UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hello everyone,

Could someone please help with providing info about my Polo:
1.4L (97) with 74K.

Been fine until recently, now the engine stutters alot, has difficulty in idleing and needs alot of gas pedal to generaly idle...had a quick read through here and it looks like its a common problem?

Had a mobile diagnostic vehicle out today to try and identify the problem. Mechanic print-out: (Description = Idle adjustment) (Status = STO)

What does all this mean (chip / whole unit) and more importantly how much should i be looking to spend...thanks in advance, just want to get her back and running...Stacey

Soz..just to let you know new plugs/air filter/ leads and rotary arm have all been changed, helped at first, but then problem re-appeared. Also the thermostat has never worked in car from purchase and it ran for almost 2 years without any problems...hope this might help!!

the thermostat should have nothing to do with it. Id say the throttle body is playing up which is very common on mk4s,,mine had one 12month ago and was around £300 fitted i think. No doubt somebody else on here will confirm what ive said or just say im full of $hit.Good luck kidda.

Yeah throttle body sounds the most likely culprit, remove the air box and spray carb cleaner on to the butterfly (SPARINGLY - has been known to actually bugger them up) and give it a good clean with a cloth. Get it so the metals nice and shiny and then fire her up and go for a drive.

This area being dirty causes the symptoms you've described.

mine was beyond repair i think . Give the carb cleaner a try like paul said.

cheers will do on Saturday. Incase I do need to replace unit has anyone else used a refribished unit. Ive seen a company 'BAA-Reman' who sell them for £150...

I'll let know how we get on....cheers[/url]

is it not easier 2 just put sum redex through the fuel than spray carb cleaner dwn the ya wee cars throat, also with idling check ur master cylinder, theres a black pipe that runs out from it, check 2 see if its pushed in fully, mine was out the slightest bit an the car sounded kack, i opened the bonnet an heard a hissssing sound an pushed the pipe on properly an the car idled rite, it also effected the car startin wen it was off.

£150 sounds fair,,,If i remember right they are a dealer part only normally plus mine had to be imported from germany as my car is 1 in a million and nothing fits it .Good luck.

polo boi wrote:is it not easier 2 just put sum redex through the fuel than spray carb cleaner dwn the ya wee cars throat, also with idling check ur master cylinder, theres a black pipe that runs out from it, check 2 see if its pushed in fully, mine was out the slightest bit an the car sounded kack, i opened the bonnet an heard a hissssing sound an pushed the pipe on properly an the car idled rite, it also effected the car startin wen it was off.

The redex doesnt pass over the butterfly valve that causes the irratic idling, therefore has no effect. Only cleans injectors

Cleaned the butterfly valve with old rag and choke cleaner, also sprayed into throttle body while revving engine hard...straight after putting the air filter back on i took her for a quick drive around local streets, as she my missus's car, and she felt fine....Idled at 1000....no stuttering....

Just got back in from proper test 25miles on various roads, now at junctions the rev's jump and drop between 1000 - 2000, 'told her to stop revving'(but she wasn't touching anything)... ....after a small amount of time the revs will drop back down to normal 1000k and sit quite happily(better than before).

So in all im happier, the car doesnt want to stall and starts better....im thinking of re-cleaning the throttle body incase this helps improve running even better...might just run her for a bit...first...

So thankyou for everyones suggestions..much appreciated...if anyone has anymore tips or tricks let us know...Thanks, Owen & Stacey

Glad its working for you, just be carful when your working on the throttle body and be gentle other wise you can knock it out of alignment with too much playing and that results in varying revs