Losing power and then cutting out

[Cardiff_75]

I'm again hoping that the collective knowledge of the forum maybe able to assist with a problem with my 2003 75 1.8T.

I was driving down the M5 today at 70ish, pushed down the throttle to overtake and the rev counter dropped to 0, back up to 3,000 rpm a couple of times and then the engine cut out. The vehicle restarted after a few minutes and was fine for about 30 mins when it again cut out under engine load (This time accelerating up a steep hill).

I have checked for engine faults and none are recorded in the ECU.

I was wondering if it maybe a fuelling issue, (fuel pump) ?

[muggerbee]

have you done/checked the fuel filter clip ?

[RPWC]

Check the plenums to make sure the E C U hasnt been flooded

[TomRS]

Rev counter dropping down to 0 would indicate an electrical fault somewhere...

[Si-monogram]

Originally Posted by RPWC

Check the plenums to make sure the E C U hasnt been flooded

Isn't the ecu located elsewhere on the petrol version?

[Neil1]

Originally Posted by Si-monogram

Isn't the ecu located elsewhere on the petrol version?

No, ecu is in the plenum chamber.

[chipsceola]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Si-monogram
Isn't the ecu located elsewhere on the petrol version?

Originally Posted by Neil1

No, ecu is in the plenum chamber.

but unlike the diesels it's a sealed unit and not affected so drastically

more likely fuel explained here by T-Cut

[TomRS]

Originally Posted by chipsceola

Quote:
Originally Posted by Si-monogram
Isn't the ecu located elsewhere on the petrol version?




but unlike the diesels it's a sealed unit and not affected so drastically

more likely fuel explained here by T-Cut

I cant see it being fuel filter related, if he rev counter is dropping to zero while the car is still running at 3000rpm then there's an obvious electrical fault.
I had a similar issue with my B5 earlier this week, drove through a huge puddle and the ABS module got wet, it started playing up... the traction control would turn on and off with each press of the brake.
Then it would cut the electrical supply to the VP44 fuel pump causing the engine to cut out everytime the brakes were pressed, this also cut out the rev counter at the same time.

It turned out to be water ingress in the ABS module, removing it stripping the cover off and blasting it out with air/electrical cleaner solved the issue, i then resealed it with a bead of silicone to prevent it happening again.

[Neil1]

Originally Posted by TomRS

I cant see it being fuel filter related, if he rev counter is dropping to zero while the car is still running at 3000rpm then there's an obvious electrical fault.
I had a similar issue with my B5 earlier this week, drove through a huge puddle and the ABS module got wet, it started playing up... the traction control would turn on and off with each press of the brake.
Then it would cut the electrical supply to the VP44 fuel pump causing the engine to cut out everytime the brakes were pressed, this also cut out the rev counter at the same time.

It turned out to be water ingress in the ABS module, removing it stripping the cover off and blasting it out with air/electrical cleaner solved the issue, i then resealed it with a bead of silicone to prevent it happening again.

Couldn't it be fuel pump related as there is a fault that you can have, not that I have had with my 1.8T?

I have had similar issues with other cars I have owned and that was caused by when I let the fuel tank run very nearly dry and a load of rubbish got past the fuel filter.

I'm clutching at straws here as it's not something that I have had happen while driving.