Engine Cutting Out :(

[TheEggShell]

Hi guys,

My car has started to do something really dangerous at the moment where the engine just cuts out (just like you have stalled or turned the engine off with the key).

It seems to be happening intermitently when I am slowing down towards a roundabout or junction.

The worst part is that I loose power steering!!!!!!!

I can't see it being a mechanically problem otherwise it would surely happen all the time, so I can only imagine that it is an electrical problem.

Aslo....

I don't know if this is related but I was overtaking a car this morning and the EPC light came on as I was overtaking and all power was cut from the engine (although the engine did not cut out). I turned the engine off and on again and everything seemed to be fine again.

Please, please, please help!!!

I am starting to loose patience with my polo

[Si_GTi]

I don't know if this is related but I was overtaking a car this morning and the EPC light came on as I was overtaking and all power was cut from the engine (although the engine did not cut out). I turned the engine off and on again and everything seemed to be fine again.

This sounds like "limp mode" where the ECU cuts power to prevent damage. Given that the EPC light came on too it would be worth getting a VAG-COM hooked up to see what error codes are logged?

Not sure about the cutting out though

[garnier]

Si's right. Just google search for 'limp mode'.

Take it easy until you get the underlying problem fixed

[1der]

alternator?

[garnier]

Could be. Could be a number of things, any part that is no longer capabable of delivering what is required to power a car at the extremes of 5000rpm.

Could be insufficient spark, dodgy fuel pump, faulty sensors, the list goes on. It really needs someone who can read the ECU codes through a computer and then have the skills to determine which part(s) may be responsible for the ECU reading.

I had an mini cooper S (an old one - a real one) that had all sorts of faults that my mechanic couldnt fix, mostly to do with fueling. There was a guy in the area called 'Mobile Tune up services' who used to come out, plug in a hand held computer and read it's ECU codes. He took £30, and told me what part was failing. Then I got my mechanic to replace the part and my problems were solved.

It might be worth calling up some "tuning services" to see if they can help you, rather than just drop it at a garage. Mechanics need to know what's wrong before they can fix it

Garages would probably call someone out on your behalf, but taking it for a tune-up is all part of the fun

[shantybeater]

yeah i had a similar problem when i first bought mine, it was a dirty speed sensor, cost bugger all to be replaced!

[TheEggShell]

Cheers for the advice guys!

I've got it booked in to have the ECU codes read next week, hopefully the garage will be able to fix it on the same day.

It's not much fun driving a death trap around

[jj_2388]

hi, ive got this problem at the moment and have checked it on the computer at work, and it is the crankshaft speed sensor, G28, which is causing the engine to cut out, and sometimes to not start 1st time. the sensor itself is about £50-60 retail

hope that helps JJ

[Prabz]

Another thing it might be spark plugs and the leads becuase happened to me just got them changed runs sweet now hope you find out whats wrong with it

[TheEggShell]

Nice one guys!

JJ, you might have hit the nail on the head, my car also doesn't start 1st time on the odd occassion!!

[jj_2388]

i fitted the sensor to mines the other day and is running sweet as a nut. also the starting problem could also be a fault with the key (control unit disabled, sporadic). if it is that you are best to get a new key and remote part, which is around £80-90 + labour for coding.

i fitted the sensor and got the key and car is running a dream now!

hope that helps

[TheEggShell]

i fitted the sensor to mines the other day and is running sweet as a nut. also the starting problem could also be a fault with the key (control unit disabled, sporadic). if it is that you are best to get a new key and remote part, which is around £80-90 + labour for coding.

i fitted the sensor and got the key and car is running a dream now!

hope that helps

I took the car in last Thursday to go on the diagnosis machine and it cam up with a faulty camshaft sensor (bang on jj!).

As for the starting problem, aparently there is a switch behind the ignition barrel that is prone to failing on VWs which can cause the car not to start. The guy at the garage said to try wiggling the key as you turn it and if that fixes the car not starting issue then it is the switch that is faulty.