complete failure!

[Quill]

I have a MK 3 Driver 1.8 Auto that suffers from complete electrical failure at any speed.
It starts fine , runs fine has had new sensors, leads etc.

when the power fails, everything dies. No engine, no lights ,no radio , nothing!
Leave it for five minutes and everything comes back on and the engine starts first turn of the key. Any ideas please?

[herby0001]

Similar, but not so extreme problem on my Mk3 1.6CL (ABU engine). If the engine stalls, the clock in the dashboard is reset. Can restart straight away. Other than that no other electrical problems. Anyone have any ideas as to what the cause could be?
Thanks.

[notquitecornish]

I suspect it might be a short in the internal electrics... I heard somewhere that Mk3 Golfs tend to get more water than you'd expect in the block in heavy rain, maybe it's linked to that?

[zedmeister]

I had a similar problem on an old Merc - not sure if the Golf has a similar thing but it turned out to be a relay - check all the relays in particular the over voltage sensor relay if you have one. Electrical problems tend to show up when things get warm, especially dry joints on boards, etc as the joint loses contact as it expands. When it cools down, it makes contact again and all is fine.

[chrisvrscrx]

I had exactly the same on my honda crx. It was a fuse and the blades had corroded and sometimes it conected and some times it didn't. Also check all electrical conections in perticular the battery ones they could just be lose.

[andrew.butler57]

definatly electrical problem you have there! check main battery terminals and earth terminals to the body for corrosion, also power supply relay!

[michaelodonnell]

It might be worth checking the earth & +ve leads. I had a similair issue for about a month until I discoveredone of the ends of the earth lead had corroded. you can bypass them using a jump lead for a simple test.

[simondhopkins]

Also check earth bond strap to the engine.

[Leon R]

Sounds like a wiring issue, which is easy and free to check, definately check your fuse board for any water or burnt out contacts. If all is ok I'd stick an ignition switch in it, approx £10 from GSF or ECP and a slight pain to do if you haven't done one before.

[SammoVWT]

Sounds a bit daft but check the battery terminals are on tight, if you get a slight disconnect and a spark on the reconnect it will shut off the ecu and the car will just come to a dead stop (no engine, lights, ecu, dash etc)

Happened to me before - could be something else but worth checking for!