So went out this evening for my first blast of the year.

Then the car goes bang and dies.

Plenty of fuel now wont start. Turns over but wont fire. Any ideas am starting to panic the engines blown.

Its a silvertop zetec running injectors and an efi intake.

Was running fine previously.

Does it sounds like its turning over like normal, or is it spinning faster on the starter?

Was turning over like normal nothing sounded different

Have you checked compression, has the timing belt slipped/broken?

Basics check spark, fuel, compression?

Theres fuel in the rail and the pump is priming. Spark plugs look fine but will test tomorrow.

Need to buy a tester to check the compression

my first guess would be a fuel problem
was/is the fuel standard unleaded?

specifically, most modern fuel contains alcohol, which if left for signification periods, can absorb water from the air, and can then separate, leaving water at the bottom of the tank. (and engines don't run well on water! )

You say it went bang?
Did you hear a bang through the exhaust? Or somewhere else?

Through the exhaust sounded like a backfire.

The car spluttered slightly then popped

All belts look in place and tensioned still ok?

Yeah all in place and all tensioned fine.

Was completely random had been driving fine this afternoon then stutter backfire and dripped out.

Check all the wiring connectors, crank sensor OK and connected? Coil OK? Have you got a spark?

sounds like a fuel / ignition problem, had an issue on mine where it lost the temp sensors air and water as it happened randomly changing the fuel mixture,.
have you checked for a spark?

Have you got this sorted out?

Seems to be my spark plugs. Guessing they were dying and the engine over fueling then flooding. Started it ok two days later. Swapped out my plugs for a second set and now is running fine. Never had that before at all.

Glad to have found this thread.
I have exactly the same behaviour with my car.
Big bang, car started to run bad and engine died .....wont start.

Compression has been tested, it is good.
Fuel is good,
The plugs dont look bad, all have the same colour, but they surely are old.
I ordered new ones and hope to have them today....