Fuel starvation?

[epipete]

Strange thing, took car out to town earlier, all ok when I parked up. On return to the car it initially fired up and ran but with low power. I reversed it out of the parking space and it spluttered along for a few metres and then conked out! Engine cranked ok but simply would not fire up. Eventually, two nice policemen pushed me back in to a parking space where I left it & walked home.

Returning a couple of hours later armed with a gallon of fuel (just in case) which I poured in to the tank the car fired up 1st time, looking at the fuel gauge it is showing half a tank (which doesn't surprise me after running out east week I thought Id filled it up) so it wasn't that. Drove home a treat.

Two years ago I changed the fuel pump and last year changed the Coils and ignition cables.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to what caused the problem?

[superbad]

You would have to suspect either the pump or the fuel pressure regulator, but given that the problem fixed itself, it's going to be hard to chase down. Check the vacuum line to the regulator too, a cracked vac hose can cause intermittent problems.

[epipete]

Thanks for the advice Superbad.

Finally tracked it down to the fuel pump, though why it should have failed, then worked and then failed again is a mystery not least because it was new only 2 years ago!

Oh well, new one purchased from Merlin this morning, now fitted and car running a treat again.

I confess with the spate of breakdowns currently being experienced confidence in the car is not running high!