Engine coughs and dies

[IMMIRU]

I have a 94 968 tiptronic. The car has recently had the timing and balance belts changed as well as a new radiator and thermo switches installed. (DEC) Last week (Feb) I added a gas additive (LUCAS) and on the way home (35 min later) I stopped at a traffic light after driving on an interstate and the car caughed and died. It started right back up but died again (seconds later). It started back up and I drove it home. I noticed that the engine fan was on right before the engine quit but the temp gauge was normal at the 8 oclock position or second line. I drove the car after that with no problems until today (1 week later). I was driving into work under the same conditions as last week (interstate then stopped) when I noticed the fans were on. I no sooner looked at the temp gauge when the car sputtered and quit. The temp guage read normal. I started it up again with no problems and it did it again a few seconds later. It again started up and I drove it in to work (1 mile more) and parked. The low speed fan was on after I got out but again the temp guage read normal. What do you think? Is Lucas the temporary problem or something else?

(The car runs great with good power and no other issues.)

[legoland951]

Check the typical DME relay and crank/reference sensors. I don't think it has anything to do with temp or gas additive.

[flash968]

yup - DME relay is my guess too - NOTORIOUS for failing and doing exactly what you describe - you should carry a spare - most of us do for this very reason

[IMMIRU]

Thanks I'll swap it out at lunch. It just happens that I have a spare in the glove box. HMM who would have thought Thanks I'll post again if that doesn't fix it