odd engine stopping problem

[hgsuzuki]

Hey all,

last weekend when out, on two occasions the engine cut out and wouldn't restart for around 20 minutes or so. Problem is it did it twice in fairly different circumstances, so its being hard to try and diagnose wats up.

Its a 3.9 dual fuel. (EDIT: 1995 Discovery Auto, with gas research system)

The first time, after a few attempts at climbing a rutted clay hill involving lots of bouncing and some revs, i stopped near the top to remove some of the clay from out of rims. It was idling fine for 5 minutes or so, on a bit of an incline, and then engine just cut out, no sputter, just off. It was running on gas at the time. It wasn't hot either. I checked all HT side of ignition for any loose leads, and when i checked for gas at the mixer got nothing there. Tried to start on petrol and no fire either. Actually got a lift back into town to get a trailer so 3 hours later get back out there and thought i will try it one more time and it started like nothing had happened.

The next day, when on petrol after some low range crawling at low revs on fairly flat terrain, same thing, cuts out, not firing, then starts up after a little rest.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this before? Im thinking it may be a relay or solenoid somewhere cutting petrol and gas.

thanks in advance,
Hayden G

[Sprover]

Your ignition module might be playing up.Those are the symptoms usually associated with it when it plays up.Could be your coil as well.Sounds as though it just loses spark somewhere.Have you checked all your connections to make sure none are loose?

[hgsuzuki]

yep, been over the usual suspects, IE leads coil and distributor, also afm.

[Hally]

Does your car have the standard land rover central locking car alarm with immobiliser same thing has happened to my old mans disco TDI 1998 manual and my brothers 1997 TDI auto. sounds like the engine immobiliser could be playing up you can buy a bypass plug (link cable or something like that ) that plugs into the back of the alarm module which shorts out the circuit that stuffs up. The alarm, immobiliser and central locking will still operate as if nothing has happened.

Oh one other thing it used to happen to my brother while driving at 100ks down the hwy it would just cut out and he would have to make a mad dash over to the shoulder not a fun thing to happen on a four lane hwy.

[hgsuzuki]

replaced the coil and problem solved, so thanks all.