Stalling Emergency

i have a '99 jetta, 2.0 5-speed manual trans... 130k and running greatuntil just recently i was driving on the highway...stopped for the nice man with the flashing lights...got off with a warning...but car wouldn't restart...engine light on...would turn over, but no go... got a jump ran fine... later the next day...it stalled on the highway...waited about 10 mins...started up...changed the plugs and wires, engine light went out..ran for the next couple days...then the same thing...but more often..would run for a few miles...then shut off...engine light on and battery light (but i think that stays on when the engine is on, yes?) last time it stalled, engine light was accompanied by flashing oil light... but the oil level is fine...what could this be?? alternator? oil pump? does the jetta have a safety type sensor that shuts it down when the oil pressure drops? i've heard of that in some cars...or am i nuts? either way i'm desperate

My gut says it's the alternator and maybe the battery too. But the oil light throws me off. Usually the auto zone type places will test your alternator and battery for free, best part is I've never heard of them being dishonest (they'll tell you if it's still good). Want the alternator test? Start the car, leave it running, and then disconnect the battery... I've never done it on my jetta, but I tested it on my 85 ranger, 98 neon, 87 subaru, and 56 willies pickup. If the car sputters to a stop when you disconnect the battery the alternator is no good. Or at least, that is how it's supposed to work.

thanks...i'll give that a shot

It sounds to me like a bad fuel pump or relay (also ECM relay) causing the engine to stall. The lights you describe coming on when the engine dies is normal.

the ECM...expensive fix? checked the alternator... it's working fine i think it's possibly that...took it for a ride today...when it stalled i heard some clicking from under the dash, maybe in the fuse area... so i think it's electrical

Not ECM, I wa thinking the relay = alot cheaper. Clicking under the dash when it dies is a symptom of a bad relay. It could be the fuel pump relay (lowest row, fourth from the left) or the power supply relay (middle row, second from the right).

that's good news...i hope that's what it is...something simple... is the relay something i can get at the local parts store? is there a test i can do on the relay to see if it is bad? continuity perhaps?

If you get the p/n off it you can probably find it online, VW will have it. In this intermitent case there is no good test.