Golf 3 cutting out in rain

8BitLife said:
Could be the issue. But I know the starter is at bottom towards the front-left area. But I may be focusing too much on the top of the engine being dry. Most of the moisture might just have evaporated because of the heat from the engine while remaining in other closed off spaces.
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If the car is in motion the starter is good for nothing, you can remove it and throw it away, no issues, until you have to stop and switch of the car, unless there are common wires such as ground you should not be suspecting anything on the starter.
 
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thechamp said:
If there car is not sealed properly there could also be leaks into the interior where wiring looms and other electronic stuff is located.
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Indeed. The OP needs to broaden his search. Perhaps, start the car, open the hood and using a small spray on a hosepipe point it at different parts of the engine and see when it cuts out.

*Disclaimer - this shouldn't cause any damage, but you never know.
 
GhostSixFour said:
Indeed. The OP needs to broaden his search. Perhaps, start the car, open the hood and using a small spray on a hosepipe point it at different parts of the engine and see when it cuts out.

*Disclaimer - this shouldn't cause any damage, but you never know.
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Also, livestream it so we can all laugh when it explodes.
 
Most common problem is normally water in the distributor cap, coil and the related wiring.

I would spray anything the just look like an electronic component with Q20
 
Check other related electrical issues as well - such as making sure that the battery terminals are tight & protected with an appropriate grease, and that there are no frayed or damaged earthing straps or connector wires on the engine, alternator or the starter as well, that could get moisture ingress & break the circuit.
 
so let the car idle and then with a small stream of water (hose pipe) spray the car engine underneath and see when it cuts out and where you sprayed?

Check all connections. And look at your coil. Those coils would crack and moisture would make them do funny things.
 
qscwbt said:
so let the car idle and then with a small stream of water (hose pipe) spray the car engine underneath and see when it cuts out and where you sprayed?

Check all connections. And look at your coil. Those coils would crack and moisture would make them do funny things.
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Someone else recommended spraying engine with water and see what happens. Will do. Pretty sure it is not the coil though. Last time I had my car serviced the mechanic washed the engine and said he struggled to get it started. Said he changed out the coil with one he had lying around (fair enough it was a used one and not a new one) and it fixed the issue then. Nevertheless, the coil has been changed out. I could be wrong and the 'new' one just be giving same problems old one did.
 
thechamp said:
A faulty or exposed wiring to the crankshaft position sensor perhaps
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IIf it has one. I had a Golf 3 which was a simple beast with a carburettor and basic electronic ignition.

8BitLife said:
Could be the issue. But I know the starter is at bottom towards the front-left area. But I may be focusing too much on the top of the engine being dry. Most of the moisture might just have evaporated because of the heat from the engine while remaining in other closed off spaces.
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From having known and loved older British and Italian cars, this sort of thing is almost always in the ignition system. Start looking there and carry a can of Q20 in summer.

Also, something like this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331342630232?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
 
Golf air intakes are at the bottom of the car. especially the golf 3 model. my friend buddy borrowed his car and drove it through a low river and wrote off an engine that barely had 15k on it. but that was long ago. Check your air intakes thats its liften up correctly. Also the other issue would be wet wiring. check all your engine seals that water doesnt come in.

But your issue sounds like a wet wire or electrical part which cuts out the car. Best to get someone to check all the electrical wiring to make sure all is connected and sealed and not worn.

The nice part is.....Golf 3 are increadibly cheap to fix. Try a golf 4 and you will swear at everything.
 
Corelli said:
Golf air intakes are at the bottom of the car. especially the golf 3 model. my friend buddy borrowed his car and drove it through a low river and wrote off an engine that barely had 15k on it. but that was long ago. Check your air intakes thats its liften up correctly. Also the other issue would be wet wiring. check all your engine seals that water doesnt come in.

But your issue sounds like a wet wire or electrical part which cuts out the car. Best to get someone to check all the electrical wiring to make sure all is connected and sealed and not worn.

The nice part is.....Golf 3 are increadibly cheap to fix. Try a golf 4 and you will swear at everything.
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Had 7 VWs and none of them had air intake at the bottom.
 
8BitLife said:
Hey,

So I am by no means a rich guy and when I had to buy a car, the best I could afford for my budget (I thought at the time) was a 98 Golf 3. Had it about 2 years now and it has a persistent problem of the engine cutting out when it rains and I drive through a puddle of water. I make a point of avoiding puddles, and when I cant, to drive through them as slowly as possible. Sometimes driving through the puddle slowly still doesn't help though and the engine still cuts out.

This is what happened last night when it was pouring down here in JHB and I was driving home after work. What I noticed is:

1. Putting my foot down on the petrol is what makes it cut out. If I stop dead and just let the engine idle it is fine.
2. Opened the bonnet and the top of the engine was bone dry. So clearly it is something at the bottom that gets wet.

Any idea what could be the problem and how I can fix it?
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If the coil, distributer and leads to sparkplugs are dry and in good condition, then I agree with Ivan, check earthing strap!
 
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