help needed please.

Hi all I am having a nightmare with my cabriolet. The problem is that every couple of hundred yards it loses power and cuts out it then eventually starts back up and then drives fine for a short distance then cuts out again has anyone had a fault like this? 

I would be looking at the fuel tank probley full of rust

Or a hair line crack in the dizzy cap.  
Had that on an old Cortina once, what a nightmare that was to trace!  

Carb or fuel injection car?
Any other noises before it loses power and cuts out?
When was it last serviced?
Did it give any warnings before this started to happen?
Is it a new car to you?
If its a carb does it have the original carb or a Webber fitted?

Golf Cabrio said

Or a hair line crack in the dizzy cap.  
Had that on an old Cortina once, what a nightmare that was to trace!  

I had the same problem on A Mk2 Scirocco storm, after replacing lots of bits including the metering head I found the faulty cracked dissy cap which was only a few months old! (I don't buy cheap stuff anymore)

Sounds similar to my snowy, fuel tank rust/debris, then having to clean the injectors out, i replaced distributor in the end also. Only then to get him running through MOT,but still had engine knocking, so swapped engine out for old one.
Now after seeing the crud in tanks, id look at that issue first, then clean filters. then try new cap, if filters doing job should stop the crud getting to injectors.

Don't forget the ubiquitous cold soldered fuel pump relay, but it sounds as if you have something plugging the fuel pump or tank….

Is the Gas less than 1/2 in the tank, you could then pull the cover and the sender and inspect it

Then cover the opened hood with a blanket, and have someone start the car while you are under the darkened hood.  Do you see High Voltage Spark Fairies dance about?  If so then clean the areas with sandy-paper.

Hi guys sorry for the late reply I am in work. The car was running fine until last week when the problem started it is my daily driver, it has got the 1.6 engine with the weber carb . Thanks for the replys 

Take the inlet fuel line off in the engine bay, at the join by the fuel filter and the blow back down the fuel pipe, you should be able to blow down it and possible hear bubbling, this will clear and dirt etc blocking the pick up filter but you really need to check the filler neck and look inside the fuel tank to check for dirt and rust possible blocking things up.

Do you still have the original air box fitted to the webber?

What happens if you wobble the carb when its running or if you have some carb cleaner or similar does the engine note change if you spray some around the rubber gasket underneath the carb as these are prone to cracking/splitting and letting in air.

Hi all I will check inside the tank for starters over the weekend. 
Also it has got the original air filter box fitted mark is there something else to check? Thanks 

With the original air box is there a big pipe going to the exhaust manifold for a hot air feed?

If the pipe is missing or if you did have a K&N pancake style air filter you can have problems with the carb freezing at this time of year but this would only happen when it's cold, not sure how long you have had the car so this may not be your problem but I would check the thick rubber gasket at the base of the carb.

Looks like this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK1-GOLF-CABRIO-Carb-flange-Mk1-2-Golf-Scirocco-fitted-with-a-Pierburg-2E-/181847143049?hash=item2a56ef3289:g:QYMAAOSwLVZV3abL


 

Thanks for the help guys