Urgent help and advice needed re:car cutting out

[kerry3113]

I'm in total dispair and my garage can't fit me in til Monday! Here's my problem.

For a while, my car has cut out whilst driving at random points. Sometimes on a motorway, others in normal traffic, some in slow moving rush hour traffic. There is no warning and all revs go and I start to lose power. The EPC and traction lights come on. When I pull over and restart the engine, it is fine. It has already had a new fuel pump and thermostat which the garage said might be the problem. My problem was today on the motorway it cut out TWICE in the space of 2 minutes and I had my 2 children in the car! I want to get rid of my 'lovely' car as it is scary as hell when it happens, but hubby is more reluctant. He doesn't drive it though.

Oh, I have an Altea 2.0 FSi if that makes a difference.

Any ideas and/or words of wisdom please??????

 

[neilcw]

Hi Kerry. A bit of research on EPC light brings up all sorts of VAG forums so it appears to be a widespread problem. The prime suspects seem to be pedal switches namely accelerator, brake or clutch. There can be other causes too under the bonnet such as MAF sensor. Whereabouts in the country are you? There are several guys on the site with VAG COM kit who might be able to help you if you can find a local one. It sounds like your car is going into "limp mode".

I'm not a mechanic but changing the fuel pump and thermostat sounds like pure guess work rather than diagnostics to me and at your expense! A thermostat is a mechanical device that controls the flow of water around the engine given the temperature of the engine so how that's going to cause your car to go into limp mode I will never know If you can't locate a VAG COM equipped person near you on here then a local VAG specialist should be able to diagnose it for you.

I hope this helps and let us know what happens

 

[kerry3113]

I'm just outside Manchester, near Ashton-under-lyne if you have ever heard of it. It's a bit of a joke that my garage know my reg off by heart! I have had it 2 years in June and it's a frequent visitor, especially with this problem! Fingers crossed there is someone near by!

Thanks again!

 

[kerry3113]

I have had a look through the search and found lots of posts. (Didn't think of doing that!) Seems the problems similar are to do with the engine speed sensor. If I go to my garage and tell them this, will they be huffy with me? Do people go to their garage and say I thik x is wrong with my car?

 

[neilcw]

Oh yes I know where Ashton is. I bought my Altea from Evans Halshaw Citroen in Stockport and my test drive took me up the motorway to the Ashton turn where we just got off went right and right again and back on the motorway. The funny thing was that the salesman said he'd never got to Ashton that quickly before! Well when on a test drive you need to know how relaxed the car is at 100 mph don't you?

I'm sure there should be a few VAG specialists around the Manchester area. There is a section on the site called VAG COM where you could post a plea for help. I think your garage is taking you for a ride tbh.

Good luck!

 

[kerry3113]

Thanks. I might try a different garage. I have stuck with this one as it's at the bottom of my road and it's a doddle to drop it off. How to pick one though! I'm off to VAG COM bit now.

Ta again!

 

[neilcw]

I have had a look through the search and found lots of posts. (Didn't think of doing that!) Seems the problems similar are to do with the engine speed sensor. If I go to my garage and tell them this, will they be huffy with me? Do people go to their garage and say I thik x is wrong with my car?

People do go to their garage and say they think x is wrong with the car but they don't always get taken seriously. I once had an alternator fail on a Citroen and I drove it to the dealers where it promptly died and I said to the guy on the service reception that the alternator had failed. He had a real attitude on him and he as good as said "How could you possibly diagnose that? You're not a mechanic!" Unfortunately the ******** wasn't there when I went back to pick it up after they fitted a new alternator

I hate to labour the point but you NEED VAG COM although I see you're going to persue it - good girl There should be a fault code logged on your ECU which will say definitively what is faulty. If there are multiple entries then they can clear them all and if the car does it again then they will know what is fresh and be able to diagnose it then.

Glad to be of help.

 

[kerry3113]

Thanks. I am such a girl with cars! I have posted on the VAG COM and diagnostics board. Take it that's the right place. Time will tell.

 

[neilcw]

Certainly is the right place. If no-one responds soon then it might be worth editing the subject to say "Manchester area" or something similar to focus people's minds a bit more. It's not guaranteed to work posting in this area but it's free and you never know.

I've just done a quick bit of research for you and found a German specialist called "Cheshire German Specialists" who are based in Stockport. They do VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda, BMW and Mercedes cars and I found them on another forum after a google search of "VAG specialist Manchester". Somebody recommended them but it goes without saying that I can't vouch for them personally as I've never used them. They may be able to fit you in on Saturday to read the fault codes and clear them if necessary at the very least.

 

[neilcw]

Any update on this Kerry?

 

[kerry3113]

Hiya. No, no joy and my laptop has been ill. Only got it back on Friday and have been busy so this is the first chance I have had to check. I'm going to go and change the topic to Manchester like you suggested. Thanks for checking up on me

 

[neilcw]

That's OK If you don't get a response then you could always try the garage I suggested in post no. 9 as they sound like they can do the business.

 

[Alimc16]

hi kerry ,

I am now college tutor in motor vehicles but was a technician on cars for many years , it sounds to me like you engine speed sensor has intermittent fault (crank sensor) , they range from £40 to £100 but i would strongly recommend it , can i ask how often it cuts out and does it restart straight away ?

ali

 

[kerry3113]

Hi,
It mainly cuts out when travelling on the motorway although it has happened in normal traffic at normal and slow speeds too. I usually pull over and turn the engine off. I then restart it and so far it has started again. Does this sound like the engine speed sensor?

 

[Alimc16]

hi kerry

Yes it sounds very much like engine speed sensor i have changed a few of them on your motor (make and model ) lol , i would be tempted to try it , if i was your garage it would have been my first call if i wasn't Shaw

ali

 

[kerry3113]

I take it the engine speed sensor is also called the crank sensor? Will have to give them a ring this week as I refuse to drive mine on the motorway at the mo which pleases hubby no end as I have to take his (at least I don;t pay for his diesel!) The garage still has my warranty. Are these things generally covered under warranty? I have a NIC warranty if you know anything about them?
Thanks for your help!

 

[Alimc16]

yer it should be covered by warranty , but if garage keeps claiming they might got fussy about paying out , it is also called crank sensor.

hope this is of help

ali

 

[kerry3113]

My garage have tried to claim for things but NIC are pests for not paying if they can get out of it. Apparently the part number has to match exactly. I have had to pay for most things myself. Will let you know what the garage say and how it goes. It's so scary when it cuts out and the kids are in there too!

 

[Alimc16]

i know what your saying , one of my old car did it too me once , i sold it after fixing it lol

 

[liver-red]

hummm,

This is exactly the same issue as I'm currently having! Same model too...

Took it to a Garage several times in the last few weeks. They have no idea what the problem is. Even checked through VAG report several times.. wiped it.. checked again - doesn't show anything what they can see.

Guess I'll mention the Engine Sensor to the garage... see what they say!