Re: Need help with '94 polo

"auntie lou" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> i'm looking for a bit of advice/help about my '94 polo, which has been off
> the road, in the garage, since about the start of july.  i know this
> explanation will be a bit long and detailed but i'm not sure what details
> may or may not be relevant, and please read on if you think you may be able
> to help.  i
> should also point out i don't know a huge amount about cars.
>
> my mum managed to run it to the very bottom of the tank one day, and when it
> wouldn't start i assumed it was because it was out of fuel.  after filling
> it up it still wouldn't start - just kinda chugging, but just not firing up
> and turning over, and i was advised that perhaps it was because i had
> flooded it in my attempts to start it and therefore to leave it to 'dry out'
> before trying again.  i left it for an hour, tried it, and on the second or
> third turn it fired up and i drove off.  that was in the morning.
>
> later that afternoon it cut out completely while driving, while i was
> braking approaching a junction.  not stalled or anything, just cut
> completely, not to be revived.  after a lengthy walk home, i returned with
> someone (someone who lodges with my mum during the week) who knows a bit
> about cars who had a wee look and got it started easily, he thought the
> spark plugs and filter and stuff might just be dirty after running the
> petrol so low.
>
> however, a few days later (can't remember if it had been driven in between),
> mum took it out and again, it just wouldn't start.  the garage was called,
> they came out and it did start first time, but they turned it off and tried
> again, it didn't go and it hasn't started since.
>
> the garage said that it just wasn't sparking and the initial diagnosis was
> that the ECU was faulty.  we duly tracked a second hand one down but it
> didn't work.  i think we may have gotten another one which didn't work, and
> one was tried from another polo that didn't work either.
>
> it was moved to another garage and the guy there thought it was the
> distributor, and we've since gotten two distributors but there is still,
> apparently, no spark.
>
> there is a distinct lack of auto electrical specialist people where we are,
> and the garage and we are at something of a loss as to what to so now.
> anyone have any suggestions?
>
> another question just while i'm here, when they phoned last the garage
> suggested it could be a problem with the coil, and it was suggested by
> someone that the coil from the VW beetle or camper van we have sitting in
> the garage may be suitable to try.  is there any truth in this?
>

If it's a Mk4 (introduced in '94 have a look at the chaises code for 6N) then it may
be you ignition barrel (well the switch behind it) they are prone to just giving up and
can cause the sort of problems you describe.