16V KR Cuts out when hot in stop and go traffic

Hi all, I have a Mk1 cab with a 1.8 16V KR engine.

I am having an issue that when the car is just over halfway on the water temperature it cuts out. This happens when you have been in start/stop traffic. Fan cuts in but once it has cut out a few times if you leave it 10 minutes it will start fine. In normal moving traffic temperature sat half way with no issues.

It sounds as if the fuel is struggling to get through when it gets to this point, misfires and then cuts out, sometime wont start again straightaway

If anyone could help, give me an idea what may cause this would be a great help

Many Thanks Kieran

check the basics to start with:
http://www.vwgolfmk2.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=25972

what fuel setup do you have on it? later cab with lift pump, swirl pot then main pump or early with mk1 gti fuel tank fed direct to the main pump?

this thread is worth a look anyway:
View topic: Fuel Tank cleaning *HowTo* clear that blockage - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club

Hi Rubjonny thanks for replying so quickly. It is an early MK1 GTI DX to start with, C reg, 85. I have changed both fuel lift pump and one under the car, I think it is some kind of electrical fault which only occurs from the heat or sensor reading?

could be pump relay is startign to fail, how was the loom made to fit? was it a bare minimum to get it running job and stock 8v fuel relay retained, or was the 16v ecu trigger wire run to the fusebox and a 67/80/167 relay fitted?

I had this with my Mk2 16v. Turned out it needed a new Dizzy. Fine when cool, cut out when hot and fine for a bit when cool again.

The fuel pump relays tend to over heat on CIS cars.
They get so toasty that the solder on the relay connections internally open.  Stopping the car.
Once they cool off they reconnect (but Cold soldered) and you drive on down the road, till it happens again…. Rinse repeat, rinse… There is a quick fix to eliminate that as the issue by replacing the "Horn" relay for the fuel pump relay, and or using a test Jumper.

The Durability of the newer relays "being made in China" folks usually carry 2 spares in the boot bag of goodies.

Similar to me carrying around Water outlets and the 10mm socket to replace them on my Cabbies till I got metal replacements.

I don't recommend you use a 53 horn relay in the fuel pump socket, the power pins are too small.

the 17/18 x-relay is a better fit, or a mk4 golf SAI 100 relay

Thanks all, It has the 16V wiring ECU box thing in place, I will try a new relay, which number will I need?

First of all I need to fix my new problem, Had a tinker with car last night, found a couple of loose vacuum pipes and cleaned all wiring terminal as per general health instruction, then run car over the 3/4 marks and didn't cut out as before, however one of the coolant pipes has now decided to give in as I had a pin hole and water spraying. I have ordered new pipe today so will let you know how I get on, the joys

Cheers all

have a look in slot 2 see what relay you got in there, post up any numbers on the front or if blank part numbers on the side

Hi. Relay number 67, shall i get a new one the same, looks a bit burny on one of the terminals on the back. Thanks

its been wired properly then thats good news, 67, 80 and 167 relays are all compatible. mk2 16v and digifant, and all petrol engine mk3 use em

Hi all. Car now up and running again. Changed radiator And pipe, also fuel relay, temperature goes up to 3/4 way and hasnt cut out yet 🤔 However temperature guage staying up to 3/4 mark whilst driving, is this normal 

Thanks for all your help guys

should run around 1/2 on the gauge when moving, does it have the MFA and is the oil temp wired up? if so what is that showing?

on mine it ran at 3/4 when I first built it and this was due to me fitting a carb 1.8 single core rad, once I binned it and fitted a proper 1.8 8v GTI double core rad it dropped back to where it should be

I have bled rad again over the weekend, water seems to be circulating alot quicker, temp guage around half way when moving goes upto 3/4 in stop start traffic and doesnt appear to be cutting out. My mfa has never worked since j had the car, i do have a vdo oil temp guage in centre console which reads around 80 degrees when moving, unsure if thats correct, the oil prssure guage onlg reads 2bar when cruising in 5th otherwise goes off the scale. Car doing 30mpg on a smoonth run according to vacuum guage. How do all this sound

Many thanks

Bought normal.

yeah coolant temps all sound ok to me now

Thanks for your help all, seems to be running nicely now 😉