Polo not starting

DMWRIGHT · Post by **DMWRIGHT** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:12 am

Ok so this morning, car starts fine, off too uni I go.

Finish lecture, and car won't start. It turns over fine, no special lights no weird noises, plenty of fuel, it just won't fire up. Leave it ten minutes keep trying and eventually it kicks off.

Anyone else had any problems like this / can recommend a fault and cure ?

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:27 am

Dave, I had this problem with my Polo. Went out one day to a cashpoint, and when I went back to the car and tried to start it, all the dash lights came on as normal, blowers, radio, then I turned the key to fire the engine up and... nothing. The blowers stopped, but the remaining dash lights and radio stayed on. Like you I left it 10 minutes and tried again, and all was OK.

It happened a second time about a month later, and luckily the car was at home on the drive so I called VW Assistance. When their chap came out he started it first time

but had a good look around and made a couple of suggestions as to what it might be before referring me to the local dealer.

So I took it up to the dealer and the technician immediately knew from what I was saying that it was the ignition switch that was at fault. Got it replaced the next day for about Â£70 inc. labour and VAT and I've had no trouble since!

Soooo... in answer to your original question, it might be the iginition switch?

Cheers

DMWRIGHT · Post by **DMWRIGHT** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:39 am

Cool thanx for that Si, will ring the local VW dealer and gets some quotes

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:46 am

I had this problem too it was my ignition barrel where the key goes in to start the car i had to get a new one.

DMWRIGHT · Post by **DMWRIGHT** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 3:23 pm

Is that different to the switch then ?

Jordan · Post by **Jordan** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:08 pm

I don't know it might be.

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 6:37 pm

I believe that the ignition switch and the ignition barrel are two different components, yes. Not sure on the location of the switch itself mind you, my diagnosis and work was all taken care of by VW!

mikegti · Post by **mikegti** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:38 pm

Does the switch fit around the barrel?

JWC · Post by **JWC** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 12:29 pm

I had a similar problem and found that removing the key open close drivers door again and then try again. If that works, then the problem is the black ring round the ignition key. It reads the chip in your key. If it fails to read it then you can turn the barrel etc, but the car will not start.

Causes for failure is usually temporary radio interferance, such as mobile phone or military radar etc.

I designed a positioning system at work that used 433MHz for the time sync pulse, and suddenly there were RAC and AA vans on the car park.... Turns out I blocked their signals. They couldn't start!

Oops, never told anyone, but it was funny locking and unlocking the van at will!