Car mechanical advise

[Inchy]

I’ve had some great car advise on here before so was wondering if anyone can help.

My wives car (2010 VK golf diesel) keeps stalling when in neutral. It happened yesterday at traffic lights and she was unable to get it going. The car would restart but then stall again whilst in neutral after a couple of seconds, even with revving the engine.

I managed to get it going straight away by starting it, revving it and putting it in first gear and finding the biting point. No issues then. It doesn’t happen every time and if it was me driving the car I wouldn’t care because I can get it going when it happens but it seems a bit beyond the Mrs.

Anyone any idea what might be causing this? I changed the battery last winter and it starts every time so don’t think it’s that. All the connections are alright.

I’m hoping it’s something I can have a go at fixing myself, otherwise I’ve got to weigh up whether it’s cheaper to take it to a garage, or to get rid of this wife and find one who knows how to find the biting point in 1 second

Cheers

[Quickenthetempo]

Get your lass an automatic.

[gawthorpe_view]

I’ve had some great car advise on here before so was wondering if anyone can help.

My wives car (2010 VK golf diesel) keeps stalling when in neutral. It happened yesterday at traffic lights and she was unable to get it going. The car would restart but then stall again whilst in neutral after a couple of seconds, even with revving the engine.

I managed to get it going straight away by starting it, revving it and putting it in first gear and finding the biting point. No issues then. It doesn’t happen every time and if it was me driving the car I wouldn’t care because I can get it going when it happens but it seems a bit beyond the Mrs.

Anyone any idea what might be causing this? I changed the battery last winter and it starts every time so don’t think it’s that. All the connections are alright.

I’m hoping it’s something I can have a go at fixing myself, otherwise I’ve got to weigh up whether it’s cheaper to take it to a garage, or to get rid of this wife and find one who knows how to find the biting point in 1 second

Cheers

Before I took it to a garage I'd get a diagnostic done by a mobile vehicle technician.
If the diagnostic reveals something you can fix yourself then you can go ahead with the repair.

[Lowbankclaret]

A quick google, I have experience with VW diesels.
VW forum replies are pointing to the egr valve being stuck open.
From what I read it causes the symptoms you are having.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Potentially the EGR valve and/or the throttle body/idle control valve (throttle/idle are one unit)

Both are common problems but a diagnostic machine should be able to pinpoint it

[Bob Lorder]

If you’re in the RAC or AA get them to come out, they’ll pinpoint the problem for you with their diagnostics ..

[Mala591]

How long is it since the diesel fuel filter was checked/replaced ?

[Inchy]

Cheers for the replies everyone, particularly GodIsADeeJay81 who has given me car advise before and saved me a few quid in the process.

Il research EGR valves and see if it’s something I can have a fettle with.

[Inchy]

How long is it since the diesel fuel filter was checked/replaced ?

Not since I have had the car, about 8 years

[Inchy]

If you’re in the RAC or AA get them to come out, they’ll pinpoint the problem for you with their diagnostics ..

Not RAC or AA but I do have breakdown cover.

[Lowbankclaret]

Cheers for the replies everyone, particularly GodIsADeeJay81 who has given me car advise before and saved me a few quid in the process.

Il research EGR valves and see if it’s something I can have a fettle with.

If you feel it's a job you can tackle. Rubber gloves and brake cleaner. Some old clothes. You will be black doing that job.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Cheers for the replies everyone, particularly GodIsADeeJay81 who has given me car advise before and saved me a few quid in the process.

Il research EGR valves and see if it’s something I can have a fettle with.

They’re a bit of an arse to fettle tbh, some are water cooled

Get it code read and go from there

[Lowbankclaret]

They’re a bit of an arse to fettle tbh, some are water cooled

Get it code read and go from there

The forums were saying it does not throw a code, always worth while getting it checked but places can charge a few quid to just plug it in.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

The forums were saying it does not throw a code, always worth while getting it checked but places can charge a few quid to just plug it in.

This is true but it can ping up something else connected to it
So an iffy egr can ping up something like the throttle body or vice versa

Sometimes both parts need to be replaced after inspection

[ClaretOfMancunia]

Not sure which exact model you have but if you search the name along with "egr valve" on YouTube you can usually find a step by step video.

E.g. https://youtu.be/VITKRj9vHVk

[Mala591]

6F85AB72-0513-437C-9E76-B89D597E65B1.png (643.51 KiB) Viewed 2308 times

This VAG garage in Reedley has very good online reviews, maybe ask them to do a computer code check?

[Inchy]

6F85AB72-0513-437C-9E76-B89D597E65B1.png

This VAG garage in Reedley has very good online reviews, maybe ask them to do a computer code check?

Vag specialists.

If I had that I wouldn’t be in this bother

[Walton]

I once had a VW with a similar problem; the solution wasn't the EGR valve itself, but the actuator. Rather than being a metal cog or something, it was made out of relatively soft plastic, and a few of the teeth had worn away.

Tenner off eBay for a new one and five minutes of my time, and it was fixed

[Mala591]

Vag specialists.

If I had that I wouldn’t be in this bother

it took me a couple of minutes to get that one!

[Lowbankclaret]

Vag specialists.

If I had that I wouldn’t be in this bother

Being a nurse, think you will have seen your share of vag.
As an engineer, I saw broken engines. Broken bolts etc.
Chose the wrong profession

[Inchy]

Update

Tried to start it this morning but I couldn’t manage it. The car starts, but when I push on the throttle no revs come through, and it just conks out. Even if I stick it in first and find the bite it just sputters and then conks out.

[beddie]

Inchy. Silly question probably but do you have breakdown cover? it was just a thought that they could take it to a garage of your choice for the process to begin. I appreciate you were originally struggling to know where to take it, there must be somewhere, would the breakdown company be able to recommend? Good luck with it.

[Jjjack]

Update

Tried to start it this morning but I couldn’t manage it. The car starts, but when I push on the throttle no revs come through, and it just conks out. Even if I stick it in first and find the bite it just sputters and then conks out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-aVowOGhZ0

Clean egr out first then go from there.

[Inchy]

Inchy. Silly question probably but do you have breakdown cover? it was just a thought that they could take it to a garage of your choice for the process to begin. I appreciate you were originally struggling to know where to take it, there must be somewhere, would the breakdown company be able to recommend? Good luck with it.

I have breakdown cover on my other car but not sure if I have personal cover. There’s a garage I go to about a mile away from home so I could tow it if needs be

[chadders]

Hi Inchy, I would look at fuel supply. Basics first, fuel filter could have water/debris so change that if it hasn't been done recently. Fuel pump, can you hear it, fuel lines are there any leaks? Can you smell diesel? Then egr, actuator. But do get it plugged in.

[Inchy]

My garage can’t see it til Friday so il have a go at seeing if I can fix it/ make things worse, in the meantime

[GetIntoEm]

Sounds like fuel/air problem, if you've no code reader I'd wait for a garage tbh

[Shaggy]

EGR would be my first go to with the symptoms you have described. They are only supposed to actuate ( open ) above a certain RPM range.

If you can find the EGR remove it and clean thoroughly it will be clogged up.

If it is the EGR then my next advice would be to block it off and get someone to remove its function from the ECU. Any mobile mapper will be able
To do this relatively cheap.

[aclaretinstevenage]

My daughter had a similar sounding issue with her Mercedes A class (2009) and today it was diagnosed as a faulty Knock sensor - who knew (look it up). If your wife's Golf has one - a quick google suggests it might - it could be that.

[Billyblah]

I once had a VW with a similar problem; the solution wasn't the EGR valve itself, but the actuator. Rather than being a metal cog or something, it was made out of relatively soft plastic, and a few of the teeth had worn away.

Tenner off eBay for a new one and five minutes of my time, and it was fixed

Yup Ebay/Amazon are the way forward if you know exactly what part you're looking for. I was recently looking for an Ambient temperature sensor. A Hyundai main dealer quoted me £98, I purchased one for a fiver.

[California Colner]

Not since I have had the car, about 8 years

I have a diesel truck and I change the fuel filter every 15 k miles

[jdrobbo]

I’ve got a 2010 VW golf, which I use for commuting and pretty much happy to run it into the ground.

About three years ago, I had the EGR valve done on it… at great expense… the car kept cutting out, or on some occasions, going into limp mode.


Occasionally, the car cuts out after a commute to or from work… Diesel cars are absolutely the worst for this type of driving, so every day, along the 1 mile stretch of the Otley bypass, it gets the rev treatment through the gears ,to blow all the crap out, and generally this has helped the car stay much more healthy.

Best of luck with it

[Lowbankclaret]

I used to tell people who had diesels to occasionally “drive it like you stole it”

Now I just say every time you go onto a motorway, accelerate to 70 in third and hold for a time as your on the motorway. Should blow out most of the crap.

[Loyalclaret]

That's what I've been told to avoid the reoccurring issu with the DPF light comes on my Nissan diesel, 3rd gear and 70mph on the motorway.

[Mala591]

My garage can’t see it til Friday so il have a go at seeing if I can fix it/ make things worse, in the meantime

Hey Inchy, what was the diagnosis from the garage?

p.s. did you get your fuel filter replaced?

[chadders]

Hey Inchy, did ya fix it

[Inchy]

There’s loads wrong with it. Garage said estimate of 2k to repair all issues. Not worth it so I’m looking for a new car now

[GodIsADeeJay81]

There’s loads wrong with it. Garage said estimate of 2k to repair all issues. Not worth it so I’m looking for a new car now

What did they say the issues were, out of interest?

[Inchy]

What did they say the issues were, out of interest?

Can’t remember. It was a list as long as my arm. To be fair they are a very descent garage. They didn’t even charge me for the diagnosis and labour. They always ring and tell me what’s wrong and offer ways to get things cheaper (scrap replacements, but off eBay yourself and we will fit etc) so I trust them.

I’ve had my pants pulled down before by other garages, in fact I’m sure it was you that make me aware I was being made a mug of

[Tricky Trevor]

To be fair they are a very descent garage.

Are they going downhill?