Mk3 Golf Gti - trouble starting then stalls when revved

[owenfranssen]

For a while the car has been slow to start on damp mornings, but once started would run fine for the rest of the day or several days with no issues. Strangley while trying to start it would turn over, but then after you release the key the engine would feel like it was trying to fire for a couple of turns...
Last Thursday hit a big water splash (concealed pot hole) and the car cut out within 30 seconds. Since, it has real trouble starting (similar to the previous issue, but 10x worse) and when it eventually does fire it will idle ok, but stall as soon as revs are applied - when the engine is cold it seems to run ok for a few minutes and then stalls.

Distributor and leads have been replaced recently. There appears to be spark and there appears to be fuel. HAve swapped over the air meter for another one with no change...

At this stage any suggestions would be very much appreciated

[bigberty101]

I had this problem on mine, I had moisture in the dizzy cap and a couple of ht leads, quick way to fix is to removed dizzy cap and spray a little lubricant in there like wd40 or gt85, it dissipates the water and give you the spark back, the spark takes the easiest way to earth via water. spray a little over the plugs etc aswell and it may solve it.

let us know

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

what engine is it??

[owenfranssen]

Engine is 2l 8v

The dizzy cap and HT leads are less than 6 months old. Its been removed and checked again. Last night a new coil pack was tried. No luck with any of those...

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

I'd suspect the crankshaft sensor, the pothole filled with water, indicates exposed crankshaft sensor wires.

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Ohh does the oil light flash, when it stalls or when you try to start it? Just before it cut out, did the revs bounce all over the place?

[owenfranssen]

Yes the oil light flashes. And no the revs didnt bounce, it just lost all power and slowed to a halt then stalled

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Yes the oil light flashes. And no the revs didnt bounce, it just lost all power and slowed to a halt then stalled

Crankshaft sensor mate 

[thai-wronghorse]

I concur. f**king things.