NeilTM

Well, its a car again, and one so over the moon daughter after surprising her by picking her up from town with it that they have gone off for a drive in it.  It will be nice to see them when they get back!
 
I suppose I should hit the marked solved button, although without knowing what caused the engine to stop, whether it is solved or merely waiting to intermittently hit again might only be determined by the passage of time.  The historical fault code claiming a ground to earth in the fuel pump relay circuit which has not repeated after clearing, and which cannot be found probing the wiring, if it is an intermittent, is by their nature notoriously difficult to find if not presenting since it comes down to a visual inspection of the wiring, which cannot be satisfactorily carried out, becuse of its frequent obscurity.   I am leaving her with a couple of replacment fuses, and I've marked the one to check if it happens again, since replacing it again might get her home, and then I would cut the wire out and replace it close to its ends, but that seemed rather drastic at this stage especially as there might be nothing wrong with it.  As for the vacuum pipes joining in the fun, well you know what I think about that, and I still intend to try to do something about that shocking state of affairs, and will report back anything significant here.
 
Just to recap the 'solution' if indeed it might be a lasting one, has been to replace the SIMOS (ECU) power relay, number 429 in big numerals on its end, located under the drivers side dash on the inside of the bulkhead. This was because it was found that the diode (which passes current only one way) was found to be short circuit from pin 86, and passed current between it and pin 86a in both directions as tested by the diode test setting on a cheap chinese multimeter, and then by putting a 12v car battery through a 21W indicator bulb just to be sure.  Both Wino and my brother thought this to be possibly excessive, so use a 5W or lower if testing this way maybe, but the multimeter diode test was reliable as it turns out. Also its associated 10amp fuse, number 14 in the fuse panel under the end panel of the dash against the door on the drivers side.  And of course to replace the defective brake servo pipes.
 
I would like to thank everyone who helped us in this long saga here, I doubt we would have got it fixed without you.  I just hope there is no sequel!  And daughter just returned safely with flowers for Mum and a bottle of something, and says thank you to you guys also.
 
I'm still here if there are any further questions or discussion, but for now at least, have a great Christmas.
 
Best wishes,   Neil and family.