UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

We bought our Polo new in 2001 and it has done just short of 200k miles on an AUC engine. Well serviced I might add, fresh oil and filter every 6,000. 2 years ago it was put off the road because it wasn't needed, we didn't sell her because we like the old girl.

My niece has just reached 17, she needs a car and we decided a Polo is about perfect to learn in. Trouble is the engine has seized from sitting so long. I have tried rocking her in gear, taken the spark plugs out and putting diesel in the pots for a week but still it won't budge.

I am happy to take the head off if I need to and use heat or whatever but I have never had a engine seized just from sitting before and I would welcome some advice.

Thanks all.

Im surprised its seized given its been well maintained

Are you able to turn the crank by hand with a spanner/ratchet? Be careful not to snap the cambelt.

Thanks for the response Alex.

The crank is seized solid and will not turn at all. The camshaft rocks a little with a spanner because of the play in the timing belt so I am happy the camshaft is free, obviously without removing the belt I can't prove it 100% but there is definitely some movement.

Thanks again.

I would say you'll need to take the head off if you cant move the crank at all. It wont take much to unseize it. Its very strange its seized indeed

This does seem very strange. I have had engines that have been stood much longer than that which turned over without any problem.

Have you checked the water level to make sure that it hasn't emptied itself into the block ?

My GTi was "siezed" when I bought it - turned out that there as a stray piece of clutch jamming the flywheel.

I would be tempted to make sure the cambelt hasn't snapped and then try turning it over on the crank again with a decent socket / bar