1997 Volkswagen Polo various electrical problems :( :(
Year: 1997
Variant: 1.4 Litre, Automatic, Petrol
Categories:
Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
My once reliable and really awesome little polo has started to cause me firstly some concern, and now a major headache.
My tale of woe:
A few weeks ago - it started normally, ran normally on the way. I pulled up at a service station for fuel. And then on restart - half the indicators on the dashboard behaved in a really odd way - the rev counter was spinning wildly (but engine was running as normal), the warning lights (oil, breaks) started flashing. Tried the brakes, brakes still worked. Freaked out, I turned around and drove home. After a 15 minute break, I tried the car again - this time, all indicators running normally, engine running normally.
Drove it a few more times after that, no problems, still loving my Polo...
And then, a week or so back, suddenly, I found I could not LOCK the car using the key. Unlocking it was not an issue. (So I got around that problem by pushing down the lock button via the boot - yes - its a bit awkward).
And then finally :( - last night I jumped into it to go somewhere - key in the ignition. All lights normal. But engine would not turn over. At all. Dead as a door nail....
What on earth is wrong with it??? I am dreading how much it might cost to fix. It had a new battery and full service not that long ago (it was the 100K service, so not a cheap exercise that..)
I will be truly grateful for any advice offered by the community.
My tale of woe:
A few weeks ago - it started normally, ran normally on the way. I pulled up at a service station for fuel. And then on restart - half the indicators on the dashboard behaved in a really odd way - the rev counter was spinning wildly (but engine was running as normal), the warning lights (oil, breaks) started flashing. Tried the brakes, brakes still worked. Freaked out, I turned around and drove home. After a 15 minute break, I tried the car again - this time, all indicators running normally, engine running normally.
Drove it a few more times after that, no problems, still loving my Polo...
And then, a week or so back, suddenly, I found I could not LOCK the car using the key. Unlocking it was not an issue. (So I got around that problem by pushing down the lock button via the boot - yes - its a bit awkward).
And then finally :( - last night I jumped into it to go somewhere - key in the ignition. All lights normal. But engine would not turn over. At all. Dead as a door nail....
What on earth is wrong with it??? I am dreading how much it might cost to fix. It had a new battery and full service not that long ago (it was the 100K service, so not a cheap exercise that..)
I will be truly grateful for any advice offered by the community.
Posted: Dec 29, 2012 (11 years ago)
Could be many things causing problems . You mention you had a new battery , could be the alternator is not charging correctly and battery now run down .A simple test with a meter will verify or not if charging o.k .You could try a jump start also . If it starts with a jump you may need to get battery charged and load tested .If not that , check all battery and earth cables also wiring at starter . If still not right and being an automatic it could be the inhibitor switch .Try moving the position of the gear selector and see if it starts then .If stil problems , may be ignition switch .Hope this helps you .
Posted Dec 29, 2012 (11 years ago)
I agree with all suggestions listed and add that it could be a corroded earth lead from battery to chassis or engine to chassis.
Posted Dec 29, 2012 (11 years ago)
Hi there bustedknuckles and whittingehame
Thanks for the quick response with the suggestions - appreciate them all.
I will start with the second suggestion (from whittingehame) first - with all the rain that we've had, and the fact I've hit a few epic puddles, some corrosion as described is entirely possible.
Thanks again! I'll let you know how I get on.
Thanks for the quick response with the suggestions - appreciate them all.
I will start with the second suggestion (from whittingehame) first - with all the rain that we've had, and the fact I've hit a few epic puddles, some corrosion as described is entirely possible.
Thanks again! I'll let you know how I get on.
Posted Dec 30, 2012 (11 years ago)
I would check the battery connections and the earth lead first
Posted Dec 30, 2012 (11 years ago)
Thanks again for all suggestions.
In the two minutes today when it wasn't raining, I went out and popped the hood and had a rummage around the battery. In addition to a little corrosion, I did check the connections - they *looked* ok, but having said that, there's some gunk (oil, moisture) there as well.
Wiped a bit off - and seems to be onto something. I tried turning the key again, at least this time there was an effort from the starter to turn the engine. It wasn't successful, but it at least helps narrow things down. (Disturbingly, both the speedometer and rev counter needles flickered after I let go of the key)
Tomorrow, weather willing, I will pop the hood open again, and clean/dry all the electrical components (it really was moist and dripping in there) and see how that goes.
My gut is that a clean and dry of all the electrics may get me on my way, or least turn the engine over again.
/Watch this space - and thanks to all for your suggestions!/
In the two minutes today when it wasn't raining, I went out and popped the hood and had a rummage around the battery. In addition to a little corrosion, I did check the connections - they *looked* ok, but having said that, there's some gunk (oil, moisture) there as well.
Wiped a bit off - and seems to be onto something. I tried turning the key again, at least this time there was an effort from the starter to turn the engine. It wasn't successful, but it at least helps narrow things down. (Disturbingly, both the speedometer and rev counter needles flickered after I let go of the key)
Tomorrow, weather willing, I will pop the hood open again, and clean/dry all the electrical components (it really was moist and dripping in there) and see how that goes.
My gut is that a clean and dry of all the electrics may get me on my way, or least turn the engine over again.
/Watch this space - and thanks to all for your suggestions!/
Posted Jan 2, 2013 (11 years ago)
It could be your central locking pump which is located in the boot of your car. My daughter had the same problem, got one off ebay and replaced. an easy fix for a diyer.open the boot and in the lower bottom right hand corner pull back the lining to see the pump which in encased in an eggshell like case. disconnect the wired plug and pull out the old pump which will probably be wet and terminals rusted. sometimes can be sorted with a quick wipe over and a spray of wd40 before putting back in but best best would be a second hand one from ebay like i did and problem solved. hope this helps but please report back here if it does as may help others. regards tomaz
Posted Jun 20, 2013 (10 years ago)
My 94 polo both clocks(speedo/tach}most times do not work,sometimes they both work when starting engine but 9 out of 10 times do not.Also heater fan stopped working after fitting new radio ??
Posted Mar 27, 2014 (10 years ago)
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