Hi there!
I hope there is someone who can help me and my polo :)
Recently my 1.4 cl polo '98 model is using an enourmous amount of fuel! almost a whole tank of fuel to do 200 miles on the motorway- normally it has only ever used just over a quarter of a tank to do that!
It also is very slow to turn over on cold mornings and makes a ticking noise when it is at stand still. Also when in neutral, the engine seems like it is 'hunting' and sometimes feels like its about to stall unless I rev the engine!
I recently changed all 4 spark plugs and leads (they had gone very rigid) to eradicate the problem but this has not worked. It has done 40k miles and hopefully it will do a lot more but it feels very sick at the moment! Any ideas of what might be wrong?
Thanks for your time!
vwgirl
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When was the air filter last changed?
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I'm not sure actually, haven't thought of changing it. Although when vw checked the ventricle underneath the air filter for dirt, i would have thought they would have noticed if the air filter needed changing?...do you think that could be causing the problems?
vwgirl
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well eliminate the cheap simple stuff first
new air filter will cost buttons, you would be surprized the difference a new one can make even if the old one is only 10,000 miles old
who serviced it? and changed the plugs? didnt they notice anything
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Isn't the air filter arrangement on this vintage Polo twin filters for a 20k service interval?
I understand that they're a bit of a job to get at, so the quick fitters don't - it's probably on the originals.
It's a good place to start, before progressing to the lambda sensor.
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btw quarter a tank to do 200 miles sounds remarkably good, u sure this is right? how big is the tank?
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Well my dad used to be a mechanic and changed the plugs and leads because it kept misfiring, and that stopped that but didnt improve the ticking noise, fuel consumption and slow starts in the morning.
I do the same route every week at generally the same speed (although i drive it very heavy footed) and it was doing it in just over a quarter of a tank and now only just manages to do it on a full tank. I was suprised at how little fuel it used and now its burning a clear hole in my pocket!
I will def change the air filter, maybe it was supposed to be changed a while back and wasn't, I will look into that.
Thank-you for help guys :)
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sorry btw what is a lambda sensor? actually probs dont need to know wot it is because its probs very complicated. Is that where I should look if the air filter doesn't improve it?
vwgirl
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sorry btw what is a lambda sensor?
www.picotech.com/auto/lambda_sensor.html
auto.howstuffworks.com/question257.htm
btw, the slow starting in the mornings sounds like the battery is flat. How old is it?
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aaah I see! (lambda)
Battery has been checked twice in the last year. It might just be one of those things, showing its age maybe. At least it starts lol! Thanks for all your help :)
vwgirl
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What does the inside tubing of the exhaust pipe look like.(Providing you have been in the habit of long runs as opposed to short town runs}
Light coloured with grey tinge.(Engine OK)
Black and sooty (Running rich - too much fuel being burnt.)
As as a mechanic Dad should tell the significance.
DVD
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the air filter is a doddle to replace on one of these, i had a 97' polo and itsd the same setup.
there are around 6 screws on the top of the engine and underneath this is the air filter. i wish my audi A6 was as easy to work on!
p.s. air filter is around £10 from halfords
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sorry to bring this thread back up again!
Just checked the exhaust and it is black and sooty. does this mean i should change the air filter? or is there other things I should do as well?
yeh it is very easy to change. but would rather an a6 ;)
vwgirl
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Black and sooty, plus high fuel consumption = running too rich. It might be the lambda sensor, but I would think it's more likely to be the coolant temperature sensor. Time to get it to someone who's got some diagnostic kit / skills. Prolonged rich running might damage the catalyst so get it seen to sooner rather than later!
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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righto, shall get it to vw asap, probs best option!
Thanks for ur help :)
vwgirl
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