Used Polo 1.2S (02 plate) with cat problems and more, help!

Chat about your 9n Polo (inc GT and Fun)

Lemon?

Yep - take it back
0
No votes
Nope - worth fixing (with a bit of dealer help)
2
50%
Well worth fixing, should be a good car
2
50%
 
Total votes: 4

RUM4MO
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 6079
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:12 pm
Drives: B8 S4 & 6R/6C1 1.2TSI 110
Location: Mid Lothian

Post by RUM4MO »

JUV wrote:Sorry to hear that but cheers, it's good to know (in an odd way) that this isn't a complete one-off for the age and mileage! These things always happen at the worst possible time though, don't they - hope you get yours sorted out.
I'd always budget for changing the Lamda probe(s) if fitting a new cat - it makes so much sense - you don't want to wreck the next cat.

BTW, just a thought, has anyone checked the performance of their Lamba probe(s) when faced with a cat replacement, then just changed them if they were faulty or had become sluggish and tried a cat of these cat cleaners before stunning your wallet with the cost of a new cat.

I'd try a proper VAG dealer or indep specialist first on this cat problem.
JUV
Getting There!
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:54 am
Location: 3d Polo 1.2S - 2002

Post by JUV »

Thanks for all the help everyone,

We're sticking by the car and getting the cat sorted out tomorrow. We have a very good (and honest) local garage who will check out the sensors etc first - it does seem really odd that the cat's gone at this stage, but my theory is that the earlier coil problem (we knew the coil packs had been replaced recently when we bought the car) may have contributed to its early death. The MPG is down on what it should be too, which tallies with the cat actually having gone - hopefully this should improve after tomorrow.

The heater switch is an occasional PITA, but seems to work most of the time - I guess the motors/vents are sticking, but they still seem to turn eventually, so it's not a huge problem at the moment - if it gets much worse maybe we'll get it fixed, or maybe I'll have a go myself.

The damp patch in the boot is all sorted - I followed the damp up the carpet on the left hand side, pulled it away from the side (it came away very easily, which was useful) and found a connection in the washer hose just under the window that had started to come apart. Scarily, the open join in the hose was tucked right behind a block of very wet electrical connections - it's amazing things weren't shorted out. Anyway, I dried everything, snapped the hoses back together and taped up the join, replaced the carpet, and it's all good as new - no harm done as far as I can tell, and the rear screen washer works a lot better!
RUM4MO
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 6079
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:12 pm
Drives: B8 S4 & 6R/6C1 1.2TSI 110
Location: Mid Lothian

Post by RUM4MO »

On the matter of water causing the electrics to short out, remember it is only 12 volts DC - there is more danger of the water causing the cables to corrode and the connectors to corrode - maybe spray this area with WD40 as it will drive out any moisture and leave a castor oil layer on any exposed copper.

On the thinking that the misfiring coils could cause the cat damage - this is not meant to happen, when the coil misfiring is detected the injector is not opened.
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