91 passat stalls...help!

[slykmaster]

Its A Fuel Pump Had This Problem With Audi 90 Same Thing.

[LazarusVW]

Good idea and probably the right diagnosis in a majority of cases, but in mine, it turned out to be the ECM relay, one which VW says is VERY popular in their parts department. I had already been charged $28 by the stealership for a $3 fuel pump relay, so I ordered the ECM relay from Europarts direct for $4.30. VW had wanted $34 for the ECM and I checked the relay I received against the dead one and the two were IDENTICAL--same numbers, same manufacturer, everything. That's an almost 800% markup over e-retal!

Not one stall, or skip since the relay replacement. However, drving on the highway the other day, I hit a small pothole and noticed that the back end skittered sideways. Yep, shocks went. Back shocks totally blown with struts needing replacement soon too. That makes the one month total for my baby as follows: Ball Joints --estimate: $370, second opinion $140, clutch: first estimate $860, second opinion $625, fuel pump: estimate: $760, misdiagnosed by stealership, relay $28, top radiator hose: estimate (VW) $300, hose $198, web price $50, 20 minutes installation, back brakes: estimate $185, self install of web-bought pads, 1 hour and $30 struts and shocks: estimate $810, professional install with my web-bought parts $430 total.

WOW!

The grand total for one month if I went with the mechanic's recommendations and "just had it done" (instead of getting other opinions and/or doing it myself) was: $3,285.00

The actual total, arrived at by second opinions, asking questions, buying parts on the web, and doing some repairs myself came to: $1,303.00 I estimated that I spent about 11 hours extra making calls and doing repairs. I think that 11 hours is worth almost $2000 in savings, don't you?

Thanks for the suggestions folks!
LAZARUSvw

[Glenn101]

FOUND THE PROBLEM, very difficult to find without swaping parts. The powerstage when it goes bad on this sometimes won't work in the cold or not well. It cuts out on the highway because it is cooling off. It will start up after sitting because the very hot manifold heats it up again, but it is intermitten and may work fine in the shop or not start even heated up. Even though your coil is good you still have to buy it to get the power stage. If you notice in the book carefully there is no check for the powerstage itself only the signal and wiring from the computer this tricked me for a while. The powerstage handles the ground to fire the coil's spark. I'm talking 90 Passat. Good Luck

[squalidjoker]

Yea, that happened to me a couple of times. I soon realized that if I unplugged the diferential pressure regulator the car won't stall, and it will just take a few times to get it started (it will stall right away at the beginning, but will run smooth eventually). Try it and let me know.
By the way, those who don't know which the differential pressure reg is, you will find the plug beside the air filter housing. I believe the wires are red/white and blue/brown.