VW Polo Problem: intermittently loosing power...esp. when starting?

ballinasloe

Hi,

just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction or is his one for the garage?

I have a '98 Polo and for the past few months when driving it would 'miss' and loose power for a few seconds before regaining power again...it was as if I had dropped down a few gears (without high revs)

Lately, it has started happening more regularly, especially in the first few minutes after the car has been idle.

Anyone any ideas what this might be?

Cheers

crosstownk

Engine temperature sensors give trouble on start-up on Polos of that year. But really, it's impossible to say without hooking up a diagnostic computer.

r3nu4l

Hmmm, a friend of mine had a similar sounding problem with an Opel corsa a while back, it was the exhaust gas recirculation system so far as I remember. Sounds like one for the garage.

That's not to sayt that you have the same problem!
If it is the same problem, here's some info (from an American site).
Info1
Info2

EDIT: Agree with crosstownk - needs diagnostics.

FX Meister

Dodgy leads perhaps. Have you ever had them replaced?

govinda

[Short version]
I'd definitely recommend you get to a VW garage to have this checked out.

[Long version]
I had this problem with a 97 Polo - the garage misdiagnosed it as an ignition switch problem at first. I hadn't been driving long, maybe 3 months, and the car just lost all power as I left the N3 - Mulhuddart Exit, basically I got around a corner and it died on me. Thankfully, my brother was with me, so he pushed and I steered the car out of the way of traffic coming off the N3(!)

The garage replaced the ignition barrel, under warranty, and the same thing happened again about 2 weeks later.......I'm wracking my brains trying to remember what the fault was in the end, but I can't (5 years ago now) - sorry.

ballinasloe

"leads"...as in spark plugs (sorry, not a car person really)

I'm not sure if it's the same problem exactly, the car isn't dying on me, it just slows on me, like I'm driving in first gear say, the suddenly regains power.

Think it's like one for the garage so.

Thanks lads!

FX Meister

The leads connect to the spark plugs. How does the engine sound when this happens? I had a similar problem with a polo, I had little or no power til over 3000rpm. It wasn't firing on all cylinders. Needed the leads raplaced to fix it.

ballinasloe

oh right...

well, the engine sounds like it's dropping power...if that makes sense, not revved or any weird sound, just a lower sound, then after maybe a few seconds it will 'chuck' back into normal

ballinasloe

I'm not sure but i think when I accelerate while this happens it doesn't seem to make any difference really, as if it's in a low gear

crosstownk

Plug leads are a possible culprit. Essentially you are loosing power under load - I've seen plug leads cause this before. But there are many other factors that can cause similar symptoms. The only real solution is to get a diagnosis carried out. Any reply here is guess work. But good guess work;)

ballinasloe

Thanks for the advice..appreciate it