Hiccuped!

[Walrus]

Was on my way home from VW Camper show today when the van coughed and spluttered while coming down the M4 before eventually stalling. Normally runs on LPG but that had run dry and am on petrol, 1/2 a tank, no warning lights, all fluid levels ok, temp normal. Called the RAC (and thanks to Jed the Spread who stopped and offered assistance!) - the RAC bloke arrived, looked at the engine, poked something and it started and ran fine like nothing happened! Ran fine all the way home and still working later when putting back on drive after unpacking.

I've no clear idea what the problem might have been - ignition? fuel? I put a new belt on it when I replaced a split coolant hose last week and replaced the distributor cap, HT leads & spark plugs a couple of months ago. The belt was a little loose this morning (was squealing) so tightened it up before I set off.

Any suggestions as to where I start looking for potential problems? It's not so easy to fix when there's nothing apparently wrong right now!

[ajsimmo]

My guess from the description, and the very quick fix, is the plug on the side of distributor was loose. Impossible to know for sure now, but maybe the best thing to do would have been to ask the RAC man what he poked.

[Walrus]

I did - he just commented that the distributor contacts looked ok. So all i can think he did was re-seat/jiggle the wires! I'm going through the engine bay ATM cleaning it up and checking connections.

[a1winchester]

I have had a similar problem that turned out to be a pin hole somewhere in the fuel line. I had the whole line replaced and it was sorted. There were some well corroded joining clips on the old line.

It hiccupped and stalled, then started again shortly after. It drove fine for a few miles, then died again. The air was only getting in occasionally, and sometimes the reservoir in the carb could keep up with the fuel demand, but sometimes not.