HELP!!! cuts out randomly

hi all, i have a prob with my 1600 auto cab. she runs fine most of the time and then starts randomly cutting out.  i thought it was a fuel prob initially, maybe crap in the tank so i put it into the garage to get sorted. they said that it had a split vac pipe that they changed. drove away still cutting out so i took it back.  they looked again said there was a problem with the inline filter letting air in so they took it out (they said it isnt really needed is this true??) drove away still cutting out so it went back they agreed with me it mite be crap in the tank so they flushed and drained the tank and said there was alot of crap in it. i checked the filler neck and this looks fine to me i think its fairly new to be honest. the final time i drove away it was fine then cut out again on me.  it seemed initially to only do it when i got too around half a tank of fuel but now its doing it when ever it wants. starting to get threaders with the fault and dont know where to go next as im no expert and i dont trust the garage even though they only charged 29 quid for all that work as they say they should have picked the fault up initially.  when it cuts out it doesnt seem to cough unless i pump the gas, it sometimes seems to catch for a little bit then just looses power and dies.

sorry for my lengthy drawl but im really struggling and would appreciate any help you can.

cheers in advance, kev   

I had tis poblem too and so have loads of others on here…

I changed the carb flange, Fuel filter, refurbed the carb with new gaskets etc and new fuel pump. Could be any one of those things and could be many more, like the actual fuel lines from the tank to the carb itself.

Bit of a mine field to be fair

thought it mite be a guessing game but thought id see if its anything obvious.  how do i know if its fuel or electrical? also do i need the inline filter or is it not required?

if its fuel filter, then you will definately need one even if your tank looks clean there will still be loads of debris in the petrol. i've had the same problem for the last few months and still haven't got to the bottom of it. Trust me you definately not alone  :?

Have you looked at the earth strap from the bulk head to the block?? its like a length of braided ribbon, It is known to fray and break it caused my mk2 to cut out a few times?? its on the right side of the block as your under the bonnet and its the same on my cabby.

ill have a look at the strap 2moro when its light.  ill get a new filter when i can as well.  anything else worth looking at?

I'm having similar issues with my GTI.  

I can start it up after a few days, drive it for maybe a mile or two then it just dies and if I can get it to re-start it won't idle, just cuts out pretty much straight after it fires.

if there was crap in the tank and they let you drive off with no filter, then your carb is probably now full of crapola. cant believe any professional garage would think you can drive a car without a fuel filter on it?!

unless you meant the fuel reservoir on the front of the head, these often get removed on older dubs. no idea exactly why it helps but apparently it does sometimes!

you'll want to get the fuel lines blown thru to check for blockages then fit a new fuel filter and see where that gets you. might have to have the carb off and strip it down to clean out all the crud

sorry yeah it was the fuel resovoir they removed. im gonna get a new filter fitted and i think i may get either the carb tuned or possibly get a new one all together.  what would you say is the best course of action?  still does this and im at a loss what to do next and i dont trust garages.  need this fixed as im moving house in feb and need it working to drive to new house. that or im going to have to sell as is, and im not gonna be happy doin that.

filter well worth a try, they are pence after all

With regards to the fuel reservoir, you should be able to blow it out with an air-line I would've thought. Its only a simple design.

im all new to this but this was my first problem… and i think it can be many things… what i did in series was…

changed the sparks, dizzy cap and arm. ht leads. still had the problem so i went to points and condenser, then the coil… it ran alot better but in stead of cutting right out it was bogging out…

i then moved to fuel…
took off the carb and the rubber gasket it sits on was torn so i got a new one of them, cleaned the inside of the float chamber as things were floating around in there and if there is then thats a bad sign… removed ALL the many different types of jets in the sloex carb and dropped them all into nail varnish remover (thanks mum) stuck it all back together and there we go… all sorted… runs like a minter now…
check your plugs, if they got black soot then its your fuel. if they are ok then its your firing thats the way i looked at it
oh and make sure your battery terminals are done up tight. that doesn't help

like jody said, it can be many problems. all of the above cost me about £60 for all the parts and a weekend in the snow

any way hope that helps

oh forgot to say, mine was a small block 1.1 with solex carb but i think the principle is the same

Did you try the earth strap? If not use a jump lead from the battery negative to somewhere like the alternator bracket and see if that helps.