Hey everyone,
I'm back with another query... This one has me stumped. I've been searching all weekend online for someone who has had the same/similar issue as me but have been unsuccessful so far, hence why I'm posting here.
On Thursday I was driving home from work, had the a/c running. All was good until the engine died. I turned the key off and back on and I had no warning lights (Fuel Tank light, oil light, engine light etc) and the car would turn over fine but wouldn't start. I ended up leaving the car on the side of the road. I went back later that afternoon, put the key in the ignition, and I had all warning lights back and the car turned over 2-3 times and fired into life. I moved it off the side of the road and let it run for 10 - 15 minutes, when it suddenly cut off again. I had no warning lights and the car would crank again but wouldn't start. I smacked the side of the dash and the lights all came back. Started the engine fine. I smacked the dash again and the engine died, and the lights were gone again.
Saturday, after having the car towed home, I pulled the dash apart on the drivers side trying to find the problem thinking it might be a loose connection somewhere. I checked all wires etc and the connectors to the ignition barrel and all looked good. I pulled the kick panel out and made sure all the plugs to the little electrical boxes were firmly pushed in and also made sure all the relays in the kick panel were pushed in. I started it and ran it a few times yesterday and some times it would run for over an hour fine, other times it would die after 15-20 mins with the same symptoms, no warning lights in the dash and turning over but not firing. I have power to everything else in the cab when this happens, stereo, gauges come up, windows will operate, lights and indicators etc etc.
After 10-20 minutes or so, the warning lights will come back up and the engine will fire again. I tried leaving the ignition in "ON" position after it cut out, without the lights, and after a certain amount of time the lights just re-appear and it is fine to start and run again. Seems to run longer if the A/C is switched off, but it will still cut off. So I don't think it is related. Friends have suggested a thermal cut off maybe? But the water temp never breaches 82 degrees so I am struggling to believe this could be the issue. Obviously the issue is not with the engine because when these warning lights come back up and it starts, it will fire into life no issue and runs perfectly fine. No loss of power or anything like that.
So I'm hoping maybe somebody has come across the same sort of issue as what I am having. I'm thinking it has to be something relatively simple.
Would appreciate any input. If I fail on here, then I will have to send it off to the mechanic.
Thanks in advance.