UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

No idea why, but my polo never starts first time, and often takes at least 3-4 goes. Sometimes it never starts - infact it took about 25 attempts the day before yesterday.

When i say attempts, i mean that the ignition is started, the starter motor turns on and the engine turns over, at normal speed - but doesn't fire.
When it does fire, the engine runs perfectly. This leads me to beleive that spark plugs/HT leads and the starter motor work fine. The Battery is fine, unlikle to be the fuel system as it eventually works.
I was thinking that maybe there was a problem in the ignition system, mybe a faulty sensor that doesnt let the car start?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!! If we cant sort it out and the garage can't either, its bye bye polo

Around the ignition coil is a black plastic ring with numbers printed on it- Youll have to take off some of the plastic to get at it, its the sensor for the immobiliser which reads the code in your key and leads to the immobiliser box. My guess is theres a small kink or tear in this or maybe a loose connection. Have a look at it or get a garage to look at it.

This is what i first thought of, as we've had immobiliser problems in the past. Only thing is, would the engine still turn over if the immobiliser is active?

hi - i had a similar problem where it would catch but not keep going unless you floored the accelerator pedal...

Ended up being the ignition switch ! - they're prone to failure.. cost about £12 but needs a competent mechanic to fit it !

BenMMellor wrote:Ended up being the ignition switch ! - they're prone to failure.. cost about £12 but needs a competent mechanic to fit it !

Come to think of it, it may well be.
When the starter motor is turning, and the engine not firing, all the lights + gauges on the dash turn off, this never happened before (when there wasn't a problem). When the engine is then starting to fire (while the starter motor is turning over) the lights (parking etc.) flicker and the engine starts and runs fine.

I guess it must be the ignition as the engine runs sweet as a nut after starting.

Turns out it is the ignition switch! If you wiggle the key when starting, it flickers and starts way better than usual.
Thanks for the input lads.