Astra misfiring, losing power and cutting out

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 in message