Can't start won't start!

Chat about your MKI or MKII Polo (86 and 86F)
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Jim1500
Bronze Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:17 am
Location: Belfast

Can't start won't start!

Post by Jim1500 »

Ok I'd been having alternator bother now it just won't start!!

Dodgy alternator so put in some petrol then parked car up for a few days (aside from alternator running 100%) Started on jump leads and drove home, again running great. Left it for a week or two and it wouldn't start. Rotor arm had white corrosion (as did dizzy cap) and a wee crack in it so i replaced them. After much turning it eventually kicked into life and went like crap when i took it for a spin. Left it a week or so and now it won't start at all! Plugs and leads are recent, brand new dizzy 2 years ago, plenty of fuel getting to filter but it won't start!

can't work out why going well then after sitting for a couple of weeks won't!

Guessing either crap stuck in carb (so was gonna swap two leads round to get it to back fire and see if it'll blow crap out) or else the dizzy is buggered!!

Anyone else any ideas :(
Think it's just huffing with me for buying the scirocco
steveo3002
Silver Member
Posts: 255
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:46 pm

Post by steveo3002 »

first thing , check to see if you have a spark

hold a plug against the head with its lead still on..and get someone to crank it
Polo Paul
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Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:08 pm

Post by Polo Paul »

check the hall sender unit, this failed on my MK2 and was only an intermittent fault so sometimes it ran and sometimes it didnt. In the end it died completely.
pitman
Getting There!
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Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:12 am
Location: West Yorkshire, UK

Re: Can't start won't start!

Post by pitman »

Jim1500 wrote: Left it a week or so and now it won't start at all!
When it didn't start at all, was the battery OK and turning the starter motor?

I'm asking this because you could have two independent problems.

With a faulty voltage regulator on the alternator, I could charge the battery or jump start the car, but meanwhile I was driving the voltage regulator discharged the battery.

So, can we exclude the battery?
Jim1500
Bronze Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:17 am
Location: Belfast

Post by Jim1500 »

Yeah I had it on jumpleads as the alternator (I think) packed in which is why I had it parked up.
Jim1500
Bronze Member
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:17 am
Location: Belfast

Post by Jim1500 »

sorted! went with my suspision and took out dizzy.....the wee spud at the bottom had broken off! I'd a few old ones here so took one of those put that on the dizzy fitted it and first turn of the key broom broom!!!

Still running a bit crap with deadspots,wondering if some dirt in fuel/carb.
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