UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi there,

Have just signed up. I dont personally own a mk4 polo, have a seat arosa myself, but my bro owns a '96 1.6 8v cl with about 110k on the clock He only got the car a few months ago, so I want to give it a service for him as he does a lot of miles and there are a few little problems.

1. has anyone got a copy of the service schedule for this? He has left his service book at home so can't check there and my copy of Elsa is on his pc (again not with me!) I want to give it the full works really, as the service history is a little patchy. Was thinking plugs, leads, air filter, oil/filter, etc... but a list of what I should be doing would be great

2. When should the cambelt be changed?

3. The car stalls randomly now and then, I am guessing this is the usualy polo problem with the throttle body etc, so was going to give it a clean. If it isn't that, what else could the problem be, I beleive there are some sensors that could need replacing?

4. The revs/idle are also a little erratic sometimes, is this to do with the above?

5. I think the alternator belt needs changing, when you open the windows the revs drop so I think its slipping under strain, popped my head under the bonnet and the pulley on the engine was very shiney so I guess the pulley will need replacing too?

Thats about all I can think of now, sorry if these have been asked before, I have done a search!

Thanks,
Lee.

Hello & welcome

I think the cambelt is due for renewal every 40k or 5 years, whichever comes first. To be on the safe side, do the waterpump and tensioner at the same time!

As far as I know, those problems are all quite common and can usually be replaced by cleaning/resetting the throttle housing and also replacing the blue coolant temperature sender. Hopefully someone else will confirm this!

Cambelts ever 60k on a 1.4 8v so would assume the same for a 1.6 as it seems to be the same for all engines in the range, if you havent got any history of a change i would give it one.

Idling sounds like a dirty throttle body as mine was, could always be the temp sender though.

Thanks Guys.

Well this morning I went down halfords to buy all the parts, and tbh I don't know why I bothered, the didnt have any of the right stuff, but I did buy a haynes manual though

They didnt even have any bloody carb cleaner

So instead today im going to study the haynes manual, that says the official vw cambelt time is 60k, but on cars that do a lot of stop and starting it should be done at 40k, as the car is nearing the 120k mark im going to get that done!

Lee.