GTI cutting out, oil light flashes

[Sheda]

hello all

i'm new to this forum, but i liked it so much, you all helped me while fixing my MK3 3E golf. here is my current problem:
2 days ago the engine couldnt start at all, just the starter motor runnin the engine and no more, while doing that the oil lamp keep flashing. so i thought about the fuel pump, any how, i kept tracing the problem till today, and i found strange thing:
i disconnected the fuel pump plug and tested the 1st and last pins with the AVmeter while ignition is on, it reads 12 volts which seems to be OK, when i plug test lamp to these pins, the lamp wont start.
then, i ran out 2 wires from the battary to the fuel pump and it's working perfectly. pluged it again to the plug and still not working.
i changed the fuel pump relay, and checked the spark plug working fine, crank position sensor ready voltage between pin1 and pin3.
anyone help and tell me wht can i test more, i dont want to spend alot of money to try changing relays and sensors. also i cant connect it to VAG soon because i'm very far away from it.

[admc6]

Does the car turn over when you try and start it?

If so i would check to see if spark plugs are getting a voltage first. just pull out one of the HT leads and put a screw in the end and place near engine block. (Make sure you hold the lead with something suitable). Having a friend around helps with this, unless you have long arms.

Then it could get complicated. Best to put it on vag com if you can after that, as it will show (should show) faults with any sensors.

[thai-wronghorse]

 

[Vesper]

Intermittent fault which gradually got worse. Discovered oil leaking in to rubbish Mirelli distributor. Hall sender covered in oil and metal filings (from inside of cap where play in rotor spindle scraped it around inside of cap).

Replacement recon Bosh distributor (inc. new Hall sender unit) & new coil for good measure. All in £40 inc VAT from Volksmania (South West). Bargain.

Most importantly VAG com failed to identify a fault. After replacing these parts she is now running gooooooood! 

[meth0d]

First up thankyou all very much for a very informative/gem of a thread. I have a 98 MkIII 8v GTi like many here, and like many of you here It has been cutting out intermittantly whilst drivng for quite some time. I am sure a lot of you can symapathise when I say its a f***ing pain in the arse and dangerous to boot!

Anyway after reading this I replaced ECU relay #30 and after three weeks of driving in all conditions,touch wood, it hasn't cut out once. I would definatley recommend replacing this relay first If you are having the cut out with oil light problem. It is one of the cheaper solutions and seems to work, for me at least.

Once again, thankyou all for your informative contributions contained in this epic thread and best of luck to those who continue to sit it out on the hard shoulder.

[nick_thomas]

Further to this I urge people to check the wiring going into the throttle body. I had an idling issue where I'd have to hold it on the throttle when cold, once warmed up it'd idle very low. VAGCOM brought up throttle position sensor, I swapped throttle bodies over and all sorts, turned out to be the wiring in the plastic harness was baked to hell because it's sat above the exhaust manifold. We repaired the connections and problem solved.

[barbara]

I've had the throttle body cleaned, and the engine works perfectly. 
good luck to all of you with a similar problem...

[newtogolfs]

need some help iv asked about this before and wanna no if you guys think its relay 30? when the oil gets to 84degrees it cuts out although since iv had it iv done 30 miles a day up the m6 and its never gone above 70 dg so dont no if it cuts out still to scared to give it beans on the motorway just in case. once it cools down it starts fine and off you go again need to fix it before someone buys it as i dont wanna let them or the car down so any help would be fantastic

[flexiblefish98]

Couldn't resist adding to the mother of all THREADS!

I'm a first time VW owner, got myself a '95 GTi 8valve and have been hooked on this forum since!
Car started with poor idle (would stall out from cold unless you kept revs up and cut out approaching junctions etc) and would 'bog down' when accelerating from low revs!
Changed so far:
HT leads
Spark plugs
Distrib cap + Rotor arm
New battery(wasn't staying charged)
Vac pipes checked and changed

Not too expensive so far! After picking car garage mechanic had cleared codes and told me it needed a run.
Car holding idle better but still not smooth and bogging down issue at low revs continues.
After 60-70 mile journey with three stops (including high speed blast on dual carriage) was few miles from home doing 30mph power started to go and car cut out!
Started again, did 100 yards and cut out. Then would turn over and not fire? Slight hot smell whilst turning over. No lights coming on when cutting out.
Saved from major rear ending by salt of the earth builder types and abandoned car at the side of road.

Will suggest to mechanic looking at following, can anyone advise me if I am pointing out the right stuff!
ECU relay 30
Fuel pump relay 167
Crank sensor
Hall sensor
Earth and wiring faults
Clean the throttle body

After two days of reading this thread brain is spinning with all the tales of woe and heartache and empty wallets. Need some GTiforum genius to make sure I get my local mechanic to do right stuff in right order.
Cheers to everyone who has so far taken the time to put there stories on here. Stewart

[barbara]

I'd get the throttle body cleaned first (it was the last thing on the list that I tried..) - of course, now I've said that it will be something entirely different.  The thing that annoyed me most about this was that the vw garages had no idea what the problemjavascript:void(0); was .......  it took my dad's mechanic about an hour to ask a mate to see what could be the problem.....