92 golf runs, cuts out, won't restart

I'd check under the distributor cap if it's a 16v. You might have oil in the hall sender. Clean any oil out of the distributor, and clean the connectors for the hall sender. If that works for a while, and the problem comes back, you might need a new distributor. Kurt '82 Scirocco 16v

Its a '92, so its like 13 years old right? Check the exhaust system, especially the Catalytic Converter, it may be plugged or "broken", ie the various layers of honeycomb mesh within may have broken loose.

Yes, try a new distributor too, if its 13 years old too, then it and/or the Hall Effect sensor is gone.

In my experience the first thing I would be looking at is the fuel system. The transfer fuel pump in the tank is notorious for acting up and causing symptoms like this.

Would that symptom tend to lessen with a full tank?

Well, hopefully whatever the problem turns out to be, the original poster will respond with the final resolution. The biggest problem with this entire online concept of posting one's problems with their VW's is that there usually isn't any follow up, we usually are never enlightened with the cause and resolution of the problem in the first place. I suppose its because the originator of the problem is so thrilled that their car is finally running again, they forget to post the followup information.

Yes. When my transfer pump went out, I would start to get sputtering when cornering with about a 1/4 tank remaining. As soon as I filled up, no problems.

david. '91 GTi 16V

Same here. 1/4 or less the car would be more prone to acting like it was running out of gas. Bought a new xfer pump and that fixed it.

the one to buy is Pierburg. the VDO ones are the ones that tended to have more problems.

On those transfer pumps yes I'm told Pierburg is about the best brand you can get. I don't know the warranty, though. Or the price.

FWIW if you purchase an aftermarket pump at say Autozone, it is ~$140 and has a lifetime guarantee. If it ever goes bad just take out the old and they will swap it for free. Don't even need a receipt.

To me the warranty is a big deal b/c these seem to go bad quite frequently.