Cut out... why and how to reset?

[oneblueleg]

My engine just dies for no reason every now and then... sometimes it'll do it two or three times in a week, then not for months, then it'll do it again. Diagnostics says 'connection 1' and 'throttle sensor' errors. The auto gearbox plays up when I first restart it, and I have to turn it off and on again to reset it, so that it works properly again.
The most annoying problem, and the one I'd like to get around, is the fact that most times it does this, it won't start for 10 minutes (I've timed it), but then it does start fine, and appart from having to 'reset' the gearbox as described it runs absolutely fine.... until the next time!
Is there any way I can overide this 'emergency setting' or wjhatever it's doing when it stops me from starting the engine for ten minutes?

btw... for that 10 mins it turns over, just doesn't fire.

Any help is appreciated...

[EvilScotsman]

Hi mate. What model year / car / engine size / 8v / 16v do you have?

Its hard to say without that info!!!

There are numerous faults that can cause this behaviour espec on 95 to 98 gti mk3's, (2.0 8v)

relay 30 (ecu power), in fusebox pos 3
relay 167 (fuel pump power), in fusebox pos 12
Hall sensor, near dizzy
crank position/speed sensor, near dizzy
oil pressure sensor, under oil filter behind front engine mount
Throttle body full of crud, TPS (throttle position sensor) faulty,
MAF sensor, on airbox exit
ISV (idle stabilisation valve) if fitted, near oil filter i think, 8v motors dont have this one.

Search the forum for "cutting out" or "cuts out" and see the many 1000's of posts on the same fault....can be just chafed wires to the sensor or failure of the sensor. The ecu may go into "safe mode" causing auto box weirdness due to a sensor error.

1. does the oil light flash?

2. does it cut out while driving at speed, or just when idling?

10 minute delay may be overheating  relays.

[oneblueleg]

Many thanks for your reply... it's a 1997 - 2.0 (not a GTI-I know... I'm a heathen )

I'm beginning to think a replay... I have just spotted another thread hinting at that, so that's what I'm going to try first as it's eay. The only thing is, I won't necessarily know if it works for a few months!

Thanks again.

[oneblueleg]

I found a realy that wasn't completely settled into it's connector, I pushed it and it moved a few millimetres into place... I haven't had a problem since!

[oneblueleg]

OK... it's cut out three times in the last two days!
I phoned the dealer to order a ECU relay and they tell me my car hasn't got one! There's a Close contact fuel pump relay or a Starter relay, but for my car, no ECU relay.... help!  I'll get the fuel one anyway...

it's an AGG chassis no. apparently

[boneybradley]

Agg engine defo has an ecu relay (and it's the same engine as the gti anyway). All mk3's have this fitted as it's part of the emmision/obd system requirement's




look in the fusebox and it will have a big number printed on it...(position number3 in the fusebox ....possibly no30)

[oneblueleg]

Many thanks Boneybradley... I'll approach them again...

I bought a fuel pump relay anyway, and in their books it wasn't number 167 or anything like it... then I got it out the box and it's got a big '167' printed on it... I now want to see one with a big '30' printed on it, but they didn't have any of the others in stock... sods law...