Lost engine or Clutch

[Geneo4]

I was on my 70 mile commute to work, my 1999 TDI (187000 miles)was moving along at 70 miles per hr and it hesatated 2 times i lost any pickup power lost speed,2800 rpms in 5th gear herd whirring like plastic in a fan?down shifted to 4th.still no pickup power same noise but a little louder shifted back to 5th losing speed 50 or so.no warning lites temp ok rpms ok then 0000 rpms bat lite dead,would not crank towed. shop said engine locked.prob bearing i did not trust shop can the clutch be a cause told that by some one else that has not seen car, HELP

[boschmann]

Does the engine crank over with the starter?

[Geneo4]

it wont turn over with starter

[Geneo4]

Originally Posted by boschmann

Does the engine crank over with the starter?

NO wont crank starter

[skikaz]

My Jetta did almost the same. Lost power in an automatic on the highway, would turn over without starting at first, then battery died. Turned out to be the timing belt went bad at 97,754. Cost around 5K for new engine.
But on another car I lost power the same way, almost the identical except the battery was dead after loosing power. That turned out to be a voltage regulator.
The noise you heard probably has more to do with a timing belt.

Hope the best for you!

[boschmann]

It doesn't sound good. Any meltdown (bearing or timing belt or whatever) at 70 mph propably did destroy the engine.

[Geneo4]

just installed new timing belt at 130000 miles.