I have a 2001 1.6 petrol Vauxhall Astra, about 2 months ago i was driving out of a car park and it just shut off completely, but started again without a problem and i drove home (i thought maybe i somehow stalled it or something and ignored it). This didn't happen again for maybe a week and so on. Recently it had become more and more frequent, I collected my parents from a wedding a few nights ago and the car shut off roughly 6 times on the way home (i was about 7 miles from home) this happens only when i'm slowing down if i'm on a straight road doing a steady speed there isn't a problem, i'd like to add that every light on the dash lights up and that's when i know the car has turned off. It always restarts no problem and i drive on until it happens again. Today i drove into town and there were no problems and on my way home (which is all mostly uphill) i was stuck behind a very slow tractor for about 3 miles doing 20mph up hill, i pulled into my estate and just as i stopped to turn the car it shut off 3 times while trying to move it and eventually it refused to turn back on :( a guy pulling into the park who couldnt get past me as got out and thankfully pushed it for me into my driveway. He said my problem sounded similar to a car he once had and that it was the 'fuel return valve' i'm a full time student with a part time job and have a lot of dance rehearsals during the week and as its a saturday evening there is no one i can take the car to, to have it looked at. If anyone has any suggestions or can tell me if theres anyway i can check this problem (or have my dad check it) to save myself some time as a lot of the time mechanics check every fault and keep the car for a long time and i really need it to get to and from college, work etc. atleast if i could bring it to someone and mention what the fault is thought to be :( if someone could help me out id be so grateful, thanks.

Jenna, August 2013