Engine Stalls While Driving

[bassmun]

So, the past couple days I have been driving my '91 Jetta just cruisin' along at decent speed and it will just cut out on me. I have to pull over and start up again. Than today it did this again but the radio also cut out twice. I am totally baffled. Is this a mechanical thing or an electrical thing?

[Op-Ivy]

Was the radio cutting out at the same time as the engine? I think you should take a look at your connections to your battery and work from there.

[bassmun]

Was the radio cutting out at the same time as the engine? I think you should take a look at your connections to your battery and work from there.

No, the radio was not cutting out at the same time as the car. I think that is actually due to a loose fuse tap now that I think about it. I will however check the battery cables and see if they are nice and tight.

[Quantum TD]

1) loose fuse screws
2) bad connection on fuel stop solenoid
3) clogged filter

[bassmun]

1) loose fuse screws
2) bad connection on fuel stop solenoid
3) clogged filter

I have to apologize for being a little ignorant about this car. Where would I find the "fuel stop solenoid"?

[Quantum TD]

The stop solenoid is a round switch with a large nex-nut base that screws into the driver's side of the injection pump, in the cast-iron part of the pump where the fuel lines come out. It has a single (usually black or blue) wire that connects to the top of it (either thru a spade terminal, or a single 8mm nut).

When the ignition is on, the solenoid is energized, and allows fuel to flow throught the pump. If there is a bad connection on it, it will cut off the fuel. There are a few stories here of people with loose or broken wires (that have grounded out while the car was running), and they had similar symptoms that you have.

Otherwise, it could be the ignition switch, or a clogged fuel filter.