Volkswagen Polo III (2000 - 2002) - 01 1.4 Engine Warning Light (Engine emissions ligh

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Wed 10 Dec 2008 17:02
01 1.4 Engine Warning Light (Engine emissions ligh - miln0039
I have a 2001 VW Polo 1.4 16v,

Much as I adore driving the thing, over recent months, we've fallen out.

The engine warning (emissions) light first came on over a year ago, but at random intervals and it still drove fine. However, from September onwards, the car will occasionally stall whilst warming up (usually when in traffic thankfully!) or if it has been really cold it will take a long time to get started, up to 10mins sometimes, when it will run to a few hundred rpm, but never reach idling revs. This is particularly annoying when it occurs at a car park exit barrier!!

In terms of once it's started it still drives fine though. I've had the ECU fault codes read, then reset, then the light comes on around 30miles later. I paid 170quid last week to have the EGR valve replaced, as this was on the fault code. Within an hour, the light was back on, so I took the car back to my local specialist who'd replaced the EGR valve, the same code came up, citing the EGR valve and MAP sensor as the issue. However a friend of mine thinks from the starting symptoms it might be the ignition coils?

I am only trying to get this stuff fixed as I have a new car on order and need to get it in a fit state to pass on to somebody else!! The car runs fine once it is warm, so this light is very annoying (more so because it's a diode and can't be removed!!)

I would really appreciate any advice, as I am quite mechanically naive and feel I am just throwing money away at the moment!

Cheers

Alex
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Wed 10 Dec 2008 19:49
01 1.4 Engine Warning Light (Engine emissions ligh - hm
dunno for sure but it sounds a little like the lambda sensor (Oxygen sensor) to me.
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Wed 10 Dec 2008 20:49
01 1.4 Engine Warning Light (Engine emissions ligh - Andrew Moorey (Tune-Up)
Could you post the exact codes that flagged up. Especially the VW codes and narrative that will accompany them. Could be a blocked EGR pipe or port.

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Fri 12 Dec 2008 16:29
01 1.4 Engine Warning Light (Engine emissions ligh - miln0039
Thanks for the reply, I mentioned the EGR pipe/port to my mechanic, but he seemed pretty adamant that it wouldn't be an issue seeing as he'd replaced the EGR valve?!

I don't have the exact codes at the moment, but I know they were EGR and MAP related faults, although my mechanic thinks it might be something else that triggering them?!!

I will try and get hold of the exact codes though!
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Sat 13 Dec 2008 11:53
01 1.4 Engine Warning Light (Engine emissions ligh - Javalin
Interesting.

From my understanding - the O2 sensor won't be used until the engine is partly/reasonably warm so I wouldn't think it was that causing stalling when cold. The EGR valve should intentionally be opened at idle either - again from my understanding.

Have you checked the spark plug & HT lead condition? Battery voltages OK (i.e. > 12.6)?

Checked the air filter?

Any other information? Does it have anyother symptoms?

Codes would be good!

James

Edited by Javalin on 13/12/2008 at 11:54

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