VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Sat 8 Oct 2011 10:58
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - amandac
Hi
My engine management light came on and car became jerky, this seemed to happen more when sitting at a junction or pulling away! Took it to garage who changed the exhaust, didn't help!

Took it to be put onto the diagnostic machine, cylinder 1 misfire. Coil 1 was swapped with 3, the problem didn't follow! He checked the compression and cylinder one had no compression and cylinder 3 had a reading of 150!

I was told I would need the cylinder head replaced and it would cost 900! I phoned verve and told them the same, they have quoted 1500!

After a week of freaking out I called another garage who tell me it could be the timing belt needs replaced and that could cause all the same symptoms! Is this true and what should the costs be?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 11:49
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - Peter D

I doubt it is the timing belt. I suspect a burnt out exhaust valve. The head need to come off and the valve can be changed as a single item if all the other valves are fine. A head refurb may be in order. Regards Peter

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 11:57
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - amandac
Thanks Peter!

What would/should that cost me?

Kind regards

Amanda
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 12:51
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - gordonbennet

Don't go within a mile of the garages you've been to, guesswork.

Somebody should be along in while who will know which make specific forum to point you to, if you ask on a good VW forum they will know what's likely wrong, if not they will know of good VW specialists in your area who know what they are doing.

At the very least it sounds as if the cylinder head has to come off for closer inspection, but before that a good indy might well put a tiny remote camera lens down the plughole to have a poke nose at the piston.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 13:17
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - Peter D

Labour would be the main cost may be £400. The reson for a burnt valve would have to be looked into. It is not a burnt piston crown as the fuel combustion would blow the filler cap off and pop the dipstick. What area of the country are you in. Regards Peter

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 13:36
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - elekie&a/c doctor

As suggested above you have a burnt out valve(s).This is very common issue on these 3 cylinder engines and affects both the 6 and 12 valve models.Also while the cylinder head is removed,you would be strongly advised to replace the timing chain and tensioners,another known weak spot on this very unreliable engine.hth

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 14:33
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - amandac
Thanks! I am really worried about this!

This is sounding v expensive!

I think the changing of valves is what was mounting the price up before so to add changing a chain on is more of a strain!

Thanks for the advice

A
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 14:26
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - amandac
Hi Peter, I'm in Glasgow!

A
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 8 Oct 2011 15:10
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - Peter D

www.volksport.uk.com.

www.audivwrepaircentre.co.uk

www.A4Audi.co.uk

Regards peter

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 1 Nov 2011 13:35
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - amandac

Hi Guys

Since i was last on here i have taken the car to another garage. There is apparently nothing wrong with the compression and it has been misdiagnosed as a new cylinder head.

They looked at the car and told me the wiring was corroded so they fixed that and charged 85 for it. They swapped coil 1 with 3 and told me if the EML came back on and had the cylinder 1 misfire then it would need a new fuel injector and if it came on on 3 it would be the coil pack.

The car has been running about 95% better than it had since the (either the wiring was fixed or coil pack being swapped) and has misfired about 3 times in 2 weeks.

He told me it would be 70 + vat for the labour and 120 + vat for the fuel injector.

Does this sound plausable?

Thanks

Amanda

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Jan 2012 17:19
VW polo 55 plate 1.2l 48000 miles - cylinder misfire - Arief

Hi Amanda

Thank you for sharing this. Can I ask you what was the outcome of your polo adventure? I have been having the same problem for the past year. Mine is a 1.2L 05 plate and the jerkiness started when it was only 36000 mile. As long as I keep the accelerator down when the car is stationary, the jerkiness disappears.

I've sent it to two garages. One did a coil check and changed one of the coils. The car was better for a month or so then it started again. The second one couldn't really find what the problem was.

I have just sent the car to an authorised dealer and they told me that it was the cylinder head problem among many other things. The cylinder head alone costs GBP1800 to replace! After my flat refusal, they kindly gave me discount to GBP 1200.

I told them I would just take the car home and sell it if I can't drive it anymore. How did it work for you?

Thank you ever so much.

Regards

Arief

Reply | Report as offensive | Link