MK5 GTI random cut outs?

[Jimmy No Hands]

Twice tonight the engine has completely cut out, just leaving the ESP and battery light illuminated. Turning the car back on and it was perfectly fine. First time was on starting, dipped the clutch (out of habit) and it died when I lifted off. Second time coming to a stop at a junction, clutch down and off again.

No VCDS so can't scan at the moment, did change the rear pads today but that's the only thing that has changed. Loosing my patience with this car, seems to be one problem after another..

Any ideas?

[Maracus]

I had this twice on a MK3 Golf, and it was sometimes an issue on 1.8Ts. The problem was that the throttle body needed cleaning out.

I'm not sure if the MK5 suffered as well, my MK5 GTI didn't.

[Jimmy No Hands]

Would certainly make sense as I've had intermittent TB issues in the past that I thought I had resolved. Was wondering if the battery would cause it, it's 4 or 5 years old by the looks of it. Car was fine this morning. Maybe it heard me mumbling about trading it in for a 130i..

[aka_kerrly]

Could be the DBW throttle body needing cleaning and perhaps the throttle opening/closing re-calibrated.

Very worth checking that the battery is holding good charge and is not being effected by the cold weather - usually the first few cold spells will kill a dying battery especially if you only tend to do short journeys with the lights/heaters/wipers/stereo etc all switched on.

[Jimmy No Hands]

New battery this weekend then it is. If it reoccurs then looks like I'm back chasing throttle body related problems. Considered maybe a vac leak but its too intermittent for that, and its pulling better than ever lately.

[SuperchargedVR6]

If the battery is that old, then it's well worth sticking a new one in anyway. The electric steering can sap a lot of energy from the battery / alternator, so it's plausible it could be power supply related.

[Jimmy No Hands]

I'll let you all know, thank you. When its working its brilliant!