GTI cutting out, oil light flashes

[gazmacuk1971]

  hi just wanted to add my two penneth worth.... i have had all the symptoms listed here ... but hadnt a clue about this site... i got ill advised that i may be a problem with my immobilisor making the car cut out .. so forked out almost 300 quid on a new alarm. 2 weeks went by then the problem re arrose. i then changed th H.T leads dizzy cap plugs, then changed the coil at a cost of £120!!!!! but it did not stop the cutting out.
i then read this thread and firstly changed the fuel pump relay ( about £14) but it didnt solve the problem!! then i changed the hall sensor relay .. i specified the part number listed earlier in this thread ........ almost four weeks and not one cut out !!!! which has meant a quiet wife     so try it or if you havent changed it .... change the relay
cheers Gaz

[STOMMO]

BOY AM I GLAD IVE FOUND THIS SITE!!!!!
Ive had the cutting out at speed with oil light on for about 3 weeks. Spent £239 pounds on all sorts. Stuck a no 30 ecu relay in the beast and WOW!  Use to cut out at least twice a day, now zeroville. I recommend any one with a 97 2.0 8v with this problem to get a relay yesterday. Very happy at the moment but realize it could all be different tomoz.
I will keep you informed.

[yellowgti]

ive got a mk3 2.0 8v that was cutting out like a rite pain in the arse and i cleaned out all the breathers which were blocked with gammy oil and now its been mint ever since, i did it about 5 months ago! i would suggest to clean out the breathers before spending money on parts or diagnostics! (i have a diagnostic machine should anyone be local to stoke on trent )[/color]

[b4rks]

Morning Chaps,

Well firstly, congratulations scooterist on a mamouth and evidentally very popular post.

Joined this forum today specifically to reply to this post.

I also have started suffering with the whole 8v gti cutting out problem.  It happens when accelerating, decelerating, or stationary completely at random (but more prominently when she's had a good thrashing).

Was worried it was going to be another of those lots of hours/lots of money fixes, but this thread seems to be the proverbial light at the end of a tunnel.

I'll get a new sensor as soon as is possible and get the results on here.

Just a quick side point, has everybody else's driver's side front seat mounting broken in the back right corner leading to a wonky seat?? I'm on my second Mk3 now and it's happened in both..... and before the chants of pies pies he do love his pies start flooding through...... I don't like pies.

Cheers for going to the trouble of getting all this info on here.
B4rks.

[arfa]

just ad same probs.ad engine idle sensor  replaced.not cheap 88 nipa.but ok now...needs 2 go on diagnostic machine. to find problem.or look for sensor just below oil filter,wires may b broken due to heat from manifold. b lucky

[GTI999]

Brought a P reg Golf GTI a few weeks ago, very impressed with it until I got the dreaded cutting out problem!
It cut out occasionally including on the motorway! Changed the No 30 relay but it was still cutting out.
Went to work on Friday, 30 miles down motorway all ok, got off motorway and it then started cutting out every 2 minutes!
Called the RAC out as I was getting nowhere and didn't fancy driving 30 miles on the motorway home with the car cutting out every 2 mins! RAC man came to the conclusion it was the coil, changed it and we tested it down to the next motorway junction and back, all was fine or so I thought!
Went home and 2 mins away from my house it cut out again and then every 10 yards!

Put it on my mates computer at garage today and its coming up with the crank sensor being the problem. Will get one from VW on tuesday and report back how it goes....!!

[STOMMO]

Hi
I said I,d get back to you people about the no 30 relay replaced in my 97 GTI. Well its been close on 2 months now and she drives superb. I think I,ve just struck lucky, cos I know its not worked for some of you guys/gals.

[b4rks]

To anyone who is reading this post....

It worked for me too

Replaced the ECU relay for £10.57 and had no problems since.  Highly recommended as a first point of call if you're having these errors.  My idle valve is shot too, but replacing the ecu relay has stopped all cutting out (except when the revs drop quickly from 5k+ (but this is due to the idle valve))

So glad I found this post.

Thanks for your help chaps.

[heinz]

I had to px my 95gti due to this problem costing me over 1000 quid to put right with no fix changed the
 Coil HT leads and plugs
 new dizzy
 crank speed sensor
 cleaned and checked all sensors and throttle body
 new o2 sensor

 VW main dealer never mentioned the relay just kept charging me to plug in the computer

got a mk2 now much better

[JULEE]

Hi All,

having a nightmare with my Golf GTI 8V MkIII 1997.

Symptoms:
1]  Began to cut-out whilst driving around the roads in town i.e upto 30mph.Oil light flashes.
2]  Central locking packed in - pump works but no central locking occurs
3]  Had throttle cleaned out but cut-out occurred again within 10 days.
4]  Cut out whilst doing 80mph on the motorway.
5]  More intermittant cut-outs from 5mph to 35 mph.
6]  Now it won't start.Very hot day.
And in-between all this, the power-steering pipe burst requiring a tow home.

Now that the fault is always there rather than intermittant, here are the things I've checked so far:-
1] Relay 30 checked for it working with passing 12v across it = ok.
2] Had a working coil put in place off my partners working polo (same coil) = no difference/no start
3] Checked for 12V+supplying coil = ok
4] Checked for spark on centre HT lead but doesn't seem to be one present, also checked for a spark at one of the plugs. This was done placing a timing light in series, but it didn't light up. Not sure if I was doing this correctly though as I passed 12V from battery across it and couldn't get a light on even then.
5] Put a working HT lead in place from the coil and checked for spark = no spark
6] Cleaned distribution cap as all 4 contacts were furry.
7] Replaced dissy rotor arm with new one.
8] Bought a new ECU Realy No 30 from VW - fitted it and it started  YIPPEE.
9] Put the old relay back in - just to check it wasn't a fluke - and that worked also???

I am now going to see what happens, I'll drive it about and let you know. The temperature of the day is a good 8 degrees less than it has been over the past week or so and it makes me wonder if it has had an effect. I will run the car up to temp and update soon.

Until then.........................fingers crossed.

Jules