Cranks but then dies - is it worth investigating or just lighting a match

[Bonnie_wollongongarea]

My partner has a 09 d40 Spanish built diesel. I have very little car knowledge and he won’t join these places to add posts to ask.
He was driving in the highway yesterday at 100km/hr. The car died whilst driving everything switched off. Pulled to the side of the road tried to start it again, it cranks over for a second or 2 and the small shake/splutter and dies again. Revs aren’t moving over 1000. If he holds the ignition on it will stay on but revs still not holding - once he lets the key go it dies
Is it worth looking at things , is it dead?

 

[Old.Tony]

It sounds like a failed ignition switch, if it's only working while the key is being held.

That's no huge problem really, especially compared to the cost of getting a whole new car. You might have to get a new barrel from a wrecker (you can almost be sure that a Navara that's been wrecked in any sort of collision had a working ignition switch when it ran into something).

You could try Central Coast Wreckers, 14 Lucca Rd Wyong (02) 4352 2443. I've bought stuff from them before, they're quite helpful.