Got to check over a 53 plate 8v Punto which recently has cut out on the owner. Come to a stop, and restart and the car and it drives fine. A local garage tried to claim ecu problem, but i think they were waffling. Car has only done it three times, and its rare when it happens, certainly rare enough that the car drives faultlessly otherwise.

I suspect crank sensor, voltage drop, flaky fuel pump or a relay.

But it has another problem which im wondering if its an electrical gremlin that might be at fault.

Press the brake pedal, and the warning light for blown bulb comes on, even though all brake lights work fine.

Put the main lights on and press brake pedal and the warning light doesnt come on, all bulbs operate as they should.

Is there a common fault for this?

Have a look at the earth pin in the plugs for the rear clusters. The tend to corrode and cause all manner of seemingly unrelated issues.
Check the earth strap to the top of the gearbox and the ecu earth at the throttle body.

Thread necromancy resuscitation

I figured out the problem in the end, it was a dodgy ignition barrel.

Go over a hard enough bump and it was enough to move the key in the barrel as if you had turned the car off.

Were there a lot of keys on the same keyring at any time in the past ?
I've seen a few with twenty or more of all shapes and sizes swinging out of the barrel. Over time it leads to problems.

Brendan W said:

Were there a lot of keys on the same keyring at any time in the past ?
I've seen a few with twenty or more of all shapes and sizes swinging out of the barrel. Over time it leads to problems.

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a service engineer had 40+ keys on a big loop and his ASTRA key.. burnt out 3 x ignition looms with this issue..

imagine driving down the m-way with flames coming out of the dash,


and GM say this dash fire thing is "ALL NEW "

Worst I saw was a Clio whose starter motor was on permanently.