Engine Cut Out From Idle

[Vmax500]

Just returned home with a precautionary RAC escort...

Having spent most of the morning dithering about whether I should take my immaculately clean 500 out for a spin this afternoon thereby turning it back into a King Edward potato look-alike, I finally gave in to temptation and went out at about 2pm. All was well, the car was nicely warmed up and I was working on my grin when I suddenly found myself stuck in diverted traffic! A temporary hinderance I thought, right up to the moment that the car decided to splutter to a halt ... hmmm.

Stuck at the side of the road, the car would indulge me as far as turning over, but then would cut-out after a few seconds of idling each time!

The RAC valiantly arrived and began to investigate the usual suspects but no fault found ...

Just before my pride and joy was winched onto the flatbed, we attemped to turn it over once more (at least the thirtieth attempt)... The car errupted into its usual ability to frighten young children and carried on as if nothing had ever happened or been wrong with it!"£$%! The RAC chap agreed to follow me home (Jeremy Clarkson is correct to include the Ford Transit in his 100 best cars) and my car did not misbehave at all ...

Apologies for the Booker Prize length novel, but has anyone got any ideas as to what may have caused the problem. Yes, I did spend most of yesterday washing/cleaning the beast and used a power washer to clean the underside - so water ingress is a distinct possibility but where are the key areas prone to causing such problems? Or could the problem be caused by a dirty stepper motor?

Slightly nervous about depending on the car to get me to work tomorrow, so anything I can check out tonight would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Vmax500

[the dodo]

My 500 did something like that once, at traffic lights in the big boy lane. Never did it again. I have a fault code reader and it was clean. Just shows the moody tvr ways. Maybe yours will record a fault. I think it is about time we tvr members had a code reader for lend. I did lend mine once but it was, shall we say, slow in its return. But i would be willing.Recorded delivery etc.
David

[trefor]

This will probably only reoccur at the most inconvenient/embarrassing time! I'd clean out the stepper motor and check all the contacts are clean and tight (vacuum advance on dizzy, low tension leads to coil etc. etc.). Hopefully you'll find something loose ...

[NoisyGriff]

My Griff has done this from time to time.
I started a thread (Hot engine snags on the old girl) a while back. It may help.
My favourite is the fuel boiling in the pipes on top of the engine. I will be investing in some lagging soon.
Let us know how you get on with yours.

[RCA]

My chim was doing this a few weeks ago, took it in to TMS and they foumd a bad connection in a wire from the fuel pump to the fuel pump relay, or something like that!!!!!

[Colin Logan]

This happened to my Chim last year . The coil was at fault . When sitting in traffic it will heat up , the engine will cut out . It will turn over start for a a minute or two then cut out again . When it has cooled down , she will run with no problem . It does not cost much for a coil and is easy to fit . I would suggest that you get your coil checked out .
Colin

Colin L