Mk4 1.8gti Engine stops after 3 miles!.

[rosscorossco]

Hello every one

VW Golf 1.8T  20V (Eng code ARZ) GTI MK4 2000.

Car has been absolutely spot on in the year or so that I have owned it. Serviced regulary, well looked after and sounds as sweet as a nut !.
However, in the recent week or so it has developed the following intermittent problem that is driving me nuts so if any of you VW wizards can help me solve the mystery I would be extremely grateful.

Problem.
Get in car, starts perfectly every time, no scary lights on dashboard. Drives and sound lovely.
Sometimes( !) after approximately 3 miles of normal calm driving and without warning up comes the STOP on the dashboard and the engine cuts out immediately.
Engine will turn over but makes no effort to start.
Leave the car for 20-30 minutes and it starts normally and off we go !.

I have had the VCDS Lite (unregistered) tool on the car and in so far as this version works it shows no faults.
Componant breakdown ( crank/engine speed sensor ?. Do these fail intermittently ?. Where is it located ?.) due to temperature is as far as my thinking takes me.
Any ideas, advice etc would be very much appreciated as I dare not go anywhere in the car until I find the solution to this mystery.
Thanks in advance.

[Wayne]

Might be worth checking oil pressure and the pick up pipe.

Could be a sensor but seems strange that it takes 3miles to cause a problem

[RTechUK]

Does the car seem to turn over really quick as if there is no compression after it first cuts out?

Oil return from the head getting too much pressure and causing the lifters to stick open and the engine has no compression.

[rosscorossco]

Thank you Wayne & RTechUK for your replies.

Wayne : Pick up pipe replaced and oil pressure checked in Dec 2010. Both were good and sump was very clean. Only done about 4000 miles since so hopefully nothing there !.

RTechUK : As far as I can think when the car has cut out and you try to restart it cranks normally but to be honest as the car has always started as soon as you touch the key I dont really have any comparison to make. To me if it were an older non computer type of car (my preference !)  its as if there is no spark.

Since doing the original post I walked down to collect my abandonned golf and it started straight away. Drove home 2 miles, perfick !.

I put it on the VCDS Lite, no faults. Restarted it, left it ticking over for about 5 minutes and then the engine cut. No bells or buzzers, nothing. So I reconnected the VCDS Lite and hey presto, the following fault.
‘16706 Engine speed sensor (G28) No signal. PO322- 35.00’

After ages trying to find the thing find it I did. It appeared to be in good condition but was absolutely filthy so I cleaned it up, refitted it and the car started straight away.

Took it for a drive, 2ish miles and its tow time again !!!.
40 minutes (ish) later, tried it and it started straight away.

Is it plausable that these things can fail intermittently because of temperature or is that wishful thinking ?. I have the part number off it, ‘BOSCH 0 261210 148’ so I will order one anyway but any confirmation or further ideas and assistance would be most gratefully recieved.

Once again, thank you both for your time and your help.

[richw911]

Yep common fault

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?3843284

[Wayne]

Replace the sender and see what happens

[richw911]

Replace the sender and see what happens

And buy a genuine one from VW or TPS as cheap copy ones are rubbish 

[Wayne]

Replace the sender and see what happens

And buy a genuine one from VW or TPS as cheap copy ones are rubbish 

Very good point

[rosscorossco]

Thanks you guys for taking the time to offer your ideas.

I have ordered a Crankshaft speed sensor and a 409 relay. As soon as they arrive and are fitted I will post the results. Fingers crossed 1 or other of the parts will do the trick!.

Thanks again.

[rosscorossco]

Hi folks,

Sensor & relay arrived today (wheels turn slowly in France !).

Fitted the sensor, checked for fault codes all good, started up as usual and............ it ran and it ran and it ran !!. Engine running for about an hour, full temperature all good. Took it for a spin just locally, ran like a dream !!.

So tomorrow I will take it for a proper run as my buddy is here with his landrover should I need a tow but so far so good.

Will report final outcome tomorrow. Thanks a lot for your ideas and inspiration, a great help and greatly appreciated.

Carlos.