Firstly, thanks to Colin for his work over the last few weeks to get the site sorted

Secondly, I've tried a search but I don't think it's working. Whilst driving along at about 70 on the motorway (regular route), the tacho went STRAIGHT to zero and the engine died, no warning at all. I coasted to a halt (oil + battery lights came on when engine stopped). I switched off the ignition, tried a restart and it fired up straightaway no problems and hasn't missed a beat since, (about a week ago). This is the first time it's done it in 5 years, engine is a 1.4 AUB. The only tenuous link is that there is a big mobile phone mast adjacent to the motorway and maybe some freak radio wave zapped the ECU?? A bit far out but I have heard of vehicles being affected by radio waves, but I do pass this way a lot and it's not happened before. If it happens again I suppose I will have to get it scanned for fault codes.

Any ideas???

The phone mast scenario isn't as daft as you may think. However it is more likely to be the engine speed sensor is failing.

A code scan should log a transient (pending) code for the speed sensor. If it was indeed the phone mast zapping the ecu, you would have a few pending error codes.

The phone mast scenario isn't as daft as you may think. However it is more likely to be the engine speed sensor is failing.

A code scan should log a transient (pending) code for the speed sensor. If it was indeed the phone mast zapping the ecu, you would have a few pending error codes.

Thanks Moggy Tech, I'm assuming that the speed sensor is round the back of the engine just below the knock sensor? if that is the case then another theory emerges - the car went through some mean old floods a few days before, I wonder if any water found it's way into the muiltiplug??

I'd agree too that Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) isn't as daft as you might think, although it's more commonly associated with radar systems or certain MoD systems to do with submerged submarines...

I think engine speed sensors are usually near the flywheel or on the end of the camshaft (depends on individual engine). Either way, a wet multiplug and genuinely failing sensor will likely throw the same code(s).

My old mans BMW, died a few times on the M4 just past Newport.

Bmw put it down to a mast pickling the ECU.

Hasn't done it for a long time now though.

HTH

Driving through floods can cause problems, but the speed sensor is tucked away at the rear of the engine, and is a pig to get at :'(

Your speed sensor will be mounted in the gearbox bellhousing (clutch side fortunately.) Small hands, patience and a very large swear box are in order.

Thanks for all the replies chaps (where's the thanks button gone?), may have just been a touch of electrodynamic phenomena. I think I'll just hope for a while and see what happens.

I'd agree too that Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) isn't as daft as you might think, although it's more commonly associated with radar systems or certain MoD systems to do with submerged submarines...

Out of interest what 'RFI' is it from a submarine that attacks car ECU's?

Thanks for all the replies chaps (where's the thanks button gone?), may have just been a touch of electrodynamic phenomena. I think I'll just hope for a while and see what happens.

The Green and Red buttons on the right of each post have replaced the Thanks

Out of interest what 'RFI' is it from a submarine that attacks car ECU's?

the military use vlf (very low frequency) to contact subs alegedly

but ive never experienced any rf problems with my vrs despite parking under some big high gain antennas fed with 400(ish) watts from lf to uhf

the military use vlf (very low frequency) to contact subs alegedly

but ive never experienced any rf problems with my vrs despite parking under some big high gain antennas fed with 400(ish) watts from lf to uhf

I've never experienced any despite parking in between a half dozen subs for the last 5 years

I've never experienced any despite parking in between a half dozen subs for the last 5 years

That doesn't surpise me; the aledged problems arise from driving past the aledged locations of the transmitter antennae, rather than from being near the subs!

Lots of allegations there eh?, nothing like good hard facts!

I had this on an AUB and then someone else did too.

Both times it turned out to be the fuel pumps relay.

Rob.

A common fault with this AUB engine is that whilst just cruising along the revs will dip to nothing momentarily (say for a second) and then return to normal. During the dip you get a severe retardation from engine braking, like the real brakes being applied, but then afterwards everything is normal. It has happened to me about 5 times in nearly 10,000 miles but hasn't done it for a few months. I suspect it is linked to the surging tickover problem (or should that be feature now) with this engine. No idea exactly why bit it is something I've just put up with. I do find that it runs a lot better on super unleaded fuel and if you boot it occasionally to clean the engine out a bit. Maybe the original poster's fault is a more serious form of this? Agree that it is worth taking to a VW specialist to get hooked up to vagcom to check that all the sensors are behaving themselves.

Wonder if this is related to the thing my AUB has where the dash lights/dials etc cut out for a split second, then return? Wheather it's all the same circuit thats causing it or not?

Either way, be glad when I'm shot of this engine and it's list of faults!

Thanks very much for all this info chaps, all good stuff and credible. I think I'll leave it alone for now, get it scanned if it happens again.