Mark 3 Golf GTi 16v - intermittent engine cut out

[the breeze]

Was wondering if anyone can help?

Have developed a cut out problem over the past few weeks. So far it has always happened when the engine has been running for a while but not up to full temperature.

When it occurs whilst engine is idling always restarts without any problem, and if happens whilst driving can normally avoid stall by dipping the clutch and revving. The engine feels lumpy and down in power for a short while and then normally clears and all is well. Am suspicious it might have something to do with the automatic choke?

Cheers...the breeze

[brianf]

Was wondering if anyone can help?

Have developed a cut out problem over the past few weeks. So far it has always happened when the engine has been running for a while but not up to full temperature.

When it occurs whilst engine is idling always restarts without any problem, and if happens whilst driving can normally avoid stall by dipping the clutch and revving. The engine feels lumpy and down in power for a short while and then normally clears and all is well. Am suspicious it might have something to do with the automatic choke?

Cheers...the breeze

No end of possible reasons - air, fuel or electrical - so it really needs checking in more detail. Intermittent faults can be very difficult to resolve untill they develop to the regular stage. It could even be something mechanical like the head gasket starting to allow water into a cylinder. You need to identify the most likely reason and gradually home in on the actual fault by a methodical approach.

[junker]

I have suffered from a very similar problem in my Golf Mk 3 8v GTI for several years.

At first it was only shifting from 3rd to 2nd and accelerating through 3rd. Clutch goes on and the revs drop off, car stalls. Especially dangerous on roundabouts.

I had a company car for a while and my brother used the golf - he experienced the same thing but it was steadily getting worse. When I went back to the Golf the problem was intermittent with nothing special to distinguish the problem (cold starts or long journeys etc)
I explained the problem to 2 VW dealerships the first charged me 70 quid for diagnostics which proved inconclusive.

I started looking at the forums etc and can see that the audi's skoda etc seem to have similar symptoms. I went back and explained this to the dealerships and they offered to put it back on the computer, I preferred to keep my money so declined. They were adamant that they had never seen this problem before.

I then took it to a private VW / Audi specialist who had a look and checked everything he could think of, including electrics, fuel cleaner, breather etc All were fine and the fuel cleaner made no difference.

Sorry to make a long story longer...

On a stag night the other week and I got talking to this bloke who manages a VW Dealership, explained my woes (yes he got bored too) he immediately said get your throttle body cleaned. Notorious problem apparently!
-2 hours and 48.50 (inc vat) pounds later the problem was sorted.
Like a different car - best money I have ever spent.
Hope this helps somebody

n.b. he also told me that they have had lots of the new golfs coming back, sluggish performance etc. The solution - the engines will not work properly if you do not use premium fuel.

[massenj]

Hi, my 97 mk3 8v gti was cutting out at junctions I had the throttle body cleaned and the ECU cleared of the thousands of fault codes and it was fine , it is playing up again now....1 year later though . I've also had small bits of white smoke coming up from the hazzard warning light button area...what the F*** is that about?? Help!

[junker]

I have had the white smoke coming out from the steering column (few years ago now) absolutely crapped myself, thinking sh** car was about to burst into flames.

Asked around and heard that the wiring loom can sometimes be a bit suspect. Took it to the garage and got them to check it out but they said it was ok. It happened a couple more times over the next few months but nothing for the last 40k miles. Realise this is probably no help

[Mowgs]

I have a P reg Golf MK3 GTI 8v and have been getting the same problems, from looking on the net it seems that this is a common fault, car is booked into garage this week for the throttle body to be cleaned, lets hope this sorts the problem cos there is only so much shame i can take everytime i cut out at traffic lights or a roundabout

I'll post again letting you know if the problem is sorted as soon as i can.

[Mowgs]

mechanic cleaned out throttle body and replaced one of the relays on the ECU, car is running as new now - no problems

[GTI Man]

Hi Gents, I hope someone can help because it is driving me mad !!!!! I have a 97 Golf GTI 8V with 69,000 miles on the clock it has only done 6000 in the last 4 years. I have read many threads regarding the car stutering etc
and my fault is similar to most mentioned. I have already changed the ignition coil, fuel filter and had the diagnostic checks carried out. Bascially the car will just drop the revs with no warning and then it will carry on. Sometimes it happens a few times and sometimes just once or twice as there is no pattern, tonight i started up the car and I could hear a high pitched noise like a whistle What the hell is that ???? Sound behind the dash. I like the sound of the throttle being cleaned so I am going try this next, but which relay on the ECU was changed !!!! How many are there ???? Has anyone out there got any ideas which will help.

[brianf]

Hi Gents, I hope someone can help because it is driving me mad !!!!! I have a 97 Golf GTI 8V with 69,000 miles on the clock it has only done 6000 in the last 4 years. I have read many threads regarding the car stutering etc
and my fault is similar to most mentioned. I have already changed the ignition coil, fuel filter and had the diagnostic checks carried out. Bascially the car will just drop the revs with no warning and then it will carry on. Sometimes it happens a few times and sometimes just once or twice as there is no pattern, tonight i started up the car and I could hear a high pitched noise like a whistle What the hell is that ???? Sound behind the dash. I like the sound of the throttle being cleaned so I am going try this next, but which relay on the ECU was changed !!!! How many are there ???? Has anyone out there got any ideas which will help.

If I recall correctly, on the carb engines, there is a short right-angled rubber tube behind the carb and that has a tendency to split, allowing air to be drawn in so weakening the mixture and causing the whistling noise. I'm not sure if there is something similar on the injection engines. The condition varies because the rubber is flexible and the split does not always settle in the same position.
If that is the problem, it is fairly easy to check. Locate the tube and, with the engine idling, run your fingers over the surface of the tube and/or move it about and see if the idle speed varies.
If not, there are many other possible reasons - spark plugs, ignition leads, distributor cap, fuel jets clogged, condensation in the fuel tank, etc., etc. However, they would not explain the whistling, which could well point to an air leak somwhere on the inlet.
Good luck.

[GTI Man]

Thanks I will have a look at the weekend, however rev dropping while I am driving I have just asked a VW specialist who were extremly helpful and said to check the crank shaft sensor, is there anyone out there who had similiar problems to myself and then replaced this item ??? Help im losing sleep over this ???? I was also told to clean all the electrical connectors to the brain as this also sometimes helps, bascially they said go back to basics and check all connectors. There must be someone out - there.


The main problem is when I am driving along the revs will drop for a second then return. The car does not tend to cut out !!!! There is no pattern what so ever.