130 JTD hesitated on motorway at about 75 mph, as if ignition was switched off and on again, then carried on running normally with good starting, acceleration and tickover. Later stalled on taking off, but without stopping: noted fuel system warning light came on. Later in day stopped at lights and would not restart, again fuel system light on all the time. I drained some fuel from the filter, wiggled the relays in the glovebox and the two wires that go into the fuel filter head and it restarted after about twenty minutes.

Any ideas on the cause guys, reluctant to chance it again because it's a heavy car to push.

first "guess" would be the crank sensor, but if you seen the injection light come on it might be something else, you should get it scanned to see what codes are there..

ye i'd say you would be better off plugin it into examiner if the e.m.l came on there is fault codes in the e.c.u

MAF sensor faults are common and can cause sudden and random stalling or powerloss.

jug said:

MAF sensor faults are common and can cause sudden and random stalling or powerloss.

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It doesn't seem to be altogether random: there is a pattern: from a cold start it will run for 30-40 miles without problem: then will hesitate and five minutes later it dies: restarts after 15-20 minutes, for a few seconds, stalls when revved then after a few minutes it runs for 10, stalls, restarts after 20 minutes and this cycle repeats itself. Trying to start it before the 15-20 minutes is up and the injection light does not go out when ignition switched on, but goes out as normal when it is ready to start. Leaving it for 3-4 hours when warm and it will run for 30 minutes or so before stopping. It had a faulty MAF once but this just led to flat performance as if the turbo wasn't working. I am open to any ideas though!

Has the crank sensor been replaced?

its sounds very common of a failure....

i would get it plugged into a fiat exmaniner but i'd say bulldog could be right crank sensor sounds like the best bet.when the engine gets hot resistance increases and could be sendin the e.c.u incorrect signals (the engine will start to miss or hesitate) and then stop sending them altogether( engine will stall)

schwalbe said:

It doesn't seem to be altogether random: there is a pattern: from a cold start it will run for 30-40 miles without problem: then will hesitate and five minutes later it dies: restarts after 15-20 minutes, for a few seconds, stalls when revved then after a few minutes it runs for 10, stalls, restarts after 20 minutes and this cycle repeats itself.

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defo crank sensor.

jug said:

defo crank sensor.

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Thanks everybody who have contributed: I've seen enough here and on Alfa sites to convince me beyond a reasonable doubt that the crank sensor is the culprit. £25 + VAT from main dealer.