Technical Engine cuts out

[Mart_Sei]

Okay, my car has problems starting up sometimes but it usually fires away after a couple of tries. But lately the engine has started cutting out during journeys. It's as if i've stalled the car but i know for a fact I haven't.

1) Going down a steepish bank, I was in 3rd doing around 25mph and suddenly the warning lights came on and I had to roll into my street.

2) At the top of an even steeper hill, I was at the junction waiting for a car to pass so I had the clutch down... then the warning lights popped up again.

3) On a flat road, I turned the corner to go into my street and realised the steering was geet heavy. Yep, the engine had cut out again.

I'm no expert so what's going on please? (just put lubricant into water pump as an attempt to fix squealy noise and cleaned spark plugs).

 

[fingers99]

Sounds like it could be the crank sensor.

BUT more serious

(just put lubricant into water pump as an attempt to fix squealy noise and cleaned spark plugs).

The noise is nothing to do with all that. You can't put lubricant into a water pump, but you can rot a timing belt that way. Dunno what engine you have. On an 899 the squeal is likely to be either the alternator itself or the alternator belt, on an 1108, the alternator belt, alternator or cam belt tensioner pulley. You can identify which by (beware of the belt(s)!) using a long screwdriver as a stethescope.

 

[Mart_Sei]

Ahhh it would actually make sense if it was the crank sensor since we had to mess about with that to get a new alternator belt on after the other one snapped. Will have a look asap, thanks for that.

As for the lubricant. It was a £4.99 thing from Halfords. You put it in with the coolant and it does its work on the pump bearings. Well that's what it says..

But the noise is still happening so as you say, it probably is the alternator as the new belt looks correctly fitted. Have checked the tightness using the 90 degree twist method and it's fine. My car is an 899cc btw.