I have been reading this forum at background and noticed that people over here might have necessary knowledge and information that I need... This is UK-Polos, but I hope that you can help with Finnish-Polo people too.
This is a kind of long story, but please please... Read if you think that you can help me with this.
About two years ago we bought 2004 model VW Polo from local Volgswagen dealer. It had 69 000 kilometers behind when we get it and first 500 kilometers it was a pretty nice car actually. Then it started...
Before the car has rolled 75 000 km we had to take it back to dealer 10 times. Just to reset Check Engine light. Reason was minor exhaust or gas problem every time.
At 80 000 I got frustated for the problems and said that the deal is off, if they cannot fix it, so the car was there almost a week. After that we got it back with fixed lambda sensor and some activated carbon filtter that was changed.
Idle problems...
During that 5 000 kilometers I noticed that there was some idle problems which they claimed to be a feature for these cars...
Next 10 000 kilometers was without problems. Only that wavy idle was a problem and I told about this when I went to next kilometer service at 85 000. They told me that nothing can be done and there is nothing that seems to be wrong on the system.
Replaced EGR fixes idle?!
500 kilometers later, EGR got blown up suddenly. It was jammed and the seal got broken, or something like that. They replaced EGR and when I got car back, I noticed that the idle is steady as hell!
However, the EGR got blown again after 2000 kilometers. We went back to service center again, and replaced EGR again (ofcourse, we didn't had to pay for it). While driving away, I noticed that idle was wavy again, so I turned back and explained this story to them. They said, that it is a feature and it cannot be fixed...
Whaat... Okey. A feature.
No oil on the stick?!
After that we drove about 20 000 kilometers without any big problems. Just normal Check Engine lights randomly and brake problems. But I can handle those. After 120 000 service, I noticed suddenly that there is no oil on the stick. I double check it and tried to shake the car. Nothing.
My friend suspected that there is a bubble somewhere (dont know what he was talking about) and asked to slowly open Oil cap little bit and then close it back again, while engine is on. I did it, and engine almost stalled.
Open oil cap while engine is on - not a good idea?
I but it back on, got oil on stick and EPC + Check engine lights on. Happy with oil, but had to reset those lights. I asked about this stalling from the repair dude, and he explained that you just cannot open oil cap from todays cars without stalling.
Other one said, that you can, but it can spill oil all over.
Conclusion - Wavy idle + Stalling engine = Faulty piston?!
Well. I talked to my friend and he had a theory. If you can make your car stall just by taking oil cap off while engine is on, you might have problems with the engine. And after he heard my full story, he said that everything goes almost too close together...
I dont want to take only one opinion, so please - any others? Real one? =)
The car is 2004 9n Trendline 1.4 benzin engine. All the services has been made at local VW dealer and belt was changed @ 90 000 because of the VW regulations here in Finland.
Other details : If I pump the brake, I can make my idle little bit more crazy. When I am ready to take off and release clutch, the lights goes noticeably dimmer for a second which I am ready to accept as a feature..
No special audio systems on the car. Some wierd crackling resonance sound from under the car sometimes... Might be loose something only.
Some wierd sound that sounds like escaping air, when pressing gas pedal. Just before the engine response. Like Swwuup -> and then adds rpm's.
Fuel consumption is
highways 7.1l/100 km (driving around 100km/h)
city 8.8/100km (driving between 0-50km/h)
Need further details? Please ask. I just need some ideas, what to look for. Jammed intake? Exhaust pipe problems? I am totally freaking up with this ...
