1998 VW Polo - R Reg. Wont turn over

[bigman1207]

Hi,

1998 VW Polo 1.6 Petrol Engine. 112000 Miles.

Recently picked this car up and until today has started on the button every time, even this morning in -3 degrees.

So after starting this morning and running around for about an hour I parked it up on the driveway. I then started it and drove it onto my car ramps and switched it off. (trying to identify a blow in the exhaust system

Went to start it and just a whir then sort of like the sound of a flap opening or closing form the top of the engine after the whir. No Clicking, no sound of anything other than a whir and flap (I think this is normal)

Any ideas?

Cheers

BM

[g40jon]

check the simple things first. is the battery good, if so move onto the ignition switch, they are prone to failing and give a similar symptom to having a flat battery.

[bigman1207]

Battery is good . . Ignition switch seems a good option how do I check . . It lights up etc but the final turn to start does nothing

[joem83]

Check starter motor they seem to go alot on polo's/VW's, also try another bettery. I had one go on my 6n2 and it would charge, start & run, but then out of no where just go flat £26 for a new batt and it was fine for 2 years until I sold it.

Try turning the lights on & turning the car over, if they go off then it's a good sign your batts dead.

[g40jon]

Jan 21, 2014 16:49:46 GMT bigman1207 said:

Battery is good . . Ignition switch seems a good option how do I check . . It lights up etc but the final turn to start does nothing

the contact cruds up, you can try spraying some wd40 down the ignition barrel in the hope some gets into the switch. I have done this in the past as a get me home measure. To test it you really need to get access to the wiring that plugs into it and test it with a multimeter.
If your battery is good you should have 12.5v approx with nothing on and when cranking it over it should drop no lower that 9 or 10 volts.
I can't say I have ever had a starter fail in 13 years f polo ownership, but then I have mostly owned mk2/2fs and only 1 6n, so maybe the later cars run less reliable starter motors. The ignition switch is cheaper, so rule that out first!

[07lilredwagon]

You can do all these tests with a multi meter if you have one....they are not too expensive and are a great tool to have.

JP

[bigman1207]

Thanks for the replys, on the drive in the rain and will try later

Cheers

BM

[trouble]

Sounds like the starter is stuck

Give it a tap, while someone tries the key

[bigman1207]

Sprayed electric contact cleaner into ignition..then a squirt of WD40 - No Change.

Put lights on - lights went to side lights when key turned to start. Do they all do that?

Checked battery with multi meter using V - ... setting at 20 No reading. tried on my other two cars - No reading ...what am I doing wrong?

As for tapping the starter motor...I will give that a go when I can find the bloody thing!

Cheers for all the help

[joem83]

Not sure on the lights, try holding full beam on and turning it over - I forgot VW's do funny things with lights/ignition.

You can also try rocking the car in gear to free off the starter.

Might not work though if it's the solenoid thats gone (common) but you would know if it had as you would hear the start spinning but it would make no effort to spin the engine.

[g40jon]

Jan 22, 2014 11:59:51 GMT bigman1207 said:

Sprayed electric contact cleaner into ignition..then a squirt of WD40 - No Change.

Put lights on - lights went to side lights when key turned to start. Do they all do that?

Checked battery with multi meter using V - ... setting at 20 No reading. tried on my other two cars - No reading ...what am I doing wrong?

As for tapping the starter motor...I will give that a go when I can find the bloody thing!

Cheers for all the help

you did have the meter set to dc not av volts (not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but it is easilly done)
leads plugged into the right sockets, i.e. not in the ones for measuring current (again easilly done, when your in a rush)
I take it you just connected the leads direct to the battery?

[07lilredwagon]

is the battery good in the tester?

you should be getting something with the pos. lead on the pos terminal of the battery, and the negative lead on the negative terminal....DC...check. if you have a setting for 10, see if it pegs out momentarily....don't hold it there though...just give it a quick touch to see if the meter is working.

I know that these computer heavy cars go wonky with tired batteries.....


JP

[bigman1207]

Jan 22, 2014 23:26:44 GMT 07lilredwagon said:

is the battery good in the tester?

you should be getting something with the pos. lead on the pos terminal of the battery, and the negative lead on the negative terminal....DC...check. if you have a setting for 10, see if it pegs out momentarily....don't hold it there though...just give it a quick touch to see if the meter is working.

I know that these computer heavy cars go wonky with tired batteries.....


JP

[bigman1207]

I'm happy I had the tester set up right.

I did notice on previous occasions occasionally a delay when turning the key to the start position of maybe one to three seconds before the car would turn over. Seriously don't think battery. Would a dodgy starter or solenoid give the create a notable pause before car turns over?

[joem83]

Dunno if this will help,


Starter issue:

[bigman1207]

Sorted and many thanks to all

All it needed was a good wiggle of the key. Car then turned over while wiggling and started no problem




Cheers

Bm

[g40jon]

it'll do it again. get a new ignition switch fitted

[bortaf]

Jan 23, 2014 11:51:56 GMT g40jon said:

it'll do it again. get a new ignition switch fitted

Agree with this, i've done many a polo and Mk3/4 golf with a dodgy ign switch, only problem is the column needs to come off to get the switch out (or is that just the golf that needs the column out) ??
Next it will crank but not fire, as the switch gets worse it starts to loose Ign live when cranking

[joem83]

Could always just fit one of these:


Would save faffing with swapping the ignition switch if you do have to take the column out.

[g40jon]

Jan 23, 2014 17:26:08 GMT bortaf said:

Jan 23, 2014 11:51:56 GMT g40jon said:

it'll do it again. get a new ignition switch fitted

Agree with this, i've done many a polo and Mk3/4 golf with a dodgy ign switch, only problem is the column needs to come off to get the switch out (or is that just the golf that needs the column out) ??
Next it will crank but not fire, as the switch gets worse it starts to loose Ign live when cranking

it is a bit of a pig to change on the 6n. I don't think the column come completely out, but there is a bit which is tricky to remove and requires a puller to get off. I had to have one on my 6n years ago. A mate did mine as he had the tools and knowledge to do it, so I just stood and watched! Well worth doing if you would rather know your car stands a good chance of cranking over!!