Car just sort of broke down then didn't

[Mike]

Just been out for the evening and on the way back the following happened - Engine light came on and lost all power, tried to start engine and would'nt.

Rang breakdown service.

Then tried to restart and it started so I drove home.

What could it have been

[Andre]

The way you describe it it sounds like something is failing/building up/heating up too much until it turns off, then starts fine once everything is cold again. I may be wrong.

Haynes says there is an Engine Management system fault with the symptoms you have given.

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[andy-womble]

Sounds like the engine went into limp mode because it thought it may have detected a serious fault code.
Obviously if the engine management light went out again, the fault must have cleared itself and will not now be logged in the ECU memory.
You really are stabbing in the dark here unles you can get a fault code reading using a code reader when the engine management light is illuminated.
To do this you will either need a code reader or to get it to a garage with diagnostic equipment BUT the fault must be present and logged.
If the garage couples up to your diagnostic socket and no fault found they may well bill you for the privelidge of carrying out an inconclusive diagnostic.

We are all learning together on here so please keep us posted on the outcome

Please read some of my other postings on a similar theme elsewhere on the forum.
My 2.0 HDI keeps throwing up the engine management light but as yet the fault has not proven serious enough to throw the engine into limp mode.

[Mike]

I've spoken to the chap that I take my car to and it's going in on Friday to be looked at and he says that it's possible to read the code.

[andy-womble]

Let us know how you go on please mate

[Mike]

Yep - will do.

The place I take it to specialises in French cars, and managed to fix my mum's Megane when the main dealer couldn't. I've been going to them for 8+ years and they've always been excellent .

[Mike]

Car's been in today and was given diagnostic test, which found that the piezo crystals on the injectors were not communicating with the ECU, this has now been put right

[Andre]

Thanks a lot for letting us know Mike. Glad you got it sorted.

[fildigger]

Piezo crystals ! very interesting, thanks for letting us know the outcome (easy fix then?) Good news .