www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Had my Mk4 Golf a year. So far have had two failed, engine mount bolts replaced, new lambda rear and back, new first part of the exhaust, camshaft sensor, wiper motor and broken battery to ecu wire replaced. Some work was age related and expected.
The biggest pain at the moment, is the unexplained cutting out of the engine. It can drive miles, then suddenly die away. My mechanic thought he'd cracked it yesterday, when he found a broken wire from battery to ecu. Several test drives later and it died again. We are both stumped as it starts straight away after the engine dies. No faults showing up.

I just wondered whether anyone has had a similar issue and solved it. Having to drive an Alfa Romeo courtesy car is driving me loopy. Just want my car back.
All suggestions welcomed :)

If only everything in life was as reliable as.. oh, hang on..

Odd, doesn't help with no faults showing either. Take it you've checked the earth straps, likely if he's chasing loose connections.

Maybe CorradoGT60man will have an idea being a 'dubber.

What Alfa have they give you?

Chop,

I'm no expert and have been to two previous garages. Current one is a fair priced VW diagnostic one and young VW trained mechanic is stumped. Poor lad has a nightmare headache with mine.
Friend suggested a break in wiring loom but he has been testing all wires with only one break found. Told me it was a common fault on my car typè.
Alfa is an old one, drives from A to B. Bucket seats, nasty little mirrors, three door, 1.6 T Spark, I think. First Alfa, I have driven, hoping last lol

I have known faulty crankshaft sensor to cause this sort of problem in the past?, trouble with a lot of garages now is, if they plug in their computer and it doesn't show a fault they are stumped, and it can get very expensive changing parts to see if it cures the fault.
Good Luck.

I would also go with the Crankshaft position sensor. It might be a hint that this sensor is behind the oil filter and removing the front engine mount gives easy access to it. Now the fact that you have had the engine mounts replaced might possibly be related??

Nice to see you back again

DWD

Blakey,
I just realised I put camshaft sensor, I meant the crankshaft sensor, which was replacement one to be done by garage two.
All I know is that it is not a constant fault, it goes up hill and down dales then can suddenly lose power and die. Starts perfectly, last fault on my OBD2 was 0170 which was a fuel trim bank 1. Lambda replaced, exhaust checked and no faults coming up.
Having read about our engine, a BCB, supposed to be a common fault but I suppose every car is unique in what solves the issue.
Hubby changed a coil pack, I was even wondering whether that was a cause but garage said the fitted one is fine.
Read about dirty throttle body or MAF/P being a caùse but could be anything.

DWD,
Hello stranger :)
I am always on UHM, you know me, rather dìy than girly shop. I did my first bit plumbing and soldering, by fitting my own bathroom sink last month.:) All thanks to UHM vids and tips.
The car was fine until the engine mount bolt went, I wondered whether a jolt had broken something that has not been noticed yet. I mean a wire was the obvious one but could there be a misaligned valve or seal somewhere, maybe reducing pressure or power?

Fingers crossed, just rang the garage and they think the fault was arcing from a coil. New one on me.

Fingers crossed then

DWD

DWD,
All is working but my feet have been driving an Alfa for a week, so pedals and biting point feel all wrong.
Engine has more poke, so just needs a few trips out to test it.
Mechanic has now hit god status lol

i used to drive a toyota supra. it had a dealer fitted alarm system from new. it would randomly cut out. not start then suddenly away it went. it would go for weeks and be fine and sometimes conk out loads. turned out to be a knackered alarm. the relays musta been breaking down inside it. i by passed it easy enough as the wires were merely twisted together. just joined the wiring loom back up and removed the alarm. problem solved.