Questions on our 1.2S, AZQ engined, 2002 Polo

[JUV]

We've had a patchy history with this car already. We bought it in September 08, almost immediately the catalytic converter needing replacing, and then a little while later it developed another emissions/EPC light issue which turned out to be a broken throttle body and thrust sensor. In the course of having those replaced, we had more irregular revving/lights coming on, which turned out to be the EGR valve - also replaced.

Now we seem to be on more even ground and the car is running nicely for the most part, but with a couple of niggles that we'd like some advice on...

1. Starting - for the most part the car starts normally, but cold starts are usually accompanied by a high pitched vrrrooOOOming noise from what we presume is the starter motor. It only lasts a few seconds and seems to get the car started fine, so don't know if its' an issue, something to worry about for the future, or just fairly normal behaviour.

2. Occasionally those cold starts seem to go up into high revs - 17-18 thou - and take a while to settle back down, remaining relatively high at idle (10+) as the journey goes on. Something to worry about?

3. A couple of times in the last three months, we've had a temperature warning light come straight on after starting together with an audible signal, which according to the manual indicates either an overheat (unlikely since the engine's cold) or insufficient coolant. We've been told by a garage already that there is a slight leak in the radiator, but the coolant level never seems to drop very much and both times this warning has gone off, the level in the expansion tank has been squarely in the middle of the min and max marks. Nevertheless, topping up with a very small amount of coolant (so it's close to the MAX level) clears the warning, and we don't see it again for another month or so.

4. Sometimes, particularly on rainy days it seems, we can hear a slight creaking from the front of the car - only really when pulling away or stopping. I'm guessing its the suspension, but is it a worry?

Thanks in advance!

[towcestervag]

1/ the noise you describe is the oil pump presure relief valve they all do this
2/get a diag test done to be on the safe side
3/the sensor is too sensitive make sure its on max
4/front suspension bushes creak on this model the big bushes in the rear of the wishbone creak ive always lubed these with silicone grease

[JUV]

Thanks for that - I guess we'll get the revs looked at then, bit depressing after all the work we've had done already but there you are.

Interesting about the oil pump valve - I always assumed it was the starter motor getting carried away or rubbing on something.