A very strange problem!

[Mars3v]

Hello guys,

I have a golf 3 1.8 1996. It's been a bit weird the past few weeks, performance is going down and engine noise is up.

Today on the highway the engine seemed to be frozen on 2000 rpm, it didn't respond to the throttle, suddenly it stopped. I pulled over and tried several times to turn it on but nothing worked, I could hear the march but the engine was dead.

After trying several times, it operated in a very strange manner, the rpm was on 200! (yes 200 not 2000), I could hear a very loud noise tak tak tak, metal hitting metal sound! and again it didn't respond to the throttle, as if I am not pressing at all, also the car was shaking too much.

I switched it off, but it didn't stop until a couple of seconds passed! I waited for a while then I tried to turn it on again, it ran smoothly as if nothing has happened! I drove it and it was completely normal. This situation happened twice to me today, but I didn't experience that before.

I have to mention that my car has done now 96000 kms, and the major service is due now, could that be a reason?

I also guess that the spark plugs might need to be changed, and the car was on 200 rpm because may be 2 cylinders only were working, and it was shaking because of the unbalance? I never saw a car before running on less than 800 rpm!

Anyways I will take it to the mechanic this Friday, do you suggest anything to look for that might caused this problem? Have anyone seen or experienced this before?

Thanks guys, any help is much appreciated.

cheers

[bombsquad21]

You have a 96 Golf with 96000kms??? There's the problem! hasn't been driven enough!

Sorry I have no idea about your uber misfire.

[GoLfMan]

gday mate,
wherebouts are you, please update your location as we have some VW specialist mechanics in every state that we would recommend to you

sounds like a sensor of some sort has crapped itself, god knows what ill leave that to the VW mechanics on here.

fellas?

[Golf Loon]

Crank angle sensor.
Update your location details and take to a mechanic.

[Mars3v]

thanks guys for replying.

I am in Melbourne...

[Mars3v]

people, am I asking for something illegal?

plz write any good mechanic you know in Melbourne, also it would be great if you give any clues about this problem, you will feel more happy by helping people, and I will wish u good luck and merry Christmas

[MattyT]

Volkspower I think? Wrong side of the country for me.