engine cut out at 60mph!!!!!!!!!

**hornetcarp** · 23-01-2008,06:58 PM

Driving to work this morning, coasting at about 60mph round a sweeping left-hand bend and I suddenly notice the rev counter fall to zero and the oil light come on!!!!! Probably only lasted a second or two before revs picked up again??? It was fine the rest of the journey and coming home tonight.

This has never happened before in the 7 years I’ve had the car. I’ve had the usual (dirty throttle butterfly) stalling problem in the past, when slowing down to a stop but this is a bit disconcerting when you’re travelling at 60mph!!!

From what I read before when searching the web I’m thinking the coil is highly likely the cause of this, is that the most probable fault? Does that fact that it corrected itself (fired back up??), rather than me coming to a stop and having to re-start the engine, point to something in particular and I realise there could be a few different things to consider?

Any help appreciated as I don’t want it happening again!!

p.s. I did have a start-up problem back in October/November time, when intermittently it wouldn’t even try and fire up (no clicks – nothing) but then eventually it would just like that? Never did get to the bottom of that problem but since then it’s fired up 1st time every time!! Wonder if that was coil related or has any bearing on today’s problem.

Thanks
Dave

**brybrybry** · 24-01-2008,10:51 AM

I had this exact same problem a while back, my car would randomly not start every now and then, then after a couple of months it finally gave up and left me stranded in morrisons petrol station in stoke, after i fitted a new ignition coil i experienced the same drop of revs although i was in the fast lane on the M6 and suddenly all the revs dropped and i lost all power, managed to coast it over to the hard shoulder where the revs then finally kicked in a minute or so later. Turned out my "new" ignition coil was faulty, I Replaced the faulty ignition coil and all has been fine since.

**hornetcarp** · 28-01-2008,12:15 PM

bump

**Crasher** · 28-01-2008,02:37 PM

Can we have some details on the car such as engine and year?

**hornetcarp** · 28-01-2008,02:39 PM

1997 2.0gti 8v AGG 85kw

**Crasher** · 28-01-2008,02:50 PM

If it cut out and the oil light came on, surely you had the clutch depressed? It sounds like either a dirty throttle body again, a faulty ECU relay, coil or crankshaft speed sensor. You need to get it fault code read.

**milescook** · 28-01-2008,06:36 PM

Oh dear god not another one....

I had this problem and also the car not starting. Took it to a garage, "yeah we replaced your starter motor" at 140 quid all in. Next day, still did the same thing "yeah the one we fitted was faulty" Are you sure? "Oh yeah it definately was we checked." Next week same problem :@

The MK3 has a known issue with a loose connection in the ignition from time to time. Mine got a bit bad so if I aggressively turn the key it fires. Sometimes though I take the cover off (one top one bottom) off the steering column, it just unclips. I push the black connecter in towards the silver casing it's in to make a better contact and simulataneously turn the key and hey presto!! It's a hassle but still.

Perhaps I could do something with the connector to make a better contact I don't know, but I suggest this may be your problem. You can always check the starter motor by using a jump lead connecting the positive battery terminal, and touching the other end on where the black cable goes in to your starter motor and the car should turn over. I wish the garage I used knew this, or maybe they did anyway :@ Look in this thread for more details https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...ead.php?t=9981

I actually think I read in another post that you connect where the red cable goes to the motor to the neg battery terminal, and I'm sure that's what I tried and it worked. Maybe both work...

**hornetcarp** · 08-02-2008,07:56 PM

it's been ok for 2 weeks but then cut-out again yesterday. this time i was only going at about 30mph in 5th but unlike the 2 previous times it didn't power itself back up and i ended up coming to a stop at a roundabout. but as soon as i stopped and turned the key it started up no problem and was ok for the rest of the journey.

**Crasher** · 08-02-2008,11:22 PM

Have you replaced any parts or just left it?

**hornetcarp** · 08-02-2008,11:59 PM

just left it for now and hoped it had gone away but now it's happened again i think it's time for a new #30 relay.

removed relays #30 and #167 and took plastic covers off and they look ok but i guess that doesn't mean anything!!

is it normal for them to be quite warm after a journey?