My dear old 2003 VRs Estate which has done a little over 50,000 miles (44,000 with me) appears to have developed an intermittent fault which may be the warning of problems to come.

She runs OK most of the time and at motorway speeds but recently has had a few episodes where when trying to accelerate in a lower gear, or going up through 2/3/4, is met by a total lack of power.

The engine doesn't run rough or cut out, it just doesn't pick up at all.

As you can appreciate this could be pretty dangerous when overtaking etc.

It could be a bunch of things but I thought I would ask just to see if its recognisable of a particular known fault, or impending component failure, as you guys have been a great help in the past!

Cheers

Hornetman

firstly get the car scanned with vcds, it could be coilpacks, a boost hose leak, maf or any number of other things.

I'd second the MAF suggestion as your first point of call.

Could be the brake switch too. If it does it again try jabbing the brake pedal then accelerating.

Seem to have found the problem - water temp sensor!

Just reread my original posting realised that I'd forgot on to mention the Temp gauge wasn't working periodically. When this died for an extend period and then popped back to life again there was a noticeable difference in running and performance.

Replaced the sensor and now everything seems to be OK - fingers crossed it was that simple!

Thanks for you suggestions.

Why didn't you say lol

Did you use a genuine one ??

THe copies tend not to last long

Just one of those things!

The Temp Gauge itself was on and off and so one of those things I'd never got round to doing.

It wasn't ever off long enough to make a connection with the car's performance. It was only when I noticed the power loss coincided with the gauge not registering I put two and two together. Until recently there was no physical indication of a power loss bad enough to notice it.

No, I didn't use a VAG replacement but now I know what was going on, if/when it happens again at least I'll know what to do!

Just had same thing with mine and replaced temp sender and like a different car now.so much smoother

Glad you got it sorted

Thanks Guys,

Truth is the old Octavia has just been too darn reliable so it takes time for pennies to drop.

I'm like "Temp Gauge goes of and on - so what?" My mate says "Oh, that will probably be the sensor" So then I have a mental picture of some old Brit banger from thirty years ago, when they were a screw in thing, with a spade connector on top, that I took out with a spanner.

Then its running poorly and eventually - "Hang on - fuel injection - turbo - EMU - Pillock!"

Ah well, as the man said - "So much smoother"