Another cry for help!... cutting out

[BlackMajix]

Hi guys

I'm looking to benefit from some of the fine brains on the forum.

I'm having an intermittant cut out issue with my 96 GL "Bessie" very similar to this recent thread from mhewitt.

The first time it happened she spluttered to a halt in traffic and wouldn't restart. The motor would turn over but run so rough that it would die again. She waited until a mate turned up to give me a tow home and then started first go like nothing had happened, but alas only made it a hundred metres down the road before spluttering to a halt again.
I hoped that she was just getting sh*tty with me for running her on $5 of E10 unleaded , so I changed the fuel filter (hadn't been done since I bought her 2 years ago) and gave her a full tank of premium.
The next time out she made it 5kms before cutting out again so off to Jan at Wolfsburg motors she went on the back of a tow truck.

They kept her for a couple of weeks and couldn't recreate the cut out. They did a scan but couldn't find any fault codes so he put in a new ignition switch and replaced the power steering relay. (common cause he said)

All was well with the world for another couple of weeks, she was running rather rough with plenty of vibration but at least she was running.

Then on a long drive out last weekend I was riding the brakes down a hill when the engine just cut dead, not spluttered out but just cut off with all the electrics and power steering too. I left her 5 minutes and she started up again like nothing had happened. Before we get home she produces a new symptom... losing throttle while cruising along. She started to coast while I pumped away at the pedal for 20 seconds and then control came back.

She did another 4 or 5 trips with no issues at all until...
Today she lost throttle control while out on the highway again but while I was pumping the pedal trying to bring it back the engine died too

So it looks like she's going back to the garage this week. If anyone's got any ideas on things I can check out before then, they'll get the eternal graditude of two hot lesbians lol. I'm a newbie but kean to learn all I can and look after my pride and joy.

The wife has threatened me that if she cuts out again then she will trade her in for something Japanese so please HELP ME

Blackmajix

[rayray086]

The first time it happened she spluttered to a halt in traffic and wouldn't restart. The motor would turn over but run so rough that it would die again. She waited until a mate turned up to give me a tow home and then started first go like nothing had happened, but alas only made it a hundred metres down the road before spluttering to a halt again.
I hoped that she was just getting sh*tty with me for running her on $5 of E10 unleaded , so I changed the fuel filter (hadn't been done since I bought her 2 years ago) and gave her a full tank of premium.
The next time out she made it 5kms before cutting out again so off to Jan at Wolfsburg motors she went on the back of a tow truck.

They kept her for a couple of weeks and couldn't recreate the cut out. They did a scan but couldn't find any fault codes so he put in a new ignition switch and replaced the power steering relay. (common cause he said)

Same problem as mhewitt, and what I had before with my 96 GL. Check out that thread again and look for the post I made with the pictures.

All was well with the world for another couple of weeks, she was running rather rough with plenty of vibration but at least she was running.

The guys that were working on your car, did they clean your spark plugs? I remember that when I was driving around in my car with a faulty crank angle sensor, my spark plugs will foul and go all black. I had trouble starting and the car would run rough. Once I cleaned the soot with a wire brush and restarted the car, it would run smoothly again, until it cuts out.

Then on a long drive out last weekend I was riding the brakes down a hill when the engine just cut dead, not spluttered out but just cut off with all the electrics and power steering too. I left her 5 minutes and she started up again like nothing had happened. Before we get home she produces a new symptom... losing throttle while cruising along. She started to coast while I pumped away at the pedal for 20 seconds and then control came back.

She did another 4 or 5 trips with no issues at all until...
Today she lost throttle control while out on the highway again but while I was pumping the pedal trying to bring it back the engine died too

Yep, this is the faulty crank angle sensor making it's last call to get replaced!

If anyone's got any ideas on things I can check out before then, they'll get the eternal graditude of two hot lesbians

PM'ed

Oh, and if you do get your car started again, tug on the cable indicated by the red arrows at the bottom of this pic. If it cuts out, it means you gotta replace that.

[Jmac]

This will throw a fault code which is G28. The cable goes brittle and crap. If when it cuts out crank the engine and watch the rev counter and see if the needle jumps. It does sound like the sensor mate as you dont mention a kangaroo petrol effect. Do you have access to a code reader????
Cheers
Jmac

[Golf Loon]

crank angle sensor. If not that, coil.
My moneys on the crank angle sensor too.

[gtimk5]

I have had a few down here that had an intermittant cuting out problems.
The power relay was the problem each time. Coils are a common problem too as Loon suggested.
Had me wondering though with the first oe but I am pretty happy about that cure now! Common problem too.
Now, whoever wins this gets the girls bit..... I wait in anticipation....
Andrew

[BlackMajix]

Thanks for the replys guys.

I've had a play with the crank angle sensor while the engine was running as suggested and it didn't cause any cut out. The wiring looks in pretty good nick, no breaks in the insulation and certainly not like the picture of the crapped out one in that thread.
No definitive answer there but doesn't mean it's not stuffed of course.

[Jmac]

Have you checked the No30 relay????? I always mention this but how is the fuel filter???? so commonly missed.
When the power relay plays up you can watch it on a scanner fluctuate voltage to the ecu , this will cause rough idle. Is the car warm when it cuts out??????? This would also point at the relay. But hey do yourself a favour and check the fuel filter too
Cheers
Jmac

[Ben_GTI]

Mine had an issue with starting and then cutting out. Replaced Relay 30 and the coil (thanks for the pointers guys).

I might have a look at that sensor, but I'm not sure how smooth the car is meant to run normally anyway. Def not as smooth as the Pogo lol.

[BlackMajix]

Okay, here's an update

I've just picked her up from the mechanics and they've replaced the crank angle sensor, the relay and the distributor cap.
They didn't have a chance to give her a proper drive and test her out so they wouldn't take any money off me until I've driven her around for at least a week. So we'll see how she goes.

It still idles really roughly but prehaps as a someone suggested that is caused by fouled plugs. I'll check them out and see if it makes any difference.

[BlackMajix]

Oh this is driving me mad! The problem is still happening.

It seems to happen worse on the 30c+ days that we've had recently when I get stuck sitting in traffic.

[Jmac]

Fuel pump relay which is bottom right on the fuse box is also one that plays up when warm mate.
Cheers
Jmac

[Jondarren]

Did you check the hose that's circled in the picture? Also, crank angle sensor might need replacing.

it was annoying for me too. I did the fuses and the hose and all was good.

[BlackMajix]

Yep I checked that hose and didn't find any damage
So far:
- New fuel filter
- Temp sensor checked and working okay
- Scan showed no fault codes
- New ignition switch fitted
- New power steering supply relay
- New crank angle sensor
- New distributor cap
- New ?other? relay (haven't got the mechanic invoice to see)

[Ben_GTI]

I replaced relay 30 and the coil on mine to fix the problem.

Note the coil is different from the distributor cap.