E430 Engine cutting out.

[theexhaustman]

I have a '98 ? ( R reg) E430. Whilst travelling on the motorway ( about 13 miles from setting out) at about 80ish the engine cut out without warning. On stopping it would turn over but not start. After 10-15 mins it fired and ran perfectly for about 3 miles and then the scenario was repeated. When I finally got off the motorway the car failed again in the local town. I left it there overnight and collected it in the morning. It started perfectly and ran for 11 miles before cutting out again. Being resonably able, I was a bit prepared and went around the car unpluging and refitting the various electronic connections to no avail. I also disconnected the fuel supply to the fuel rail and there was no fuel during cranking.

Q1. Have read on other posts about similar probs and may be crank sensor, but does the ECU need to see engine rotation to activate the pump ? Where/which is the fuel pump relay ?

After a good while, engine restarted.... 1.5 miles

Hour later....... .75 mile

Hour and a half later .75 mile to home....however on the last stint the brakes kept automatically applying ala. ASC above 10mph in a straight line.

This morning car started fine and moved it to back of house but brake problem still there !

HELP please. I am resonably technical and quite able to use a multimeter.

 

[silverhorse]

I have had this type of fault previously on a Jaguar XJ6 . after some time it turned out to be the engine management computer and cost £450 plus fitting ouch.
Hope your fault is something simpler like wiring faults but these are difficult to trace.

 

[brandwooddixon]

The engine problem is most likley down to a failing Crankshaft sensor. It is a common fault on the V8 and V6 engines. It is a quick repair (10 minutes or so) and the part isn't too pricey. Cheaper to buy the part from a Bosch stockist than the dealer, but still even then about £90 fitted.

If I remember rightly there's a test that you can do by placing the crank sensor in some hot water and measuring it's resistance which will tell you whether its failing.

I'm not sure if the brake problem is related to this or is a seperate issue. I think that the ASC is run from a seperate ECU to the engine. I'm sure that I'll be corrected if incorrect.

 

[jaymanek]

blimey the engine cut out at 80? didnt that lock the box up?

 

[brandwooddixon]

No the gearbox doean't lock, but you do lose the power assistance to the steering and brakes.

It's only then that you realise how heavy these cars are.

 

[theexhaustman]

Got the part from my local dealer y/day ( Tamworth ). They had it in stock. Was around £80 inc. vat so couldn't be bothered hunting about. Will let you know how I get on. I think the brakes may be related to my plugging and unplugging of various ecu's. Will let you all know.

Ta.

 

[piestore]

l5

Hi
almost certanly crank sensor and yes ECU needs to see crank signal to power up the pump apart from 5 second priming of fuel cicuit at ignition on

 

[LNM]

wonder if it sorted it... ?