So there I am driving about 20mph in traffic in 3rd gear crawling through Brighton town centre yesterday when all of a sudden everything just dies! Engine off, CD player and aircon switches off, dashboard display reverts to how it looks before you start it up (ie just the clock on), no ignition/oil/engine warning lights like when you stall it... nothing! It was like the car had turned itself off!

I turn key, it starts first time and everything has been fine since! Weird eh? Anybody else experienced this?

(and yes it had petrol in it before you ask!)

(2006 (56) 1.4i Sporting)

My astra used to do it all the time before (very dodgey when turning as the steering goes really heavy). Turned out to be a nackered battery... Was it like you had stalled it whilst moving?? lol. Seriously get your battery checked out...

Make sure the body computer software update is carried out while your there.

alan0259 said:

My astra used to do it all the time before (very dodgey when turning as the steering goes really heavy). Turned out to be a nackered battery... Was it like you had stalled it whilst moving?? lol. Seriously get your battery checked out...

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No I didn't stall it... cant think why it would stall on level ground in 3rd gear doing 20mph anyway. I tried stalling it today to check. All the dash warning lights came on, and the aircon and CD player kept going. When it happened yesterday, there were NO dash warning lights and EVRYTHING went off except the clock on the dash... ie how it looks when you get in the car before you have turned the ignition key.

Car only has 2,500 miles on it... can't be battery surely?

koksy said:

No I didn't stall it... cant think why it would stall on level ground in 3rd gear doing 20mph anyway. I tried stalling it today to check. All the dash warning lights came on, and the aircon and CD player kept going. When it happened yesterday, there were NO dash warning lights and EVRYTHING went off except the clock on the dash... ie how it looks when you get in the car before you have turned the ignition key.

Car only has 2,500 miles on it... can't be battery surely?

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Make sure the body computer software update is carried out!!!

thats wierd... I have the 1.9 sporting... and my fuel computer told me I had run out of fuel (range -------) so I then drove it 10 miles to the fuel station ! lol.... wonder if Fiat knows they have invented a car that runs on fresh air

sorry, not helping your problem am I ? I'd suggest what T14086 is suggesting

sharkrider said:

thats wierd... I have the 1.9 sporting... and my fuel computer told me I had run out of fuel (range -------) so I then drove it 10 miles to the fuel station ! lol.... wonder if Fiat knows they have invented a car that runs on fresh air

sorry, not helping your problem am I ? I'd suggest what T14086 is suggesting

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(range --------) is displayed when remaing range is under 30miles.

So whats the body computer and what does the update fix?

Not too sure but is it anything to do with this... http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/expand.asp?uniqueID=A297B534BE25A00E802572660035DF0A

Was posted in another thread somewhere, thought it may help?

venomco said:

Not too sure but is it anything to do with this... http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/expand.asp?uniqueID=A297B534BE25A00E802572660035DF0A

Was posted in another thread somewhere, thought it may help?

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No.

panda type thingy said:

So whats the body computer and what does the update fix?

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The heart of your CAN communication system.Get it updated if not done so already this must be done first.

LOL if youre gonna reply to technical jargon question with more technical jargon you coudl at least tell us waht it means T14086

What does CAN stand for?

Control Area Network

T14086 said:

No.

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Lol, short but sweet... Just thought as it says about engine power loss and other functions. Didn't know if it was temporary or complete power loss... ask your dealer they're sure to know lol.

venomco said:

Lol, short but sweet...

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cut my typing finger on a stilo

My 1.4 16v Sporting Did The Same, I Took It To Fiat Straight Away. Turns Out That If U Bang The Key Fob (i.e By Ur Knee) Hard, It Interupts The C.o.d.e For The Ecu Therefore Turning The Emobalizer On. Basicily The Car Thinks Its Bein Robbed.

grum001 said:

Turns Out That If U Bang The Key Fob (i.e By Ur Knee) Hard, It Interupts The C.o.d.e For The Ecu Therefore Turning The Emobalizer On. Basicily The Car Thinks Its Bein Robbed.

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Sounds primitive.. surely there's a better fix for this?

T14086 said:

(range --------) is displayed when remaing range is under 30miles.

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Still unrelated to the thread - sorry, but I did over 60 miles when the 'range --------' was displayed. Had no choice as in the middle of nowhere, the only garage had run out of diesel!!

aberdeen_tim said:

Still unrelated to the thread - sorry, but I did over 60 miles when the 'range --------' was displayed. Had no choice as in the middle of nowhere, the only garage had run out of diesel!!

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Me too....I crawled 54 miles home when ---- came on,then again I was barely touching the throttle & coasting down hills

grum001 said:

My 1.4 16v Sporting Did The Same, I Took It To Fiat Straight Away. Turns Out That If U Bang The Key Fob (i.e By Ur Knee) Hard, It Interupts The C.o.d.e For The Ecu Therefore Turning The Emobalizer On. Basicily The Car Thinks Its Bein Robbed.

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Code is only used/read at start up.

More likely to be the crank sensor.