1997 P 2.0GLX Estate starting and cutting out problems

[bmthpug]

Hi everyone

I've recently got myself a P reg 2.0 GLX 406 Estate with 86k miles and a full history, so was quite pleased with the purchase!

I've had no problems with the car (except when I forgot the immobiliser code and transposed 2 digits and got locked out for half an hour) until this morning.
I went to the car to and had trouble starting it, as soon as it fired the revs wanted to dive and the engine cut out. I tried it a few times and did get it going but each time I had to catch the revs as they fell and accelerate to about 3000 revs. I got it going like this but at the junction at the end of the road it didthe same thing so I decided it would be safest going home!

The engine management light comes on when you put the key in and turn it but goes off as soon as the engine starts, so I think this is ok?

I wondered if I'd flooded it, so left it alone and went back to it this afternoon but the same thing has happened.

Thinking back, I did a fairly long journey yesterday (60 miles each way) and noticed that it seemed to be idling slightly high (approx 1250 revs) but there was no issue with cutting out etc.

I've read the sticky at the top of the board about starting problems but couldn't quite match it to my own hence starting my own thread.

Any help will be most gratefully received.

[mjb]

I think the problem is almost certainly the idle solenoid (a.k.a. stepper) covered in the thread you read. Unfortunately it looks like James' pictures are broken

Does anyone here have a picture?

[bmthpug]

Thank you for such a quick response mjb - Is this the kind of part available from a factors or is it main dealer territory?

[mjb]

You could try your local eurocarparts or GSF...

[teamster1975]

I don't think anyone has had to actually replace the stepper though, usually a strip and clean does the trick!