3k issue??

[Brighouse-gti]

wtf?!?! Gets in me car this morning to set off to work, car starts fine, sets off to work and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!... as soon as the revs hit 3k it splutters and farts and cuts out!! Start it up again, no issues, set off again, keeping it under 3k revs and she runs fine, as soon as it hits 3k revs, in any gear, splutters n farts and cuts out. Oddly this has developed overnight, she was driving fine last night, I'm stumped!! Any suggestions anyone?!?

[jezza16v]

It sounds like it is stuck in 'idle' mode. There are two micro switches on the throttle body one above clearly visible and one below, one is idle and one is full throttle the wiring to or one of the switches may be damaged/stuck or it could be an ecu failure. If the FS switch does not operate above 3000 the ecu will think the car is in idle mode and shut the injectors off. I'm presuming its an 8v digi? While the car is idling at a standstill rev the engine to 1500 & hold, 2000 & hold, 2500 & hold, 3000 & hold, 3500 & hold and see what happens?
We had something like this a few months back but the problem was only below 3k. 3k is very specific to the ecu control, our problem was internal in the ecu so we had to replace it. Post back the test results and I'll see if I can work it out for you.

[Brighouse-gti]

Will give it a go when I get bk home, currently working away. Will let you know how it goes, and yes it is an 8v digi. Also stumbling on your psychic abilities there, can you post up the euro-millions results for tomorrow's draw!! Cheers!!

[Brighouse-gti]

Well I was goin to write up saying 'yes' it's cured, however it seems that the problem is intermittent! Did as you suggested, warmed up the engine first, then rev'd it up 500rpm at a time and held it, upto 3500rpm it went and after that it drove fine. This morning, again, after letting it get warm first, drove off no issues. Just popped to shop n back and it randomly did it again!! It hesitated first when it got to 3k revs, but pulled thru, did it a second time and spluttered and cut out?!? I've had a butchers at the wiring to the throttle switches and there's no freyed wiring. Connecters seem fine and no signs of corrosion. Is it possible that the ECU may be on its way to scrapyard in the sky!!

[jezza16v]

Hmm... Don't write off the ecu yet. Sounds like you might have a vac leak somewhere between the MAF and the throttle body. The engine flexing on its mountings could open/close any splits in the rubber hoses.

[Brighouse-gti]

Ive got a day off on Friday so will have a check around the vacuum hoses. Will check the wiring further back up the loom and post back some findings!!

[ritmo]

Hi
I'm having the very same problem!!!!! mine is an 8v digi also!!!!!
Can I ask a question, the night before this started was it raining heavy??

I have found that water has been getting in to my fuse box and turned out to be corroded terminats on the fuel pump relay!!! so I swaped this with a good second hand one and it drove fine for 3 weeks and I thought It was cured!!!
untill the other day I washed the car and then took it out to the shops and as by magic the problem is back!!!!!

my indicators have been getting slower also!!! and one night they stayed on and didn't flash!!!
I havent had time to investigate further but thinking I have water getting in to my ECU or getting in to the fuse box still!!
You might want to try there first, please let me know what you find.

Oh mine seems to do it at 2.5K mostly!!!! but its random!!!
we need to compair notes or make one good car out of two!!!!!!!!

[Brighouse-gti]

Wierd!!.. Sounds like your problem is more fusebox related. Or water getting to your fusebox maybe part of the problem. I'm 99.9% sure water isn't getting on to my fusebox, I cured that problem a loooooong time ago. To answer your question, yes it was raining when the problem mysteriously started, I suppose water may have got to the ECU as I still have one of them olde crappy ECU covers instead of the hard plastic newer ones. However, I had a good look over the engine bay today, checked the wiring from the throttle switches further down the loom and all is ok. I then checked the vacuum hoses and air intake boot and BOOM!!.. there was a crack in the air intake boot where the jubilee clip secures the boot to the throttle body. Fortunately I have a shed full of random bits n bobs for such occasions so just popped on another boot! Will have to see if its just coincidence or if it has cured the problem. The more I think about it the more I suspect the ECU, but I'll post back up in a week or so to let you know if it happens again, and if its been raining heavy or not!

[ritmo]

are you any further forward with this problem?
my car does it every day about two or three times! when it stops at 70mph I can catch it by pressing down the ecelarator and it bursts back in to life!
still no clue where to look for this problem!

[Brighouse-gti]

So 2 weeks down the road and shes still running fine. Replacing the air intake boot seems to have done the trick. Must have been the vac leak. Have had some heavy rain and hasn't affected the running at all. Just wondering, has your situation got any better ritmo?