Golf VR6 Stuttering, Backfiring and now dead. FAULT CODES UP.

[Gti_Jamo]

1992 OBD 1 2.8 VR6.

Hi guys as above was out in the VR6 today and driving along fine then its stuttered badly and wouldn't take any throttle and gave off some loud backfiring. Pulled over, turned it off and on again and was fine for another 15 miles or so where it began doing it again. Wouldn't go further than 100 yards and eventually completely died on me. While I was in town i sourced another coil on the off chance it was this but it made no difference. Got it towed back to my house and then its started fine, went to maneuver it into a parking space and it just immediately cut out, as if I have just turned it off.

Any ideas? Its obviously electrical and will scan it when my old man brings the reader over tomorrow. Fusebox relays?

[popleyruss]

Sounds to me like the crank postion sensor just next to the oil cooler 1 allen key head mate

[Gti_Jamo]

Yeah thought that could be a possibility. Will see if the code reader picks anything up tomorrow and take it from there. Just sold a full vr6 engine, loom the lot last week too.

[Gti_Jamo]

Well i've got the code reader on it this evening.

1 of 2
00515 KWP1281
Camshaft Position (Hall) Sensor (G40)
Sporadic - Short Circuit to Earth

2 of 2
00513 KWP1281
Engine Speed Sensor (G28)
Static - No Signal

No can I assume the speed sensor is another term for the crankshaft position sensor down to the right handside of the oil cooler? Also with the engine not firing it would pull up a static signal even if it was functioning properly. I measured the resistance between pins number 1 and 2 and is within tolerance.

So I guess there is a fault with the hall sensor which I believe is inside the distributor given that its showing a sporadic short circuit which would cause and slow intermittent failure. Can you change the sensor or would it be the entire distributor needing replaced? I have a test I'm going to do tomorrow to confirm it is this.

I'm no auto electrician but and old skool mechanic so I struggle a bit with these issues. Even though the car is 20 years old lol. Any more info or experience will be really helpful.

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

You will need to purchase a new distributor.

[Gti_Jamo]

A second hand one you mean. So given the info I have given your confident this is the problem yeah? Jus sold one last week too. Sods law!

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

I'm not confident, I'm just answering your question about if you can change the hall sensor wihtout buying a distributor.

But have a look at crankshaft sensor wiring to see if it's split?, if it's not then I would also think its the distributor.

[Gti_Jamo]

Ok cool that's what i suspected. Yeah checked the condition of the wiring to the crankshaft sensor and all seems pretty good and like I said the resistance was well within tolerance so i'm happy its not that. Its looks likes its been recently fitted. The test I am going to do tomorrow should confirm if the hall sensor is at fault anyway so will report back with the results. I don't really like buying stuff to diagnose faults as it can become expensive so will hold off until its definitive.