2.1 Petrol MV cutting out

[stuartrolfe]

I am unable to use my van now as it keeps cutting out.
This first started about a month ago on a 3 mile local journey and I was able to start it straight away, it cut out once more on the same journey and again I was able to restart it.
We went down to devon 3 weeks ago, 500 miles, no problems whatsoever.
Then we went to the IOW a couple of weeks later, it cut out about 4 times between home and the M25 (10 miles) but once we had reached the motorway no problem all the way to Southampton and then from the ferry to our campsite no problem.
Stopped at the campsite for 2 hours then went out, it cut out 4 times, the 3rd and 4th time it would not start immediately but after 10 minutes it would start (flooding maybe?).
For the rest of our stay, we used public transport to get around.
Each day I started the van and it cut out after a few minutes but would not restart without the 10 minute wait.
I did manage to get it started last day and kept my foot on the throttle, about midway, and it did not cut out, we then jumped in and set off home. It did not cut out all the way to the ferry terminal. We then managed to start it and set off from the ferry, it cut out twice after about 10 minutes, restarting with the 10 minute wait then were fine on the motorway for 2 hours.
It has been sat outside the house since then with similar problems.

I am inclined to think it is a problem with the fuel delivery rather than ignition because its not misfiring or juddering, it just cuts out completely and suddenly. Also I think that it may be flooding because of the need to wait before it restarts.
The engine only has about 35 thousand miles on it so nothing is over used but of course it is 20 years old and has been standing alot.

Would this engine be fuel injected, is it computer controlled? could the computer be at fault? or blocked jets? if so which of these can and should be replaced?
Perhaps it's the fuel filter (mabe blocked) where is the fuel filter?

Any pointers would be appreciated, the van is unuseable at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

Stuart.

[Aidan]

fuel injected ecu run engine
you need to go through the thing with the full bentley manual to readily find any fault and not waste time swapping bits and chasing suggestions - there's a full procedure for checking - also on web as vanagon driveability manual
but I'd suspect relays, coil or ecu in when hot total fail fault mode; bad earths are a bain of all systems and can be the root fault, also mv had lambda which can be problematic, but usually runs with black smoke and no go, but runs.
relays control power supply to ecu and fuel pump and injectors

[stuartrolfe]

Thanks Aiden.
I had a seperate problem with a duff battery earlier in the Summer, causing intermittent starting problems (I replaced the battery to overcome this).
At one time I heared the relay shown below (the relay on the RHS) in the picture clicking away like mad when I held the ignition key on full turn for several seconds. Is it possible that I could have damaged the relay causing this new cutting out problem.

[Aidan]

possible relay fault yes it could be
i note the one on the left isn't a 53 which is what it would have been originally I unless it's very late, normally a pair of 53s in there. The first one supplies the second one with power too so if that fails then no go

[stuartrolfe]

Hi Aiden,
Thanks for ypur input. Do you know where I can get replacements, will Halfords do them? or maybe GSF?
Cheers.

[jason k]

try vw chap

[stuartrolfe]

Sorry for my ignorance, but who's VW Chap?
Do you mean main dealer?

[stuartrolfe]

I now know that it's not flooding (or I think I know).
This morning, I managed to start the van several times.
The most common pattern was for it to cut out after about something like a minute or two. It just cuts out immediately and completely.
Sometimes it has been possible to restart it immediately after cut out but usually it helps to wait a while. If I wait a while it is nearly always successful to restart (but then usually cuts out again shortly afterwards.
This morning after one occassion of it cutting out I immediately disconnected the HT lead from coil to distributor at the distributor end and then held it with hand close to an earth point whilst my helper turned the engine over (with ign. key); low and behold no spark!.
I'm not sure where this gets me but is part of the puzzle.

Thanks for any help advice etc.
Cheers.
Stuart.

[Aidan]

coil or ecu then probably as there's no seperate amplifier for hall signal on a mv
test the coil for resistance