2.0 TDI 170 engine cut out

[mugginn]

Hi all, hoping someone can help / give me some reassurance!

Jumped in the Scirocco yesterday afternoon and got 2mins down the road and the engine just completely cut out.

No warning lights or faults on the dash and everything else still going as normal i.e. lights still on, radio still playing etc.

Tried to re-start and it just wouldn't turn over, it sounded like it was trying but just failed. Tried it an hour later and although it spluttered and shook a little more than normal it started up again and each time following that it's seems completely normal.

Any idea / suggestions what may have caused it? I had more than a quarter tank of fuel so no issues there.

Had the AA out and they ran diagnostics with no errors whatsoever!

Thanks for any help whatsoever in advance,

Cheers!

Adam

[Deagol]

That must have been worrying, with power steering and brakes going out too.

What were the characteristics of the "cut out" ? Did it behave like the engine had stalled or did the engine die a (quick but) gradual death? What setting was the lighting control on, because if the dash was inactive, but the lights remained on, that sounds like a connection failure somewhere.

Whilst I've not had similar problems in my 170TD, we're into the process of elimination. Might there be a fuse or electrical connection which is pivotal to the engine or fuel system? I am not a mechanic or technician, but if the engine management computer lost power, would that shut everything down immediately?

Interesting that Mr AA Man could not pick up any fault codes; again that implies sudden absence of electricity in a vital area.

Good luck with the answers on this one !

D

[mugginn]

Thanks for the quick reply man!

Yup, worried that it will happen again to be honest so I'm hoping to get to the bottom of it!

I was driving along, talking to a friend through the built in bluetooth, auto-lights on and that's about it when it came to a quick but gradual death as you put it. There was no abrupt cut like a stall or any noise really, it was just as if you had turned the car off yourself.

Lights stayed on the dash too btw and MDI display - it was literally just like you had pulled the key out.

I definitely think it's something electrical as you say - but I was hoping that a loss of power would have registered as a fault, yet nothing showed up.

One thing I have noticed is that my rear passenger side tail lights seem to have quite a bit of water inside - I wonder if this is somehow shorting something out?

Thanks again for the reply, I think i'll leave it in with my mechanic for a quick look over just to be sure!

[andyb2004]

I had a similar problem with a peugeot which got gradually worse - turned out to be the fuel pump in the tank. It would just cut out. I worked out that I could give the tank a bash underneath and it would restart. No error codes, just stopped - took ages to find it. Good luck.

[mugginn]

Hmm, that sounds interesting - I'll certainly mention it to the mechanic!

Would replacing a fuel pump be an expensive job?

[mugginn]

Hi guys,

I'm not sure if this is normal or not - but when I turn the power on, the 'Battery' and 'Catalytic converter' warning lights are lit.

When I turn the ignition on however, they vanish.

Is that normal, or do I have a fault?

Thanks in advance!

[scirocco1984]

Hi guys,

I'm not sure if this is normal or not - but when I turn the power on, the 'Battery' and 'Catalytic converter' warning lights are lit.

When I turn the ignition on however, they vanish.

Is that normal, or do I have a fault?

Thanks in advance!

Yes thats normal

The battery light will stay on and when you start car, once it see's 13.5v+ it will go out.....if it ever stays lit it probably the alternator

The other light is check engine light not catalytic converter.......

That also will go out once started if no faults are stored on ECU. If it ever stays on it means the ECU has stored a fault and needs reading.

Hope this helps.

[mugginn]

Great to hear, thanks very much!