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