I have maintained the family VW Golf 1994 1.6CL (ABU engine) whilst it has been in our ownership for the last 10 years. It has provided totally reliable service for all of its 100+k miles.
Recently an intermittent fault is proving illusive to locate and solve.
When travelling at M-way speeds, or around town, the engine cuts for approximately 1 second then cuts back in. It is a sharp loss / restoration barely noticeable on the M-way. In town it can cause a stall. Can occur when the engine is cold or at normal temperature and with a frequency of say, once per 50 miles.
When cut happens a red warning light illuminates for the 1 second which I initially presumed to be the ignition light. All the warning lights are coloured red.
I replaced the spark plugs, HT leads, rotor arm, distributor cap and coil without improvement then realised it was in fact the oil light that was coming on. Although it is difficult to be sure, the Rev counter may also cut.
Replacing both the oil pressure switches has not solved the problem.
My feeling is that the problem is electrical / electronic rather than fuel / oil pressure.
But where to look next ?
Be grateful for any ideas !
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 23/12/2007 at 18:17
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It sounds like the X-Relay is either burnt or a dry joint.
www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=18101
Regards Peter
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Anything that infrequent is always hard to find. Based on your careful observations, one of the more likely causes is the Hall-effect sensor in the distributor.
The oil pressure light is a complex system on these that relies on engine speed info from the engine ECU. If the ECU is losing this info from the distributor, it will put the oil light on in flashing "circuit fault" mode.
An ignition switch fault could also have this effect; but I'd expect the alternator light to come on as well.
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Hi PeterD and Screwloose,
Many thanks for your ideas - I need them ! Once through merry-making I will have another go. Might be a bit warmer in the garage by then. Have a good Xmas. F..
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And there,s me thinking i,m the only one with this problem. I,ve got the exactly the same car and problem. I too changed all the things you have along with the battery and earth strap from the coil to the engine block. But I have nailed it down to the area of the distributor cap. The hall sensor does sound right but I need to check it yet with a volt meter.
I do suggest you visit this web site www.talktomycar.co.uk and buy a Volkswagen/Audi Code Reader U280 model £21approx. You will find the socket to plug it into by taking the ashtray out and sliding the panal on the left towards the centre where the ashtray came from. Its well worth the money. I,ll let you know what I find with the hall sensor. Sorry to hear of your situation but I,m glad I,m not the only one.
regards bob
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Hi Bob.
A problem shared and all that !
Thanks for your tip about the Code Reader and socket location. This is helpful new information for me - I will certainly follow it up.
Our Golf has been a great car and I am determined to bottom out the problem. Like yourself, I feel replacing the Hall sensor should be the next stab.
I've had a look in the Distributor this morning but its not clear how the rotating vane comes off the spindle to provide access to the electronic module. Any ideas ? Maybe the Distributor has to be removed and stripped - hope not !
Be glad to hear of any progess you make.
Cheers for now
Malcolm
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Malcolm
Mark the dizzy/head position and note the rotor arm slot position.
Remove the dizzy and drive out the rollpin holding the drive dog with a parallel punch. Note it is offset.
Tap out the centre shaft and all will be revealed.
The Hall sensors used to be about £50 from the dealers - some are a bit hard to get now.
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Hi Screwloose
Many thanks again for the additional info - you are a good guy to know !
With the benefit of your guidance, I will obtain the replacement parts before stripping the unit.
Cheers & thanks
Malcolm
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i had a 93 mk3 for 13 years during which time i replaced the ignition switch twice similair symptoms to yours, try giving it a wiggle (all high tech stuff) when it happens or to cause it to happen.
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Hi Maltrap
Thanks for your suggestion.
I will certainly give the ignition switch a wiggle - it is still the original unit and was on my mental list of possible causes.
Bob - Code Reader now ordered
Cheers Malcolm
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Malcolm, send me a quick mail and will reply with the some more detailed info on the hall sender testing and removing. Screwloose is spot on but take your time. Remember 'measure twice cut once'
Bob
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Hi Bob
Just sent you an e-mail
Malcolm
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Hi Bob & Screwloose,
Well the deed is done ! The guidance you both provided has been invaluable.
The Code Reader you recommended Bob was very helpful - indicating Code 515, faulty Hall Sender, as anticpated by Screwloose.
Getting the replacement part was less than straightforward - not available from G&S, Eurocarparts or Halfords. VAG could supply to order but needed the distributor code - unreadable whilst on the engine and at a price I didn't like.
Bosch UK were helpful and advised that their agent local to me had the unit in stock.
I obtained this at a charge of 43 pounds including VAT - which seemed ok.
Removing the distributor was pretty straight forward. Extracting and refitting the spring pin needed rather more clout than I had expected - a 3.5mm drift was the key. Having got the distributor stripped I was surprised to see that the new Hall Sender was different from the old unit.
The new one had 4 securing holes rather than two on the original unit. The extra holes aligned with unthreaded drillings in the distributor body - I tapped these to M4 and obtained M4 10mm machine screws from Screwfix (code 86939).
Put it back together and it works ! Seems fine, but we will have to run the car for a while to be sure.
Many thanks to you both for your help - Bob hope your goes smoothly.
Cheers, Malcolm
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