You have confused me Pete,does not take much though,you quote

"I have not seen before and maybe a big clue is that all the dashboard warning lights will go out when the vehicle decides to stop."

This seems to assume you have warning lights illuminated on the dash prior to the thing cutting out? or have I mis read?

Regarding their scanner failure, any generic eobd scanner ought to be able to link with this as petrol 2001 on, I now carry a C-reader 5 in my pocket at all times from Launch,great little reader,very fast and updateable.