Newbie with running probs on '94 Polo Fox Coupe

[Johnny FireBlade]

Hi guys!

I've joined your forum because I'm an owner of a Polo and I've got some problems!

I drive a '94 Polo Fox Coupe, which is being a bit reluctant to run properly!

It's a one litre, so the power wasn't exactly awe-inspiring to begin with, but lately it's just so temperamental.

Here are my symptoms:

• If left idling, the engine revs itself. The revs increase at a fairly gradual pace, not as if I were to pump the pedal up and down.
  If I just rest my foot on the accelerator, I can feel the pedal moving up and down against my foot.
  Driving along, the engine will practically cut out and then almost instantly re-engage, resulting in a lurching action and a "kangaroo" effect. This can happen at any time, be it circumnavigating a roundabout in 2nd gear, or pootling along at 70mph in 4th.

I've found that the best way for me to avoid this problem is to rev the nuts off the car when pulling away etc. but that's drinking petrol and it's not proving as economical as a one litre should be!

I thought it was a blocked carb or something, but a chap I know who's a Peugeot mechanic told me the problem would be more consistent if it was a fueling issue.

I'm an IT geek, so am not very mechanical. I've had the airbox off to see if there was anything obviously wrong with the carb, but I couldn't spot anything (but didn't really know what I was looking for).

Can anyone help please?

Thanks in advance!

[telboy]

sorry mate can't help try posting in mk3 section??
i wish i could help

[SpikeyG40]

moved to the mk3 section. Hopefully you'll find some help there!

i'm only on briefly so can't help right now.

[Chally_Rai]

This sounds a bit like what mine is maturing into....unfortunately ive no idea what it is, although mines not as bad...ill be keeping my eye on your thread though, hopefully you'll get an answer

[Johnny FireBlade]

Sorry chaps, didn't know which marque mine is!

If I find an answer elsewhere, I'll post here too for you Rach.

[madmatt]

check the adjustment of the throttle cable

[Tahrey1043]

two thoughts:
something up with the idle adjuster (the only bit of the engine that should be able to cause that kind of pedal feedback)

something wrong with the ignition system, and the ecu upping the revs to compensate for detected misfires or something. e.g. decaying ignition leads, worn distributor cap & rotor, etc.

given your description of the only way of pulling off smoothly being to cane it, mine got better when i put new leads in
(and my current car, though not a dub, has had the high-speed cruise problem a couple times when old leads have got wet; needing to drop a cog and give it extra welly to keep speed up)