Driving home today from work and the punto decided it didn't want to play fair. sat in traffic as usual and when sat still it was fine but as soon as i move off then stop again (and put the clutch in) it cuts out and i have to bump start it or stop and turn the key again. it has been doing it on and off for a while but never consistantly like today! before it would proberly happen once a week but today i could not go 15 seconds without the engine stoping.

And yes i can drive, the guy behind me seemed to think i kept stalling it
Highly embarrassing and not normal, any ideas???

Any body got any ideas as it nearly killed me!!
what happened:
changing into second going into a corner and it died, lost my power steering and nearly crashed into a parked car when it does cut out it does it without warning sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't, so it hits you by suprise ( hence the near miss). Please help.

Sounds like a fuel or electrical problem, get the throttle/butterfly cleaned with carb cleaner in the engine bay, many miles on the clock? is it the orginal fuelfilter on the car if you know? try running some injection cleaner through the tank (read the instructions first or it wont work)

have a look under the hood and make sure the battery ground is securly attached to the battery and to the chassis., ive seen that before and it fits what you describe.,

Hi, Sorry i have been working nights so had no chance to reply. I also thought it may be fuel or eletrical so i ripped all my amp wiring out and re-wired it properly (as i must admit it was a bit of a mess). It hasn't done it since so i am hoping that has solved it. The fuel filter needs replacing as do a few other parts as i am going to give it a full service myself as soon as money allows it. Thanks for your replies,

just to add- the car has done 76000 miles

punto_85 said:

ripped all my amp wiring out and re-wired it properly (as i must admit it was a bit of a mess). It hasn't done it since so i am hoping that has solved it.

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This has not solved it couldn't go 100 meters without it cutting out.

I would try injection cleaner through the tank sounds like a fuel related problem, could end up being a worn out fuel pump on its way out..

could be release bearing puting so much resistance on the engine it stalls
or the crank shaft moving so far against thrust bearings that the phonic wheel is moving away from the rpm sensor these seem likely if it happens when the cluch is depresed

also if it is only stalling aproching junctions try disconecting the crank case breather pipe as exhaust gasses passing past worn piston rings may be overwelming the engine at tick over

does it happen if you press the cluch at at stand still
or as you are aproching juctions ie coming to a stop

Had similar problem on a mini, as clutch pressed engine stalled it was the clutch release bearing, although when that went the car wouldnt drive again untill replaced.

littlepip17 said:

does it happen if you press the cluch at a stand still or as you are aproching juctions ie coming to a stop

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It only does it odd days and it does it coming to a stop or changing gear (basically every time the clutch is pressed) Also were is the crank case breather pipe? Thanks.

it is conected to the air filter housing just remove all ruber hoses from the air filter box and tape up the holes they leave then give it a try

I was talking to a friend today he had same problem like yours but diffrent car, everytime he tryed to change gears (dip clutch) car would cut out was to do with a faulty temp sensor also a dodgy ECU can cause it or TB problem..

does it only do it when the engine is cold

viper1253 said:

does it only do it when the engine is cold

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no it does it whenever it feels like it

punto_85 said:

Any body got any ideas as it nearly killed me!!
what happened:
changing into second going into a corner and it died, lost my power steering and nearly crashed into a parked car when it does cut out it does it without warning sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't, so it hits you by suprise ( hence the near miss). Please help.

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i had that peoblem with mine you should change allyour ecu and it should be fine

langers_2002 said:

i had that peoblem with mine you should change allyour ecu and it should be fine

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you sure that wat yours had? did yours do it all the time or on and off? sorry for questioning you but that sounds like a lot of work for a litte (ish) problem.

also just to add i recon it only does it wen its warm not straight from cold but sumtimes idals realli badly wen started on a cold morning.

can i reset my ecu myself? i know on some cars you can.

punto_85 said:

can i reset my ecu myself? i know on some cars you can.

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Leave the battery disconnected over night, black allways comes off (first) then red and black allways gos on (last) when re-connecting..

Im gonna say its either faulty temp sensor or ECU its self, but in saying that it could also be the lambda sensor..

thanks m8 i'll give that a go tomorrow night depending on wat time i finish work

to me she sounds it being starved of fuel or theres a spark problem try cleaning the sparks up and replacing the ht leads ok mate this should solve the problem