Engine Cutting Out

I'll merge the threads for you.

edit : information merged as per post #18
 
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Having had a few days of not Cutting Out at all, it Cut Out once on the way to work yesterday morning and twice on the way home yesterday evening !

Can it not just be something simple like a dodgy Ignition Switch ( please ) ? That is what it is like i.e. someone has just turned the Ignition off !
 
Have you checked all of the earth connections (there are lots to check, se the earth locations link in the "how to - index section)

steve B
 
Sorry but not had chance due to work. Got some time off soon to have a look. Still do not understand the concept of it being an Earth Fault when the Engine always re starts instantly. Why would the Earth fail then re appear instantly ?
 
'66Beetle said:
Sorry but not had chance due to work. Got some time off soon to have a look. Still do not understand the concept of it being an Earth Fault when the Engine always re starts instantly. Why would the Earth fail then re appear instantly ?
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It doesn't have to fail, it just needs to drop the current below a limit and the engine can cut out. Starting again can ready abolish a slightly better connection. Hitting a small bump could cause a temporary disconnection.

But it you have tried everything else and so it is time to "clutch at straws" and try some fixes that will not cost money, rather than replacing things in the hope it will fix it.

Steve B
 
Ta ! About the " hitting a small bump could cause a temporary disconnection " that would not fit in with it cutting out whilst left ticking over in the workshop.

Will have to work on it. About to set off to work for my last Night Shift before going on holiday to Cornwall in the A6. Will see what surprises the A2 has in store for me tonight and in the morning !

Update :- well it cut out about 3 times that night. Had to go to Lancaster and back twice yesterday. Cut out repeatedly. Only comment I have made is that it never does it at high speed !

But then I was proved wrong. Took A2 back to Harpers Cumbria this morning. Only cut out once. Unfortunately that was just going through M6 Junction 42 in the middle lane overtaking 2 articulated wagons.

Leaving it there for a Service and to see if they can sort it. Passed the 100,0000 Miles mark today on the drive to Carlisle.
 
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Left A2 with Harpers while we were away in Cornwall from May 14th to 23rd. They gave it 100,000 Mile Service. All they found wrong was that the Wiring Harness to Number 4 Ignition Coil was abnormally twisted. They put that straight and could not get the engine to cut out again. I drove it 60 Miiles home from Carlisle on the 24th. No problem. Seemed to be fixed. Went out the next day and it cut out at exactly 100 Miles since leaving Carlisle the previous day. Drove home 4 Miles OK but then I had to go out again unexpectedly about 30 minutes after getting home. Left it ticking over while I shut our gate. Engine. Cut out. So it is no different to what it was before. Sometimes cuts out between here and work 20 Miles away. Other days it does not cut out at all. Could the incorrectly fitted Wiring Harness have permanently damaged the ECU ? What do I do with it now ? Take it all the way to A2 Cars ? Get rid ?
 
Take off the two inner sill covers in the footwells (I'm sure there's a how to somewhere) and clean the two earthing bolts and body connections behind (one on each side), use a scotchbright pad or similar (or a disposable emery nail file) and clean any dull looking connectors and around the inner bolt face and around where the bolt/earth leads attach to the body, apply a small amount of grease (do not ever use silicone grease for electrical connections!) to the bolt and body area and re-tighten. The grease stops air getting to the cleaned surfaces and therefore prevents (re) oxidisation.

As Steve B has said, this sounds very much like an earthing fault - the clue is in the other warning lights coming on. After doing the inside, do the one behind the passenger side headlight - this is the main engine earth (also the alternator earth).

How old is the battery? The A2's suffer from low voltage to the main control electrics as there is a voltage-drop due to the long cable runs used, so a good battery is essential. Check the battery voltage at the battery: with engine off, the voltage at the battery should be 12V or higher. Engine on, it should be 13.8V. If you can, check also the voltage on the main positive lead in the passenger footwell compartment - look for a nut holding down thick cables on the CCCU/ECU holder. If you see anything around 11V or lower (and the battery volts are OK) you have poor connectivity somewhere.

Be very careful not to short the battery/electrics - if in doubt, get someone who knows what they are doing to do it as shorted batteries can explode, and the leads above are not fuse protected.

The above costs next to nothing, only time. This is a very common A2 fault
 
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Thank you zaphodbb

Does that happen and NO Fault Codes get recorded ? I shall have to try to find a Mechanic or Auto Electrician willing to carry out those actions and voltage checks as you describe, rather than just doing what they think. I do not have anything to do any of the testing myself.
 
OK Tried looking for the Earth below the Nearside Headlamp by taking the Headlamp out. All I can find down there is the Power Steering Fluid Reservoir ! Had a go at removing Inner Sill Trims to look for those Earth Points. Broke the Drivers Footwell one. Didn't exactly break it but it appears to have only been glued on to the panel behind it.

How important is the Battery in all this anyway ? My experience of older cars is that once the Engine is running the Battery can be removed from the car no problem. Anyway, I put my Electronically controlled Battery Charger on it last night. It started out reading 12.1 to 12.2 Volts. Got up to indicating 14.0 Volts but seems to drop off and increase again. If it has got to saying it is Fully Charged today then that says the Battery is still OK doesn't it ?
 
the earth strap is above the top of the power steering pump and further back , if you start at the starter motor and follow the 20mm black lead over as such it will bring you to the 13mm bolt holding it , there is some pictures posted somewhere on sarges how to's i think
 
'66Beetle said:
Is that accessed from underneath then please, rather than by taking the Headlamp out ?
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No, it is accessed from the top. Taking the headlight out just makes it easier to access.

It is bolted on a backward edge and so the bolt goes in TOWARDS you.

If you have the bonnet and light off, stand on the right hand side of the engine bay and look towards the middle of the right hand sidehalf way into the engine, it is on the rear side of a section of the body/ crossmember high up above the gearbox.

Steve B
 
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Its hidden behind the A/C alloy pipes but as steve says its easier to get at with the passengers headlight out using a long extention bar.
when you remove the headlight, theres 2 bolts one at the top and one lower down , use this bolt whole as a start point and go backwards about a foot along the chassie rail and youl see the heavy black earth lead, im stripping down my TDI top end today and ile take you a few pictures as ile be under the bonnet ..
 
..... a good tip is to get your fingers around the bolt when loose otherwise there is a chance it could drop down into the engine undertray like what mine did. :rolleyes:
 
Also be aware the bolt can rust and a couple of members have sheared it off while undoing it. If it feels tight, 'work' the bolt by a 'tighten - slacken' routing just moving it a couple of degrees each time.

Cheers Spike
 
I managed to check my earths on the inside of the car and were fine, will need to check this one too.
 
Got it now ! Head of the Bolt is painted Red on my A2. Sprayed it. Undid it. Greased it. Tightened it back up again. See how it goes !
 
BAD NEWS !

Thought it was fixed. Took A2 to Kendal today. No problem. On the way home guess what ? THE ENGINE CUT OUT yet again. Only warning light this time was the Red Oil Can.
 
Did ypu check the ECU connections as Jeff suggested? It really sounds like that could be the source of the problem. It genuinely sounds like a bad connection.

Leave the car ticking over and jiggle the wiring connectors to the ECU and see if you can get it to cut out. Don't worry about the CCCU on top because that would not cause these symptoms. It is the ECU that may be the cuplrit.

Jiggle whatever connections you find in the passenger footwell compartment and see if that causes the engine to stop.

Steve B
 
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