2003 3.0i Engine cutting out at idle and whilst driving

[spazmochad]

So I had an issue a few weeks back whereby I drove a short distance, parked up to do something and the car wouldn't start back up.
The breakdown man cleared all the codes and was having no luck, only for it to start back up all by itself about 20mins later. No explanation and he didn't save the codes.
Having no code to go on or warning lights, I replaced the crankshaft sensor and did the DISA valve and oil filter housing gasket whilst I was there. I forgot to do the ICV but it was next on my list if it happened again.

Today whilst driving the engine stalled at some lights, restarted fine, then stopped responding about 100 metres down the road. I pulled over but then it picked up again (didn't stall out) and all was fine on my journey, plus the journey back home.

So I went to pull codes hoping for a camshaft sensor or something more obvious, but I seem to have timing issues across all 6 cylinders.

Any ideas what might be the cause?

 

[Chris_D]

You'll probably hear a chorus of this; but how old is your battery and have you checked the alternator is functioning as it should be and giving sufficient juice back to the battery?

 

[spazmochad]

Battery is a few years olds but outputting the correct voltages and the alternator had a clean and a new regulator a while back. I leave it on a trickle charger sometimes too, I actually had it on it after doing the crankshaft sensor until it was full.
Radio, lights etc were all working OK at the time, I remember when the alternator went, the radio was one of the first things to go before the car ran out of juice completely and did it's shut down sequence

 

[spazmochad]

Just to update, I replaced the DME by cloning my old one and the issues are sorted. An update didn't cure the issue in my case.
The car progressed to only running for a brief period, then stalling out for the rest of the day. The next day it would fire up fine. No reliable codes presented during the brief runs.
On the upside I've got everything replaced on the engine so it's running like new now. If anyone needs a hand updating modules or cloning a MS45 give me a shout.