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[Kev]

That rules out your CrankShaft sensor then. If that goes only the engine will fail, not the entire electrical system.

Does sound more like an earth fault that is causing the problem.  

[rpont]

I'd check the earth cables then. There are two from the battery. One goes to the air conditioning compressor bracket, at least on mine and the other, thinner one, goes to the body just below the battery tray. For the starter motor to turn you have a connection to the one going to the engine and if it was that one I would expect the radio to still work but you say you have the electrics back by then and it just doesn't start for another few minutes but I'm not sure how the ecu and immobiliser are involved in turning the engine over.

I'd be seriously looking at both ends of both cables for security. It may be that when things are warm the bolt expands just enough to break the contact slightly so that you aren't getting enough current for the electrics. I've also seen a battery where one of the posts came loose internally and that could cause your starting problems but I don't know if it would cause the engine to stop once it was running, I wouldn't expect the electronics in the alternator to be that sophisticated. If the cables are secure I'd get the garage to try another battery just to eliminate it, and they must have one they can try without selling it to you.

If it wasn't for you loosing the electrics it's a classic crankshaft sensor fault though :-)

[jarb]

thanks for the idea garage reckons they have checked the earth, also has beenplugged into a comp and ecu comes back no fault found, will the ecu pick up the crank sendor

jarb

[Kev]

thanks for the idea garage reckons they have checked the earth, also has beenplugged into a comp and ecu comes back no fault found, will the ecu pick up the crank sendor

jarb

Yes, the ECU would record a DTC for the crankshaft sensor, but not necessarily for an earth/wiring fault. Have all battery/earth connections been checked, and i mean properly?

A crankshaft sensor would not cause you to lose all electrical systems, it would only kill the engine. The ECU would register a fault with the sensor, store a DTC and shut the fuel and ignition systems off for protection, all other electrical systems would remain unaffected.

[rpont]

If the ecu had power when the crank sensor failed I would expect it to be logged.

I don't know what's usual with earths. I think it used to go to the engine and then from the engine to the chassis, I'm thinking back to the x's Escort here. There are several earth wires connecting to the earth point below the battery tray and it's not really visible unless they know to look for it. The battery that had the loose post was in a Chrysler Grand Voyager and the guys garage was puzzled by the fault but the post turned fairly easily when I twisted it. He had all sorts of intermittent problems but I just can't remember whether it cut out on him when it was running.

[TheBoy]

Ahh, missed bit about all electrics going. That wont be crank sensor (which would be stored as a fault code).

Earths, possibly a regulator problem?

[rpont]

Ahh, missed bit about all electrics going.

I do try to keep you up at the back there  

[Kev]

Ahh, missed bit about all electrics going. That wont be crank sensor (which would be stored as a fault code).

Earths, possibly a regulator problem?

Nearly lost something there.