well. I definitely agree that you should have at least tried to start it again to confirm whether the problem is recurring or not.

 

Sorry, I mean I hadn't tried to start it or do any work to it since I got it home

I tried to start it at the side of the road - It would happily turn-over, but it wouldn't fire

I was only a couple of miles away from my house when it gave up on me, so I took the easy option and asked my brother to collect us


A little while ago my brothers van spluttered to a hault
He managed to get it started again, and then 50 miles down the engine let go and ate the block

I chickened out and opted to a tow as I can't afford an engine rebuild


Now that people have replied and told me it doesn't sound catastrophic I've just been out to try and start it again

Again, it's turning over, but not firing