VW Polo sudden power loss while driving
Neil Dunlop
My VW Polo 1.3CL (H reg, 1991) once in a while loses power suddenly,
usually when going up a slope. The engine doesn't cut out (ignition
light doesn't come on) and I usually flip the gas pedal to get the power
back on. Sometimes I've had this power loss when moving off in traffic
jams (*embarrassment*) and it's like the car is idling, but pressing the
gas pedal doesn't cause revving up but instead cuts the engine out (or
would do so if my foot hadn't withdrew quickly).
It doesn't seem to be to do with fuel line blockage (had a new fuel
filter) or whether it's colder (happens in summer). My garage has been
unable to pinpoint the problem despite trying various things over the
last year or two. Retuning reduces the incidence but doesn't eliminate
those sudden power losses. Awkward as I live in Bath with all those
hills.
I've searched the Net for similar reports, but the nearest I've been
able to find concerns Golfs and the suggestion was that the carb was
icing with the fix being to check that hot air was getting from the
exhaust manifold to the carburettor.
Obviously the easiest solution (and the most expensive?) would be to
jack in the car for another one. Any other suggestions, folks?
--
Neil Dunlop (ne...@angelic.demon.co.uk)
Bath, UK (http://www.angelic.demon.co.uk)
Dave Hall
bowl - that could cause more problems uphill.
Also, in traffic a press on the throttle would squirt more fuel into an
already rich mixture, hence the 'drowning' of the engine.
Check the needle valve to see if it leaks - that was the cause of someone
else's Polo problem of a similar sort. I've had the low speed version on an
older Polo too. Is the return pipe to the tank partially clogged?. It
helps keep the fuel pressure under control.
--
Dave (near Bristol).
UK VW Type 3 & 4 Club
http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/
------
"Neil Dunlop" <ne...@angelic.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:t6QJiDAh...@angelic.demon.co.uk...
Chris Liddell
> usually when going up a slope. The engine doesn't cut out (ignition
> light doesn't come on) and I usually flip the gas pedal to get the power
> back on. Sometimes I've had this power loss when moving off in traffic
> jams (*embarrassment*) and it's like the car is idling, but pressing the
> gas pedal doesn't cause revving up but instead cuts the engine out (or
> would do so if my foot hadn't withdrew quickly).
>
Sounds exactly like the problems I had with my J reg Polo GT. I was saving
up to put it into a specialist garage, when a I found what seems to have
been the cure in my case.
One of the previous owners of the car had had an alarm fitted (I forget the
make, but cheapo!). Anyway, it started playing up, sounding off for no
reason, and then not being able to be switched off. In the end, it would
just start sounding immediately power was applied to it, and the only way
around it was to unplug it - in this case easy enough, it was just a
multi-connector under the screen wash reservoir. Ever since then the car has
behaved fine, and never suffered the power loss as before.
If you have an alarm (especially a cheap one) it might be worth seeing if
you can disconnect it easily (like mine) or get it checked over by an
auto-electrician.
Good luck,
Chris
kenneth booth
makes the engine run rich it will black smoke .mine done it after 10 miles
every time .And only at outside temp of about 6 deg or less.Your problem
might be the opposit it might be boiling the fuel in the carb and making it
eveporate .does it smel of petrol when you stop the engine woth a hot
engine?
kenny
Neil Dunlop
<da...@hallvw.clara.net> writes
>Symptoms of carb flooding? The overflow pipe points backwards into the
>bowl - that could cause more problems uphill.
>Also, in traffic a press on the throttle would squirt more fuel into an
>already rich mixture, hence the 'drowning' of the engine.
>
>Check the needle valve to see if it leaks - that was the cause of someone
>else's Polo problem of a similar sort. I've had the low speed version on an
>older Polo too. Is the return pipe to the tank partially clogged?. It
>helps keep the fuel pressure under control.
>
>--
>Dave (near Bristol).
>UK VW Type 3 & 4 Club
>http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/
>------
Thanks for responding. I'm not that mechanically minded but was
looking for some suggestions that I could get my VW garage to try
as they hadn't been successful so far in fixing the problem.
Wouldn't the carb being flooded cause the engine to cut out? The
condition (sudden loss of power) doesn't cause cutting out which
can then happen if I press on the gas pedal. Abrupt flicks on the
pedal helps to clear the condition. Sometimes, but not often, going
over bumpy roads can bring it on -- perhaps the bumps causes my
foot to give extra unwanted squirts on the gas pedal?
Neil Dunlop
<kennet...@btinternet.com> writes
>They do ice but i dont think you will get it in trafic.When they ice up it
>makes the engine run rich it will black smoke .mine done it after 10 miles
>every time .And only at outside temp of about 6 deg or less.Your problem
>might be the opposit it might be boiling the fuel in the carb and making it
>eveporate .does it smel of petrol when you stop the engine woth a hot
>engine?
>kenny
>
No, not a sniff of petrol. I don't see black smoke either. Thanks for
chipping in, anyway.
Neil Dunlop
Chris Liddell <c...@ntlworld.com> writes
...
>Sounds exactly like the problems I had with my J reg Polo GT. I was saving
>up to put it into a specialist garage, when a I found what seems to have
>been the cure in my case.
>
>One of the previous owners of the car had had an alarm fitted (I forget the
>make, but cheapo!). Anyway, it started playing up, sounding off for no
>reason, and then not being able to be switched off. In the end, it would
>just start sounding immediately power was applied to it, and the only way
>around it was to unplug it - in this case easy enough, it was just a
>multi-connector under the screen wash reservoir. Ever since then the car
>has
>behaved fine, and never suffered the power loss as before.
>
>If you have an alarm (especially a cheap one) it might be worth seeing if
>you can disconnect it easily (like mine) or get it checked over by an
>auto-electrician.
Hmm, I don't have an alarm, though my rear window heater is playing
up. Might be a possible avenue for investigation. Thanks for
responding, anyway.
Dave Hall
Bumpy road might stir it up, or bounce the float up and down a bit.
Any sign of oil coming out of the rubber pipe into the air-cleaner? Maybe
the breather is just beginning to block. A bit of oil into the carb can
make it misbehave. Much more than a drop usually shows behind though!
The Polo has tiny holes in its carb jets, and the simplest answer of a
blocked jet is often the last to be tried.
--
Dave.
UK VW Type 3 & 4 Club
http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/
------
"Neil Dunlop" <ne...@angelic.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:m5t7yAAX...@angelic.demon.co.uk...
Richard Adkins
"Chris Liddell" <c...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> > My VW Polo 1.3CL (H reg, 1991) once in a while loses power suddenly,
> > usually when going up a slope. The engine doesn't cut out (ignition
> > light doesn't come on) and I usually flip the gas pedal to get the power
> > back on. Sometimes I've had this power loss when moving off in traffic
> > jams (*embarrassment*) and it's like the car is idling, but pressing the
> > gas pedal doesn't cause revving up but instead cuts the engine out (or
> > would do so if my foot hadn't withdrew quickly).
> >
I had a similar problem with my 1991 Golf 1600. In traffic while at normal
running temperature, particularly when on an incline, the engine would loose
power and stall at around 35-45MPH. After around 5 minutes the engine would
start as per normal. No problem. The cure was interestingly fitting a new
waxstat.
While on the subject of carbs. I have an 87 Golf Driver which does around
5MPG less than a 91 (92 Spec) Golf Ryder 1.6. Both engines have similar
mileages and are completely standard and well maintained. Any ideas?
TTFN
--
Richard Adkins
Andy Pollard
Had the same problem on a J reg Polo, took it to a VW garage and they
suggested that it might be trouble with a temperature sensor. Didn't mean
much to me but they claimed to have replaced the sensor and it worked fine.
The fact that they seemingly diagnosed the problem without even looking at
the engine suggests that it is a well known fault.
Good luck
AndyP
chris...@gmail.com
obamaba...@gmail.com
I have the same problem with my polo 1.2, year 2005. My car loses power when going over bumpy road or when going up a slope!!when loss the power,a gas pedal is not working,I flip the gas pedal to get back on!!Please help me!! did you Fixed this problem and what causes it? I will appreciate your response very much. Thank you