bob r

iTrader: (46)

I have a 98 mk golf GTi with 60 k on the clock, a very well cared for car.

Over the past 2 months or so it has been cutting out intermitently.

The car always starts first time when cold,but on occasions it will just cut out causing chaos.
The car always starts again but it has to be left for around 5-10 mins then it will fire up.
I have had breakdown out to the car but they just scratch their heads and drag us home,(thats if I havent started it).

I have took the car to a local mechanic who changed the spark plugs and leads but this didn't help.
I then took the car to a VW main stealer who had the car for 2 days, advised me I change the dizzy cap and a breather pipe and a diagnostic. £160.00 later I was assured the car would be fine but I didn't even get out of the garage and it cut out again.
They stated that they couldnt get the car to "cut out" and the diagnostic showed no faults.

I was then advised to change the distributor as that could be the problem..but what if it wasn't ?
Basically I can't afford to keep taking it to garages as they seem to be clueless so I ask for any help from members on hear that may be able to offer any advice.

The car has FSH and generally runs fine without this nightmare problem.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Steptoe

Coil pack prone on mk3's.Had to get one for mine a couple of years ago, £105 from main dealer.

Steptoe

oops,just re-read that,sorry.

overlord

I had the same car with the same problem.
It could be any of the following ,relay by the fuses with 30 printed on the back (£10) i suggest you change this first as it is the least expensive,crank position sensor (£40) from ecp, coil and hall mark sensor which requires replacement of whole dizzy.
It was the crank pos sensor that went on mine.

DJ2000

I know of someone that had the same problem it turned out to be the ecu..

The Zohan

similar problem on a Mazda - turned out to be plug leads and coil pack. known fault on the 323 1.8 GTI's and MXs which share similar bits.

easy way to check ours was to pull the leads off the coil pack (4 ht leads come off of the coil pack) in turn, turned out two of ours whee intermittent and with the plug leads breaking down in became worse.

i would google it and try a vw forum as well

bob r

iTrader: (46)

Thanks for the replies. I have had a similar response from a VW forum.

The most frustrating thing is that there is no warning signs before it cuts out and it's so intermitent......so damn annoying.

Sonic'

I had an old golf that did similar too, not a gti though

I cleaned the maf and it was fine and dandy after that

hectic

maf could be the issue, thay are notorious as a 'weak spot' on the mk3's might be worth trying to find someone local to you with Vag-com

Matteeboy

Coil pack died on my mk3 GTi 16V - About the only problem I had in 3 years of happy ownership.

bob r

iTrader: (46)

Vag-com ? erm...what is this exactly?

matchmaker

Diagnostic software

bob r

iTrader: (46)

Would this differ from the VW main dealer diagnostic test ? as it has already had that and nothing was found.