6 year old, Fabia saloon petrol 1.4 16v, 40,000 miles

In fifth slightly short of 4000 RPM, on the Northbound M40 earlier this afternoon, middle lane, not maneouvering, road smooth, slightly short of the Beaconsfield turn-off, at or about the legal limit, the engine momementarily (In the space of one and a half seconds) stuttered and died and then picked-up again, loosing about 5 MPH and bouncing both the rev counter and the speedometer dial off the bottom stop !

Quite a spectuacular effect.

I have had this before, intermittmently, in all sorts of road and driving conditions and at very extended intervals. In the past I've attributed this effect to a massive radio frequency burst from a local transmitter, which temporarily scrambles the ECU and causes it to reset. The potential is that this could emanate from a utility or a service vehicle or a *ffing taxi or a mobile radio amateur.

Looked for the relavant aerials couldnt see any on the vehicles in my carriageway.

Usually, subsequent VAGCOM scan shows nothing.

I beginning to wonder if this is a manifestation of the same type of problem that's been reported with the early Octavia instrument binnacle. ?

Any ideas ?

Nick

Don't suppose it could be a loose earth wire? If it knocks out everyting, it could be the main one coming from the battery to the wing.

Thats all i can think of just now.

I don't think it will be the instrament cluster if it cuts the engine also.

Noisy coil pack causes this. It does sound like severe electrical interference swamping the ECU. Could also be intermittent cam/crank position sensor, but that normally logs a code.