engine revs drop till it cuts out on my a3 3.2!!

[weirdo]

when pulling upto lights/junction, when braking and pressing the clutch, the revs just keep going down until the engine cuts out and im left with nearly no brakes or steering. this happened 15 times on a short drive to the station. what could this be? is it a big job? please help, cheers

[Dr G]

Any other symptons? Poor/rough running?

[EmmaP]

I suggest getting the engine code-read.

It could be the ECU relay switch. I'm no mechanic so that is just a guess. Make sure that your engine does not give out 'false' readings with code reading. The Corrado VR6 apparently gives false crank sensor reading and I had that replaced before finally getting ECU relay switch fault diagnosed. £7.50 vs £165

Mine dropped engine revs then cut out. As it has power assisted steering, steering also failed. Brakes of course also weren't what they should have been.

[weirdo]

the esp light seems to be comming on alot recently, worrying especially in the wet!! not sure if thats anything to do with it?? the running isnt brilliant, but performance is still just about there. any further ideas? cheers

[EmmaP]

Sounds like an electrical fault given that it is cutting out. I'd have thought mucky fuel filter or spark plugs would have caused juddering but would not cause cutting-out.

[cuprabob]

Could be coilpacks, pretty common on these cars

[Tame Technician]

If it was a coil pack you get a constant single cylinder mis-fire. Its most likely and air leak. Spray some brake cleaner of the inlet manifold and rocker cover area when the engine is idling, if the note changes or it stumbles its sucking in the spray and thats where the air leak is.
Wont be anything to do with ESP.
ALso check the oil filler cap is tight an dipstick pressed into tube properly. (that might sound a bit daft but there's a lot of vacuum when they idle if you don't believe me take the oil filler cap off and the engine will stall.)