VW Polo problem.

[Dicky Ticker]

Yesterday my wife went out in her car [1999 Polo which she has had from new 60k miles] and it just stopped for no apparent reason.changed the distributor cap and rotor as the rotor was a bit cruddy, still would not start. I phoned the RAC who came in about an hour for a recovery. The mechanic asked what the problem was and I explained the situation,terrific spark from the coil pack and plugs and engine turning over fast.He felt the fuel line to the pump as I had done and you could feel it pulsing. Try starting it,the bloody thing fired up straight away and ran sweet as you like making me feel about 2" tall and a complete plonker,after mucking about for two hours in the pi55ing rain.Went out to it this morning and everything is as should be ,on the key first time.
Only thing I can think of is moisture ingress someplace but where do you start looking when it is running as it should and everying electrical in the engine bay seems completely dry?.
Any ideas regarding common faults with VW,s

Sorry meant to post in GB

[Rocketeer]

A clearer picture of how it stopped would help. Cough splutter just cut out. Warning light. Sluggish before. Just refuelled ? Blah blah blah

[Dicky Ticker]

No,not refuelled 3/4 tank ,no warning lights,obviously they came on when it stopped,normal ignition,battery and oil.Apparently just driving through Kelvedon main street and it cut out---no spluttering or problems before hand,
There was an excessive amount of surface water and puddles coming into Kelvedon from Tiptree on the day.Since we have got it home she has used it twice and it has been fine,just disconcerting as I can't put my finger on what actually happened to make it stop.

[fizzwheel]

I had a MKIII Golf GTI that started doing that. It was a bit older than your Polo though.

You'd be driving along, then all of a sudden, nothing no power. Different circumstances each time. But always the same, no warning nothing, ignition was on but the engine would stop and not restart. The only way to start it again, was to pull over, turn the ignition off, wait a few seconds then it would start and run fine again.

Fault was eventually traced after some head scratching by the local VW dealer to me. To a faulty ECU. Which IIRC cost around £500 to sort out...

I dont know if you are experiencing the onset of the problem my Golf had or not, but its just something to consider.

[yorkie_chris]

Perhaps just soggy plugs/HTs and the latent heat from the engine dried it out in the wait?

[punyXpress]

Find the darkest spot you can & let the engine idle.
Bonnet up & look for sparks.

[Specialone]

Sounds like airflow meter to me, I had random problems like that on a mk2 golf.

[Dicky Ticker]

The point is the car is only worth £500 to anybody else and I don't want to start throwing money at it. Chris,I have already ordered a new set of HT leads just in case it is the age[13 years] of them that is causing it.

[timwilky]

I had a similar problem with a rover that made a liar out of me. When the patrolman offered to follow me home and it died after 200 yards and he couldn't start it he then believed me.

ECU and a small fortune for the company.

[Bibio]

trace wire to alternator
MAF
chaffing near steering wheel

another not so common one i have had in the past is the engine breather blocked

[Rocketeer]

I'm tempted to say (despite water) worn ignition key. Our lupo did this then was fine for a while. Used the new spare and it stopped it from having too much slack in the barrel. Compare the two keys side by side. Any wear ....

[Biker Biggles]

Probably something to do with water.Theres a lot of it about just now.

[Dicky Ticker]

The ignition barrel was replaced last year,I know about this problem but she still insists on using a great bunch of keys.
No disrespect to the ladies but along with her other bad habits----she knows best.

[Kilted Ginger]

Was she picking you up from pub? NO! then she shouldnt be driving anyway, problem solved. Tell her that from me mate.

[NTECUK]

If its a suspect ecm its often temp related.
Go to maplin and get some frezze spray .
Make the ecm accessible then if it does die cool the component .
Did you code read the ecm.
Don't over look basics like good condition of connections .good grounds and lives .

[Messie]

My Polo had exactly te fault with the ecu that Fizz described. For a few weeks the whole car would just stop, then quickly start again. Then one day it wouldn't start again.

Cost around £600 for a new one, but the car still had a lot of value in it so was worth it

[Davadvice]

Hi,

firstly if the ECU is on it's way out then i would recomened you get it to a tech and run a diagnostic check on it.

with the rain over the last few days i would suspect it is moisture related.

get some WD40 and spray the all the HT and ignition system.

don't go thinking it's going to hit you for 5 big ones just yet.

I used to work for VAG for 3 years as a tech.

good luck and have a nice christmas.

DJ