2002 Volkswagen Polo volkswagen polo slight shake when sitting in idle, mpg too low and lack of power...please help

Car: Volkswagen Polo
Year: 2002
Variant: 1.2 E 55
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Hi Sorry ive had to repost (new user

I’ve had my 2002 polo 1.2 Petrol (E 55) for almost 3years now, when I first got it it drove beautifully and when sitting on idle you couldn’t tell if the car was on or off because it was so nice and quiet but now I got the following problems:

1- there is a slight annoying shake (rattle) when sitting on idle.

2 - the fuel consumption is poor and the car gives me about 60 miles to a £10 (at the price of £1.08 per litre)

3 - the car has lost most of its power and I could feel it being weak every time I drive it.

I know nothing about cars so please please help me.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Posted: Feb 21, 2010 (14 years ago)
Could be an ignition coil , common fault . Breaks down causing misfire .Also worth checking plugs at same time .
Posted Feb 21, 2010 (14 years ago)
Thank you for the speedy reply...

are the plugs underneath the coils? and how offten do the plugs need changing?

and

How offten do the coils need changing?

(the car is a 3 cylinder)

thank you
Posted Feb 21, 2010 (14 years ago)
Thank you for the speedy reply...

are the plugs underneath the coils? and how offten do the plugs need changing?

and

How offten do the coils need changing?

(the car is a 3 cylinder)

thank you
Posted Feb 21, 2010 (14 years ago)
Thank you for the speedy reply...

are the plugs underneath the coils? and how offten do the plugs need changing?

and

How offten do the coils need changing?

(the car is a 3 cylinder)

thank you
Posted Feb 21, 2010 (14 years ago)
Glad to help . Yes plugs under coils , this might help from another owner .


On the Polo 6N2 and earlier (pre 2002) you have ignition leads which all point into a singular coil pack.

On the Polo 9N and later (2002 onwards, including other VW's) they have independant coils per cylinder otherwise known as an "Ignition Coil". There is no HT lead, on the top of each cylinder is a plug...that plug is the ignition lead and the ignition coil combined together. So you have an independant coil per cylinder.

Plugs should be changed every 40,000 miles or every 4 years (whichever is soonest).

Mine wern't changed, my car got to 48,000 miles and 6 years old when one of the ignition coils packed up whilst I was on the motorway. The end result was that I broke down within a minute of the engine management light coming on, got towed home by the RAC.

...

Common faults on the Polo 9N.

1) Ignition Coils - change them every 40k/4 years

2) Wishbone bushes - they tend to split and VW will charge you £250 per bush. I had this done by a local garage for £120 for one bush as only one bush split.

3) Timing chain tensioner - Only applicable to the 1.2 12V DOHC 3 cylinder engines. They tend to give up at around 50k. I had a used car approved all component warranty...VW acknowledged that this was a common fault and replaced it free of charge.

If your not under warranty VW will charge you ALOT as its a 4 hour job because the oil sump and the side of the engine has to be taken off.

** The tensioner will not go whilst driving, it will simply knock the timing out just enough for your engine not to start. Signs of the timing chain going are a lumpy idle and a slight rattling noise. **

Hope this is useful to you .






Posted Feb 21, 2010 (14 years ago)
hiya

did you manage to sort your POLO problem as have similar problem and have already changed a few parts with no joy.

thanks

Posted Sep 16, 2011 (12 years ago)

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