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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: myoptika on 21 January 2007, 17:13

Title: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: myoptika on 21 January 2007, 17:13: Ok, I've trawled the board to see if anyone else has had this problem, but can't find anything that's exactly the same.

Basically, about 45 mins into a journey the engine starts spluttering as if running out of petrol. Eventually I have to pull over and stop, but it won't turn over. If I leave it 15 mins or so it then starts again with no problems. Could it be a problem with the fuel pump? I'm at a loss at the moment, although I've booked it in for a service on Thursday anyway. Should I be worried, or do you think it will be easily fixed?
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: sacvwgolf on 21 January 2007, 17:52: what is it?
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: Heyho on 21 January 2007, 17:54: I know that there are a million and one things that could cause this, but it puts me in mind of a possible blocked fuel tank vent. As you drive, fuel leaves the tank but no air can enter, thus inducing an ever increasing vacuum, to the point at which the fuel pump can't overcome it. Leaving it for 15 mins is probably enough to allow this vacuum to bleed away.

Very easy diagnosis for this. Drive until you splutter to a stop, then simply remove your fuel filler cap - if there's a noticable "suck" when you remove the cap, then you've found the problem. I'm assuming that like most cars, the vent is actually in the cap.

Hope this helps, let us know how you get on.
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: myoptika on 21 January 2007, 20:28: Sorry, it's a Golf Mk2 GTI 16v (like the one in my sig).

I'll give that a try. Is it easy to unblock the vent?
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: Thom89 on 21 January 2007, 23:32: could be a blocked fuel filter...
Tom
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: Notis_kr_16v on 22 January 2007, 09:09: might be the lift pump!
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: Gambit on 22 January 2007, 13:46: is it spluttering or misfiring etc? does the rev counter bounce all over the place?

hall senders tend to fail on 16v's - leading to misfiring chugging etc when upto running temp
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: NewStu on 22 January 2007, 16:13: You said that it wont turn over after stalling. By this do you mean that the starter motor does not turn at all? Or does it turn but not fire up?
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: myoptika on 22 January 2007, 23:21: Quote from: Gambit on 22 January 2007, 13:46
is it spluttering or misfiring etc? does the rev counter bounce all over the place?

Yes, it does exactly this! Rev counter going up and down like a yo-yo. What do you think it means?

Quote
You said that it wont turn over after stalling. By this do you mean that the starter motor does not turn at all? Or does it turn but not fire up?

It turns over but won't fire up...
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: NewStu on 23 January 2007, 11:32: Bad earth maybe?

Check the main earth leads. The one from battery to chassis leg. The one from chassis leg to gearbox. And the one on the distributor housing.
Title: Re: Engine spluttering then stalling about 45 mins into a journey
Post by: rubjonny on 24 January 2007, 11:27: rev counter going mental is a symptom of a dying hall sender in the dizzy, check the wiring to it first though.