HELP!! engine suicide

hi all, i have a 1.6 cabriolet (non GTI) thats recently developed a tendancy to cut out after starting fine and running fine, its almost random but becoming frequent. ive replaced the ignition control module but to no avail, could it be the distributor? id rather know for certain what it is before i spend £80+ on a new one. if anyone could help thatd be brilliant

does it stutter as in being starved of fuel, maybe got crud in your fuel filter or tank?

do your electrics and everything go all at once?

As above from Bruceiboy. Check the fuel filter. If theres a bit of crap in it, change it and run it for a while and re-check to see whats in there. My friend had a similar problem and it was from corrosion dropping in from the fiiler neck. Try it. It could be a cheap fix. Let me know how you get on.

thanks guys, but that was the first check, it got new fuel lines, new fuel filter, new swirl pot and still no improvement…i dont understand car electrics too well so it must be something lurking in the system somewhere

thats exactly it brucieboy, complete loss of all electricity, its had a new battery, new ignition control module, coil, new plugs, leads, distributor cap and condensor…i think its just lost the will to live i took it to VW and they said "theres nobody here old enough to work without diagnostic equipment" . . . shocking.

could be your alternator

are you having to charge the battery before you use the car each time if alternator could have a coil so that its not working to full effect and thus the car becomes reliant more on the battery as you turn on more electrics

if not that a loose conection somewhere

failing that it sounds like what mine did when i bought it home and thats a dodgy earth mine turned out to be the main earth strap covered the ends with soldier and been fine since

hope one of these helps

do battery and oil lights come on when it cuts out?

again, thanks for trying to help guys appreciate it. this got so irritating i decided to fork out the £40 per hour for an auto electrician, he hooked it up to an osciliscope before and after replacing the distributor, im now £250 poorer and still runs like death. he did say that electronically its now running perfect but its running far too rich and 'spluttery' what you guys think the next step should be?? im eyeing up the carburettor with suspicion, as coughing and spluttering says a fuel delivery issue to me, as above ive already replaced the fuel lines and been fishing in the tank for rust (magnet on a string)…….so how do i identify which carb it is i have, as i cant seem to find a 'code' on the engine, or carb

have a read of the 2e2 sticky guide, if your carby looks liek that then thats what you have. if not take a piccy if you can, it may be a webber?