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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: ScottMk2Gti16v on 05 December 2006, 07:47
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It seems I'm going through a phase of throwing wad after wad of cash at the car at the moment.
In the last 6 months it's had:
Complete new suspension system
New brake calipers
Spark plugs and leads
4 new tyres
Disributor cap and rotary arm
Cam belt
Power steering belt
Alternator belt
Not to mention various oil/filter changes
Oh and the power steering pump is faulty - got a new (2nd hand) one delivered today.
The bits in bold above have been done last week. since just before that time when I've had the car about once a day it will completely die on me. It will start fine and run fine until out of nowhere it would skip a beat and/or completely lost power and I'd have to roll to the side of the road of if I'm lucky be able to pull in somewhere. The original thought was this it could be the distributor cap/rotary arm - so these were changed and the problem never happened for a few days now it's back :angry:
I'd just be driving along and all the revs would die and the engine would switch off. The lights/electrics would remain working and the car would try and start no problem, it seems to be sparking and the engine attempting to turn when you turn the key - it makes all the right sounds until that point - it just wont start!
People have mentioned it might be some fueling issue - perhaps fuel is being blocked somewhere? Or possibly an electrical fault but I can't think what? Today I'm basically gonna stick the car to a garage to be looked at but I feel this is gonna be the sort of one where the car runs okay and they can't find a fault - because it's entirely possible for the car to run all day without doing this! I just know it's always around the next corner possibly - I've now broke down 6 times and after about 30-60 mins sitting there cursing the car and trying to start it it has ALWAYS fired up in the end and I've continued driving. I'm just not pushing my luck any further and can't live with the fear of breaking down in the middle of town on a busy roundabout or something!
Any help majorly appreciated! I've spent so much getting this car looking and running perfect that this is the last thing I need.
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PS - I've also recently put in a K&N panel filter - but the problem was happening before this went in. Could a change in air intake have messed up the car?
Infact I actually think the K&N has increased performance very slightly!
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im sure without a doubt thats a fuel issue , when it does it what sort of fuel level are you running , if you are definatly getting a spark (need to check this as theres no mention of your coil being checked , these break down and can show the symptoms your getting) id suggest the moment the fault happens check for spark by removing a plug and earthing it to the body whilst turning engine over (need two people) if theres a spark then the next thing to check is the inbound fuel line , ya need to remove it and place into a small tub or somin then turn over engine to see if fuel is making it through. these sort of faults are a process of elimination , i had a fault similar to this on my 205 , it ended up being the earth wire to the coil plate was lose and every so often it would lose contact causing the engine to cut. so check the earth wires too imo. i feel sorry for you as these kinda faults are a pain to find and if ya not careful you end up spending loads on stuff ya dont need.
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Yep, a fueling issue seems to be the most likely after I've discussed it with several mechanics, one of which shall be taking a proper look today/tomorrow. I kind of understand everything your asking but I'm no mechanic and wouldn't attempt checking leads, etc when I'm stuck at the side of the road :undecided: It just seems a bit random, how when it conks out it sometimes starts immediately, other times it can take an hour.
Thanks for your advice, I'll suggest it all to my mechanic and hopefully between us all we'll find the fault!! (without too much wasted £'sss I hope....)
Watch this space....
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sounds very much like a dodgy ignition switch to me :)
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I had a very similar problem a few months ago and it turned out that the fuse relay to the fuel pump was a bit dodgy.
It would just die, i'd pull over, sit there for 1 min or 30 mins - totally random. Finally died completely one day and had an autoelectrician to look at it and he sorted it quick sharp - when it happens next, open the car door turn on the ignition and see if you can hear the fuel pump priming - if not could be the relay.
Good luck
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First two checks are to check all of the earthing leads.
Then have a check of the ignition switch, a similar thing happened on an ex's passat VR, would start and stop as it wished, changed the switch and everything was hunkey dorey. :cool:
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Cheers guys, all good advice - I'll check out all points mentioned. Fingers crossed it's quickly fixed
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yea sounds like an ignition feed problem, check the 12v ignition feed to the coil as well if its not a fueling problem. :smiley:
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Mechanics had a look and he's almost certain it's the coil - new one on it's way today. Fingers crossed that's all it is.
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Right, I’ve now had a new coil put in and it’s not solved the problem. I’ve already had a new distributor cap and rotary arm – mechanic now thinks it may be the distributor itself. To save me buying one I may not need I’ve got a chance to take one off a mk3 golf gti 16v – does anyone know if they are the same? Failing that I’ll have to buy one – rubjonny – can you get me a part number for a distributor for my mk2 16v 1991 so I can speak to the retards at my local VW and maybe order one. Think I’ll also try and get a 2nd hand one.
On a good note – it’s passed it’s MOT today with no problems, well apart from the engine cutting out when doing the emissions!!
Cheers guys.
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Sorry an ABF one wont work, its not adjustible!
051 905 237 X - 79.47+VAT
I'd suggest replacing the hall sender, but check out the stupid VW prices:
052 998 065 - 99.47+VAT
So its cheaper to buy a complete dizzy inc hall sender, than it is to buy a hall sender on its own. Riiiiiight.
Pull back the insulation boot on the hall sender plug, and look for damage to the wires & pins, and have you swapped a new ignition switch in yet?
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* too fast for me rubberman!*
now i'm not that clued up on 16v's but from helping out mates etc it always seems to be the hall sender in the distributer that causes the problems. and vw are doing brand new ones for £100 exchange with your old one. i maybe way off here but its worked on various weird power loss problems.
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yeah, but why bother when you can get a brand new dizzy for less than that, which includes the hall sender :grin:
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if the hall sender is at fault then the rev guage bounces all over the place.
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yeah, but why bother when you can get a brand new dizzy for less than that, which includes the hall sender :grin:
thats £100 for the whole distributer, i thought that was pretty good?!
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The part number I posted above was for a new 16v distributor:
051 905 237 X - 79.47+VAT
I assumed you were talking about trade ins on the hall sender...
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Try taking the hall sender plug off from the top of the Dizzy and cleaning up the contacts that may save you £100 I'd also try the fuel pump relay as mentioned earlier. hth
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I had the same problem with my mk2 16v! when ibought the car it had had a new fuel pump, and i was lucky enough to have a spare car sitting in the garden in good mechanical order! I changed all parts you could think of to do with ignition and so on, fuel regulator, but the car still cut out when warmed up without any notice once across a duel carrige way with vehicles approaching in rush hour traffic, felt really embarassed to have to push a mint mk2 away, but i was lucky no one had crashed into the mk2! And on the way to inters the car was fine until we had to wait to pay and get in no sooner had we gone through and you had a bit of a run to park up and she died again! Any way in the end when i changed the fuel lift pump in the fuel tank problem solved!! Some one did mention this before, any she doesn't miss a beat now!!!!
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sounds very much like a dodgy ignition switch to me :)
Before you go spending more money have you checked the ignition switch? I think it can be said Mr Jonny is more often right than wrong! :wink:
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The part number I posted above was for a new 16v distributor:
051 905 237 X - 79.47+VAT
I assumed you were talking about trade ins on the hall sender...
Jonny - the part number on my old distributor is:
051 905 205 C - which is different to the one you've put above. I've got a new (2nd hand) distributor on its way to me and it matches the part number of the one I already have. Whilst on the phone to breakers yesterday I'm sure one or two of them quoted me the part number you have put above, while others agreed with the number I have so I went for one of them. Can you clarify whats happenin with that please?
My Amplifier (what does that do???) was also changed yesterday but with no success - car actually sat running whilst parked for an hour, then later was driven for 8 miles and died. Started again 2 hours later, made it back up the road but nearly conked out once.
So far ruled out:
Distributor cap
Rotary arm
Coil
Amplifier
Spark plugs and leads were changed only a few months ago to.
Next to change:
Distributor
Will also check out the things you lot are suggesting - thanks for all the pointers.
So is it definitely not anything to do with the fuel system?
Bloody nightmare....
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Looks like it was the distributor after all - changed it last night and the car now seems to be running perfectly. :smiley: Just hope it stays that way!
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Thats because 051 905 205 C has been discontinued and replaced with 051 905 237 X :)
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Thanks jonny, so why would they change part numbers like that?
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Normally the part is revised in some way, or it may be the old one just isn't made anymore so they have to source once from a different supplier.
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my car done this 2 me, it wos the fuel injectors
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By the way, i would give your "mechanic" a slap for suggesting it was the coil.
If you were always getting a spark to the plugs, then you might want to explain to him that it couldn't have been the coil otherwise the spark wouldn't have been making it to the plugs in the first place.
Gotta love a cowboy.
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thats what 1 " mechanic" told me it was the coil, so i had a new1, no diffrence n couldnt take it bk cos it had been fitted!!!
ahhh took it sumwhere else n it was the fuel injectors hasnt broken since yay!!
xxx