Idiot Astra :-)

Sounds like it has to be a petrol version.

M reg, do you have distributors at that age or did they switch to electronic earlier?

Lot of rain lately, maybe some got into the electrics somewhere.

Mind's gone a bit blank, if it has a ditributor it will be worthwhile cleaning the rotor and internal tips. But IIRC it won't go at all if that's the problem. erm, maybe a little airlock in a fuel line or filter. Can't think where though, motors sometime play up if you geta bit of crap blocking the outlet from the fuel tank but this uis unlikely. Witht th higher pressure of fuel under load (when the engine is revving) you could bypass the airlock some, performance would be down per throttle position, but you could still get the car running, at idle you may not be passing enough fuel for tick over.

Start it up, puty your foot to the floor for a second and then let go.

Else disconnect hoses and try running fuel through then reconnecting them. ONe at a time.

Could be electrical, as I say mind's a blank right now.

It`s the 1.8 16v sport.

I do agree, but it seems a bit strange to happen now, when I do a lot of motorway miles, with all the spray from HGV`s that involves, and it has never shown any behaviour like this before, even after sitting behind a HGV for half an hour and getting absolutely soaking. The fuel that is in it was bought from Tesco about 4-5 days ago, and i`ve done a few hundred miles driving without this happening up to now, so I`m doubtful it`s the fuel itself.

After a second trip out yesterday, I`ve got more information about when it dies. The car has always idled between about 850rpm and 1150rpm, settling down low and then speeding up a bit before settling back down. When it dies on the second trip I was sat stationary for a while so I could observe properly. The revs went up to the normal high point, then dipped down, dipped a bit lower than normal and it just died. It can sit at idle for 5 minutes without failing, then fail when stopping at a set of traffic lights.

I also took the car for a blast, and didn`t notce any loss of power anywhere at all, it took off like a bat out of hell as usual.

Thanks for the suggestions. I`m gonna nip into a garage today and see if they have any cunning plans. I`m also doing a fair bit of driving today, so I`ll see if it happens again.

Also, any thoughts for replacement cars if it gets to that? :-)

Idle speed control valve may be sticking. If you're going to replace it, get a Focus. Ignore SteveH when he undoubtedly arrives, and tells you not to.

Had this with the J reg Merit 1.4 version, alternator is very exposed and didn't like spray being whipped up and getting onto rear of alternator where connection block resides. It would just cut out, we eventually traded her in at 158k.

PDH

All Astra 16v engines were coil pack, bar the C20XE in the GSi.

the favourite is crank sensor, next is fuel pump relay

Nipped into the garage today to book it in for a good look tomorrow. They suggested a vacuum pipe somewhere with a slight leak. I`m gonna drop it off tomorrow and see what happens.

As for a focus - been thinking that way myself. Lots of them about and not too many breaking down, so good reliability, and spares are very easily available for them.

In article , Simon Finnigan writes

Ecotec engine I assume.

Sounds very much like the idle control valve. Take a look at

Sure is.

Had that suggested a few times. It`s in the garage at the moment while they take a look at it and sort out the bearing. I`ll see what it`s like when I get it back.

Thanks Mike!