Prelude
Ok this has been a problem that started a few months ago. First it would start up for a second, then cut out.
For the next few minutes it would turn over but not fire up. Then it would sluggishly start properly and all would be well.

Now after letting it stand for a few months the same problem. I drove it to the shops and back without an issue, but on reversing into the driveway there was a 'flutter' which it had never done before (I've owned it for over ten years) where the engine 'missed' a beat or was fuel starved. After letting it tick over for a few minutes it cut out! Hmmm.

Then

Then a day later I went to take it out again for a drive, as I'm driving down my hill I realized I'd left something behind. I turn around, go back up the hill... And it starts kangerooing / losing power, then restoring power as I'm giving it gas on the pedal.

I decide to call it a day and head right back, as I'm going to back it up the drive (another incline), the thing cuts out, blocking the road! Fortunately I manage to restart it.

The next day I go to drive it out the driveway, as soon as it's going down the incline, cuts out immediately! It takes a few minutes to start up and back into the driveway it goes.

My thoughts are either a blocked pipe or possibly the lift-pump is clogged?

I've got it booked into the mechanic next month but the way it's cutting out I'm skeptical it'll even make it there!

Help appreciated.

had something similar happen to me

turned out to be the injector pump solinoid wiring frayed

Thank sender unit pipes corroded or pinholed inside the tank

D1Nut said:

had something similar happen to me

turned out to be the injector pump solinoid wiring frayed

Click to expand...

Was it the injector pump solinoid on the lift pump or the main injection system?

wiring going to the injector pump solinoid

D1Nut said:

wiring going to the injector pump solinoid

Click to expand...

Thanks, is that under the engine to access or from the top?

r we talking 300 tdi

cause maybe I have missed the boat completely

The FiP (fuel injector pump), looking at the engine from the front, it's on the left, just beside the main bloc, infront of the air filter and just between the block and the inner wing.
At the back, below where the 4 fuel lines come out that go to the injectors on the engine is a single wire.
When that wire has 12V on it, it opens a solenoid/switched valve which allows the fuel to flow.
To stop the engine you take away the 12V.
If the wire to that solenoid's connectoir is loose or touches anything else the engine will cut out.
The wire goes from the back of the FiP into the back of the ignition switch via a fuse.
Use a torch and look at the back of the FiP, there is only one wire.

Is there white smoke when this 'engine cutting out' event occurrs ?
White smoke is air in the fuel system.

D1Nut said:

r we talking 300 tdi

cause maybe I have missed the boat completely

Click to expand...

It is indeed, hence why I put it in this little part of the forum.

miktdish said:

The FiP (fuel injector pump), looking at the engine from the front, it's on the left, just beside the main bloc, infront of the air filter and just between the block and the inner wing.
At the back, below where the 4 fuel lines come out that go to the injectors on the engine is a single wire.
When that wire has 12V on it, it opens a solenoid/switched valve which allows the fuel to flow.
To stop the engine you take away the 12V.
If the wire to that solenoid's connectoir is loose or touches anything else the engine will cut out.
The wire goes from the back of the FiP into the back of the ignition switch via a fuse.
Use a torch and look at the back of the FiP, there is only one wire.

Is there white smoke when this 'engine cutting out' event occurrs ?
White smoke is air in the fuel system.

Click to expand...

Hey thanks for that, I'll check that out later. There's no white smoke that I've noticed when it cuts out.

Well the problem has gone away, I had the injectors cleaned but I suspect it was just some watery gunk in the top of the fuel-level / tank.