I THINK MY GTi IS DEAD!!

[AndC]

Hi everyone,

I have been having real problems with my '96 GTi 8v

It cuts out and the oil light flashes, it has been getting progressively worse now it won't even go 50 yds without dying!!

I replaced the Crank sensor which worked for a short while but then it cut out again so I replaced the ECU power relay (No. 30) and that worked for even longer, about 150 miles, then it cut out again!.

I was going to replace the Hall sensor next but it isn't giving as a fault code on the diagnostics (even when the car is broken down!), what is also strange is that when the car is running I can unplug the hall sender and it makes no difference!. Also the No. 30 relay that I replaced seems to be very hot!, also the relay No. 36?? seems to 'click' when the car cuts out but I'm not sure what this one is!

The problem is I've spent so much on it recently that I don't want to keep going, I have done thew cambelt and full service new brakes new exhaust and now this!, the car has done 150,000 miles and I have a 50 mile trip to work everyday!!

Time for the scrapyard???

[boneybradley]

I would guess the fuel pump relay would be worth swapping.... and relay 30 shouldnt get too warm, was this a genuine relay you bought? as some aftermarket ones are poor poor quality
and relay 36 is for the headlamps warning buzzer!! check this list http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=74087.0

i would expect the hall senser to give a code if faulty and if you have disconnect this while the engine is running that should leave a fault that would need deleting!

[AndC]

When I switched the car back on it left a fault code for it which I cleared but wouldn't you expect the car to cutout if I plug it?

How would the fuel pump relay make this happen, when it dies the rev counter drops right off and the oil light flashes, the fuel and temp gague are unaffected coz I thought it may have been an ignition problem but that would kill the whole dash surely??

[dubmad]

av these cars got a anti knock sensor. like the engine wont start or it can cut out if its low on oil or if the oil pump is blocked /oil pressure switch gone. ive been told that this can happen dont know my self tho. 

[AndC]

Don't know but the oil level is fine and the oil warning light only ever comes on when it dies!

[boneybradley]

the ecu will use the other sensors if one is unplugged and adjust its settings , you will find the engine wont start if its unplugged as the ecu cant adjust enough...and thats why it will still run!!  i still think its a relay issue...no 30 or 167

[AndC]

That's what I thought but the car did start without it plugged in, that's what is confusing me! I have already changed the No. 30 relay...

[shlee2202]

When you say it dies does it just stop or does it judder abit then die? if its the latter i had the same problem and it turned out to be the mass air flow sensor playing up.

[Pete Taylor]

unplug the MAF sensor

[AndC]

No juddering it just dies!

I will try the MAF sensor anyhow thanks for the tip!