engine cuts out once a week

[slyp98]

i've a h reg 8 valve 104k , ive recently been having engine cut outs , just drivin along next thing baaaaahhh!, nothing , if i turn off and on the ignition it comes back to life ? ,  i noticed when i got in after lunch today turned the key and the tacho shot around the dial to 7k and back down again , i did not start the engine just turned the key to on anyone got any ideas,,,     happy friggin x mas to all the mk 2 owners out there

[dabill]

check all your earthing leads....

just check anything that looks like its electrical is my advice basically...its late i need sleep!

rob

[CHRIS_MC]

when i was down shifting gears in mine (16v) when cold, my engine was stalling, changed my ISV and it settled down,

i think the valve was opening up and letting to much air in and stalling the engine......
 im not all that clued up on mechanics so its probably nuthing to do with your problem

[Lap]

When it cuts out, do the battery and oil light come on? Or is it as if you had turned off the ignition?

Mine did the latter and it turned out to be loose immobiliser wiring.

[Simon8v91]

Worth checking your coil and connections are clean and dry is your car cuts out and there is some interference to the rev counter.  Give it a good spray with a water repelant like WD40.  I would suspect a water leak from one of the heater hoses as they go past it - it may only be a pin prick.  If you find one just cut the pipe at the leak and insert some copper pipe and tighten up with two jubilee clips.  Also check the valve cover to coil bracket earth strap.

Good luck 

[slyp98]

thanks guys , yeah lap could be immobiliser, its one o those plug in jobs like a connector on a guitar for pluggin into an amp , could be water too chris i didnt think the heater pipes were that close to the rev counter i've the madatory heater matrix prob , fixed it for 6 months with rad weld its baaackk i hate these dark evening maan ya cant get a thing done ,anywho santa is comin work party friday , which means i wont do it on saturday doh!

[Simon8v91]

i didnt think the heater pipes were that close to the rev counter

OK should have explained 

The rev counter signal is picked up from the coil which makes me suspicious that the coil may be where your problem is.  A wet coil could also cause the engine to stop - frequently.  The coil is in the top right of the engine bay next (to the right) to where the heater pipes go out the engine compartment