Astra misfiring, losing power and cutting out

[grimmy]

My Dad has a rather aging Vauxhall Astra Merit Estate, G reg, 1.4 petrol, not fuel injected or anything like that.

Recently it has started to suddenly mis-fire and lose all power when travelling along. The thing about this is it is happening when you would least expect it to do so, when travelling along open roads at a reasonable speed, say 55-65 mph, in top (4th) gear. Starting is fine, acceleration in gears 1-3 is fine. Urban driving is fine.

I drove the car myself today. After travelling 6 miles down the dual carrigway it started to judder -no power for a few seconds, then back for a few seconds then off again dropping to 3rd had no effect. I limped along to a layby, and the engine cut out as I put my clutch down. After restarting it was fine!! and we covered another 10 miles, then at a roundabout at the end of the dual carriagway it cut out as I was slowing down. When I engage 2nd gear it fired into life again. The urban drive through Derby was fine.

Coming home I encounter a Micra doing 45 down the dual carrigeway, and decide to risk an overtake. Bad move, the problems started again in the outside lane (a scary experience) I manged to pull back in, and limp to an exit, juddering all the way.

Has anybody out there had similar problems? The car is high mileage, but Dad needs to try and keep it going because he is self-employed, and uses it for work. It has been well serviced.

Many thanks to anyone who takes the trouble to advise

Paul

 

[Mike G]

My Dad has a rather aging Vauxhall Astra Merit Estate, G reg, 1.4 petrol, not fuel injected or anything like that.

Recently it has started to suddenly mis-fire and lose all power when travelling along. The thing about this is it is happening when you would least expect it to do so, when travelling along open roads at a reasonable speed, say 55-65 mph, in top (4th) gear. Starting is fine, acceleration in gears 1-3 is fine. Urban driving is fine.

I drove the car myself today. After travelling 6 miles down the dual carrigway it started to judder -no power for a few seconds, then back for a few seconds then off again dropping to 3rd had no effect. I limped along to a layby, and the engine cut out as I put my clutch down. After restarting it was fine!! and we covered another 10 miles, then at a roundabout at the end of the dual carriagway it cut out as I was slowing down. When I engage 2nd gear it fired into life again. The urban drive through Derby was fine.

Coming home I encounter a Micra doing 45 down the dual carrigeway, and decide to risk an overtake. Bad move, the problems started again in the outside lane (a scary experience) I manged to pull back in, and limp to an exit, juddering all the way.

Has anybody out there had similar problems? The car is high mileage, but Dad needs to try and keep it going because he is self-employed, and uses it for work. It has been well serviced.

Sounds like fuel starvation. Apart from a blocked fuel filter as Dave suggested, it might be worth checking the petrol tank vent. I have known them to become blocked on older cars, giving the symptons you describe.
Mike.

 

[malcolm burton]

Most likely fuel starvation. There is a purge valve between the fuel pump and carburettor, which returns excess fuel to the tank. To test for fuel starvation, clamp the return pipe and test drive. If the symptoms disappear, change the purge valve.

 

[Tony Morland]

check for any hoses which may have collapsed & although unlikely, any metal pipes which may have been nipped by stray objects hitting them under the car malcolm burton wrote: