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Help! My car has broke down!
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:52 pm
by Mouse_GTI
Not a joke. Went out to the local VW meet as usual, parked outside my mates and stopped the car to speak to the others. Got back in, started it and after 1 second it started spluttering and coughing then eventually cut out. Kept trying to restart it but it would just cough and the engine would shake violently. It's dark and everything is freezing up here so don't know what it is.
The car is now in Aberdeen now (thankfully in a drive way
) but I'm without a car and don't know what's wrong with it. Could of possibly been when I was cleaning the wheel arches but it was fine for the 15 minute drive beforehand. Again could be the weather. The noise it usually makes when the ignition is activated was absent. When starting it would splutter while keeping the throttle full, but taking it off it just shuts down.
Argh I'm Polo-less
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:15 pm
by polo power
could be your coolant sensor, ht leads or your throttle body?
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:19 pm
by Mouse_GTI
Any explanation what would affect them and how to fix them?
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 9:03 am
by Ollie_R
Sounds like there's something wrong with the fuel pump or the fuel pump's electrics. The pump isn't priming, which is the noise the car makes when you put they key in the ignition.
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:46 am
by Dangerous Dave
Sounds fuel related as said before the noise before start up is the fuel pump priming, I would check the fuel pump relay/fuse could also be the fuel pump but I've never heard of one of these failing on a GTI.
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:28 am
by Mouse_GTI
Of all the things to go wrong it wasn't something common like the gearbox
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:10 pm
by shantybeater
I'd be thanking your lucky stars its not the gearbox
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:54 pm
by Mouse_GTI
Meh, can't get a relay til Friday. FFS!
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:11 pm
by Mouse_GTI
f*****g car! Still not working and that's with the new relay. Checked the spark plugs too, tried to jump start it, even got a guy from a garage up the road to spray carb cleaner in it (which was the closest we got). Car can't get looked at til next Thursday. f*****g great! Who wants to buy a Polo GTI?
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:36 pm
by polojon
Sorry to drag this up from the depths of '06 but what was the answer to this problem in the end Mouse_GTI? I only ask as mine has just done the exact same thing!!
We've tried bump starting, jump starting and each time we get it going its just lumpy idle until you take your foot off the gas at which point it stalls
The EPC light is on on the dash so it could be sensor related. It's times like this i wish i had the diagnostic cable for the polo!
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:40 am
by Mouse_GTI
It turned out to be the crappy aftermarket alarm that was installed on my car before I got it. Something tripped the immobiliser and I had to get an electrician to sort it. I was carless for 3 weeks! Touch wood it has been ok since.
No idea why it was installed when the GTI already has a decent alarm fitted as standard. My interior light also doesn't come on after turning off the ignition/opening the door because of it missing a control module or something for the crap alarm to work.