Polo losing power, help!

[Elle79]

Hi,

my 2001 Polo *ETA 1.4 petrol * engine light came on in November. It was a valve that needed replacing, fine, but next day the light was back on. Mechanic said a load of rubbish had got in because of the dodgy valve, cleaned it all out, fine. Then just before Christmas, it suddenly lost all power but engine still running.

To cut a long story short, that's what it's still doing. Fine for short journeys locally but has done it several times on motorways (not nice), but fine when you turn it off and back on, although sounds a bit ropey and chucking out more exhaust than normal. Engine and ECS lights both on, amber. Mechanic says he's done everything cheap and I should just flog it as it's only worth about £600 tops but I think it's worth more, mileage only 82,000... and bright ideas please??

[Rob69]

You dont say what engine it is, petrol or diesel, or what fault codes the mechanic found, could be any number of things wrong with it. From the symptoms you describe i presume it is a diesel and it is going into limp mode when you give it a bit stick on a motorway, there will be a fault code logged. If it is a diesel and the turbo guide vanes are sticking causing limp mode, you are looking at more than the value of the car to sort it properly, the car is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay and a 2001 polo wont get anyone too excited. Imho get a code read done, post results back here or talk to the mechanic to get idea of repair costs.

[Elle79]

You dont say what engine it is, petrol or diesel, or what fault codes the mechanic found, could be any number of things wrong with it. From the symptoms you describe i presume it is a diesel and it is going into limp mode when you give it a bit stick on a motorway, there will be a fault code logged. If it is a diesel and the turbo guide vanes are sticking causing limp mode, you are looking at more than the value of the car to sort it properly, the car is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay and a 2001 polo wont get anyone too excited. Imho get a code read done, post results back here or talk to the mechanic to get idea of repair costs.

It’s a 1.4 petrol and mechanic said the codes could mean it’s one of a few things, said it could be throttle body, he doesn’t know...

[Rob69]

Ok, it could be the throttle body, they can be cleaned but need setting up with a computer. i used to have a 1.4 polo and the ignition coil packs failed one by one, also not unheard of for engine exhaust valves to burn out. If yu can get the codes it would give us more info. What valve was replaced, Presume it was the exhaust gas recirculation valve? Trouble is, getting diagnostics done will cost a bit time and money unless you know a driveway mechanic who works for beer!

[Elle79]

Ok, it could be the throttle body, they can be cleaned but need setting up with a computer. i used to have a 1.4 polo and the ignition coil packs failed one by one, also not unheard of for engine exhaust valves to burn out. If yu can get the codes it would give us more info. What valve was replaced, Presume it was the exhaust gas recirculation valve? Trouble is, getting diagnostics done will cost a bit time and money unless you know a driveway mechanic who works for beer!

I do know one like that but he's been doing so much with my old DAF which was also dying, I'm not sure I can ask him to look at this too!

I think it must have been that valve. Sorry, I'm being a real girl but can't remember what he called it, but that name sounds right :-)

Thank you very much.

[Rob69]

Theres a name from the past! Variomatic.

[Crasher]

Theres a name from the past! Variomatic.

Ahh the smell of burning rubber...

We could do with the cars engine type code (e.g. AUD), the details of which valve has been replaced and also, most importantly, the fault codes(s) that are stored in the engines computer.