300 TDI engine cutting out

The engine has cut out 5 times over the last few weeks, usually when driving slowly. It starts again after a while, sometimes it takes a minute or so.

I've changed the fuel filter, checked the wire on the stop solenoid and made sure I'm not letting the fuel tank run too low.

My next port of call is replacing the lift pump to see if that solves it.

Any ideas? Many thanks for any advice.

fit a new solenoid (they are very cheap), chop the end off the attached wire and re-crimp and solder it - just to make sure

Fitted a new solenoid, but it wouldn't work unless I transferred the the small metal plunger from the old one onto the new one.

Just took it for a spin to see if it was OK- and it cut out again! I'll cut off the old spade connector and fit a new one, but I've got a nasty feeling it's something else.

Any ideas what else it could be?

Graham A said:

Fitted a new solenoid, but it wouldn't work unless I transferred the the small metal plunger from the old one onto the new one.

Just took it for a spin to see if it was OK- and it cut out again! I'll cut off the old spade connector and fit a new one, but I've got a nasty feeling it's something else.

Any ideas what else it could be?

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Something floating about in the tank, but connect a gallon container,we call them iron lungs, and run it off that to see if it cures it, that rules out all the **** at the end, water trap, tank transmittor, piping etc. Also run a constant feed to the solonoid just in case its losing it at some point. I took mine right to the ignition bypassing the alarm system. but stick it on the battery for now.

Thanks for that, but I've sussed it.

After a bit more searching, I've found out about the immobiliser spider fault.

I've taken the plunger out of the solenoid, which gets the engine to run OK. I'll have to stall it to stop the engine for the moment though, but at least the bypass gizmo only costs £8.

It shouldn't cut out anymore, that's for sure!