MK1 1.5GX Engine Trouble

Hey All,

I am in need of some help.  I recently brought a MK1 Golf and have a re-occuring issue with the engine cutting out.

The car has been with a mate in his garage, and he has tried to find the fault.  When I drive the car, about 10 -15 mins into the journey, the engine just cuts out.  The car then won't turn back over right away.  I have to then leave the car with the engine off for about 5 mins, before I can start it back up again.

We started by changing the alternator, and all wiring to and from as it was worn.  Then the battery was changed as it was quite old.  The fuel pump has been changed as it was a bit dicky.  The fuel lines have been replaced.  He has also checked the carb and made some improvements to how the engine runs on start up.

We are basically at a loss as to what is causing the cutting out.  The only thing we can think of if perhaps the auto choke.  

Can anybody help?

Does it slowly die a lingering death or suddenly cutting out?

If it slowly dies and struggles to idle, it unfortunatly sounds like another text book example of water and muck getting into the fuel tank via a rotten filler pipe and then bunging up the works. There are loads of threads about this, best way is to remove the access panel and level guage sender under back seat and have a look with a torch to see whats inside the tank.

Thanks for this.

I did just have the filler neck replaced due to rust.  We always thought that some crap could have fell into the tank but didn't check.  If there is crap lurking in the tank, is it a big job to remove and clean 'or' replace the tank?

I am right to assume that the muck in the tank would only stay in the tank and lines, thus not damaging the engine?

Theres a few threads on how to clean the tank, you either need to remove the tank and swill it out but that involves removing exhaust, rear axle, brake lines etc with all the potential pitfalls (sheared axle bolts, rounded off brake pipe nuts).

Alternatively a number have syphoned the crud out OK.

It's not ideal to have muck in the fuel and the crap has often kanckered K Jet systems and bunged up carbs. Clean out the tank, blow out the fuel lines and keep replacing the fuel filter until its clean and the car runs OK.

Brill, thanks guys.

Iv just had the jets changed so hopefully it will help it somewhat.  There is VW specialist not far from me so I might take it down and let them have a look at it.

I want to put a 16V into to so I am relectant to so ANY work on the engine.

Another useful mod is to fit a copper gauze "sock" to the fuel pick up inside the tank. These used to be a factory fit for Beetles in the 70's . Its basically a 3 inch long gauze closed at one end that you fix to the pick up(have first sliced the end of the pickup off with a craft knife) . This should prevent any future repeat of rubbish in the fuel.

This may delay the cutting out but eventually the crud will get sucked up to the gauze blocking it and starving the engine of fuel.

You leave it for a while, the crud drops off and engine restarts.

The only permanent fix is to clean the tank out.

The whole point is that because the "sock" is so big it never becomes blocked. Andy Alexander is my mechanic over in Enfield - he has been carrying out this mod since the 70's and has never had a problem repeat once this has been done, though obviously it makes sense to remove as much detritus as possible. I also have an inline filter as well as belt and braces.

Thanks for the support guys and gals.

The car is fixed now.  I was able to sort it with out dropping the tank (thank god).  I plan to make a frw upgrades later on this year so Ill do the proprer job then