Knew my time for a breakdown had to come eventually as it does to all us mad owners.
All things running great on my 2001 P38 4.6, parked up outside a shop in town for 10 mins came out and the engine just turned over and over nothing not even a splutter which is very unusual as it has always been a first time starter. Bonnet up had a nosey pushed plugs looked at fuses nothing out of the ordinary so bonnet down turn key away she goes brilliant. Drove for 5 min came up to a junction and stops like I have turned the key off. Got a push to the side of the road. Not a spark try again 5 mins later good as gold drive off and a few hundred meters later the same thing. So took the option of being recovered to a very good repair shop who has looked after me before. (better than breaking down on the busy Russian road I needed to take to get home)
They have had the wagon for 2 days and could not find any thing wrong, he did tell me with his equipment it is very hard to diagnose an older car but I did guess that. But the fuel pump is working fine and no fuses have blown. Picked the car up, running great got half way round the first roundabout during rush hour and stops. Sat trying to start and nothing not a splutter. Assisted off the road called the garage and he came straight out and the bloody thing started again first turn. Drove the 1km back to the shop.
After research on here and a similar fault on another car of mine sometime ago. I am thinking Crank sensor but as always would welcome a second or third or fourth, fifth, sixth even opinion from fellow sufferers.
So what do you guys think? Crank sensor a good guess? or is there another gremlin lurking out there I haven't thought of?

Crank sensors can cut in and out. Check for rpm signal during cut out.( By looking at the Rev counter whilst turning over should read 200 or so) if nothing then crank sensor.
They often work whilst cold and driving(cooling air) but will cut out during heat soak( stopped or in traffic)
Jb

Cheers Jb, never noticed before as when it cut out was busy watching the traffic while trying to get started. Its back in the shop now so have to try and get it to fail while being inspected.

Have you looked at the connector to the crank sensor. I changed my starter and disconnected the sensor, the wires into the connector had corroded and caused all sorts of problems afterwards until I changed the connector.

could be sensor, connector,or wiring to sensor from ecu,two wires ,positive and ground,i had a break in mine in the harness,good luck

Sensor was my first thought reading the post, a new one cant do any harm, if its still the same you than have a spare ready for when it does.

Cheers guys, seems we are all thinking in the same area. Will post any update i get over the next few days,

Gunnerhavesome said:

Cheers guys, seems we are all thinking in the same area. Will post any update i get over the next few days,

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My son has just had the same thing with his Merc Ml320, and that was the crank position sensor, car would start and run fine but not restart after being parked up hot, after a while restart ok and drive a bit, cut out. Ordered a new sensor on the net, prices ranged from $14 au to $200au, he got a Bosch one postage included $79au, fitted it, 5 minute job, Ml back to it's reliable self.
You can bet that is where your problem is.

Hi Guys, yes we were all right. Crank sensor. Took the workshop a couple of days to confirm because as a Brit if you tell a Russian what the problem is he will go out of his way to prove its something else and he is right. Any way all solved just have to wait now for the part which will be about 2 weeks, even if i ordered it from UK it would take that long. lucky i am not desperate.

Gunnerhavesome said:

Hi Guys, yes we were all right. Crank sensor. Took the workshop a couple of days to confirm because as a Brit if you tell a Russian what the problem is he will go out of his way to prove its something else and he is right. Any way all solved just have to wait now for the part which will be about 2 weeks, even if i ordered it from UK it would take that long. lucky i am not desperate.

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You could always get it sent to Paris, then get Russia to invade the EU and someone to pick it up for you. Should have it in a couple of days.

Cant disagree with that logic just wish i had thought of it.

Cam sensor finally arrived, all fitted and it seems normal service has been resumed. Fingers crossed and touch wood and sometimes cloth that all will remain so.
But the beast is being parked up again on Monday for the next 9 months as work calls.

Gunnerhavesome said:

Cam sensor finally arrived, all fitted and it seems normal service has been resumed. Fingers crossed and touch wood and sometimes cloth that all will remain so.
But the beast is being parked up again on Monday for the next 9 months as work calls.

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Please excuse me for being terribly nosy, but what job is it that leaves your car parked up for 9 months at a time?

No problem, I go to countries where bad people are and try to make sure good people stay safe. When I get time off its not worth trekking all the way back here so I usually just take 3 months off over Christmas. Once the beast was parked up for 14 months and it still fired up first time.