Ok, this is some kind of strange electrical problem. When the car is freshly started, and I put it in reverse, it just dies! It has done it a couple of times before, but never as bad as today. I had to restart it a half dozen times when I was leaving a parking lot. It also died on me twice when I was in 1st or 2nd gear accellerating hard. I think this must be some kind of bad sensor or loose connection. What information is processed by the car when it is put in reverse? What sensors or connections can I check? The car is a '90 GTU 5 speed.

 

Is this only when the car is first started? Is it OK after warming up?
Does the car rev to 2500 or so when you first start it?

If it's only a cold start problem, it's probably your cold start system- the secondary throttle plates may not be closing, (like a choke)- The thermowax that controls it may not be working properly/jammed.


Maybe start the car, and look ot the outside of the throttle body- you can't see the plates, but you can see the rod and the linkages- it'll tell you if the secondary plates are open or closed. (the plates closest to the air intake pipe... the first ones in the air intake stream)


If someone has some pics, or a more detailed description- maybe they could post it?

 

I used to think it might have something to do with the cold start system, but today's failures would seem to rule that out. It has now done this several times when the car is fully warmed up, ideling at about 800 prm. I put it in neutral and let it sit there and idle with the clutch out. Then, when I push in the clutch and put it in reverse it shuts off abruptly. Not like it's stalling from fuel or air starvation, like I turned off the key. I think it's electrical.

 

what's that called......ah neutral position sensor maybe? I don't know, sorry
That wouldn't have anything to do with it dying while getting on it in 1st or second though....

 

bump