Wont start no spark

Tiny
NALES
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN POLO
  • 89,000 MILES
Vw polo 1.4 petrol will not start. Over the past 3 weeks my sons polo has been difficult to start. The engine turns over fine but it will not fire. To-day I removed each spark plug individually and checked for a spark. They all seemed ok. I also disconnected the fuel line and turned the ignition and the fuel seemed to pump through ok . One thing I have noticed is when turning the ignition to its first position, so as to activate the fuel pump, it takes quite a while for the pump to reach its pressure, about 8 seconds. Could this be the problem. Ps. He has owned the car for 8 months and it has not been touched since, yesterday when he drove home it was running perfectly smoothly, no misfiring or anything.
Sunday, November 25th, 2012 AT 9:58 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,883 POSTS
If you are getting spark at the plugs, check for fuel spraying from the injector(s)... place a noid light across the injector harness plug and look for it to flash while cranking.

If you could still have a fuel pump / pressure problem, so you need to check actual pressure (flow alone does not mean much).

What is your engine code? I would need to look-up specifics.

Timing belt with stripped teeth will cause a no start where you get spark & fuel but no running engine.

It's always a good idea to scan for fault codes stored in the ECM.

It sounds like to me the RPM sensor has failed causing the no spark condition.

Here are two guides to help walk us through the problem with diagrams below to show you where the crankshaft sensor is.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Thomas
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Sunday, November 25th, 2012 AT 10:08 PM
Tiny
MISS NOCTURNE
  • MEMBER
  • 0 POST
Had to get a new RPM sensor cost me $76.00 fixed it!
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:08 PM
Tiny
HENNIE SMITH
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 VOLKSWAGEN POLO
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 300,000 MILES
Have changed the coil but doesn't get spark from new coil checked the fuses all fine
Starts sometimes but not all ways. Installed new coil when you test coil no spark have changed coil with 2 new ones but no spark
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,883 POSTS
Do you know what the engine code is?

AAM? ADD? ADR? ADZ? etc?

I need this information to be able to tell you the diagnostic steps.

The Engine Code is on the timing belt cover (sticker with a bar code).

Similar to this: http://www.blauparts.com/vw/vw_engine_code/how_to_find_vw_engine_code.shtml

Thomas
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HENNIE SMITH
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi thomas its a ADY engin
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi, just got home again. Will look up info now and get back to you soon.

Thomas
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,883 POSTS
Your ADY engine uses a similar Injection / Ignition System as the North American
ABA engine. Watch my video on "no start quick checks" for that engine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-uxkgveK7M

Remove the harness plug from the coil and check for power across the outer
2 pins (with the key ON and while cranking).

Let me know what you find.

Thomas
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
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I'm on West Coast Canada time. I'll probably be sleeping by the time you reply.

I'll check in again tomorrow.

Thomas
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIREMBA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 VOLKSWAGEN POLO
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 60,000 MILES
When starting the car in the morning, there is no problem. But when the sun is out, or when it heats up, I get a hard start, have changed oil level, spark plugs twice and there is no improvement. There is lots of soot on the spark plugs.
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JASON_MARSHALL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
My wife's 2001 Polo (34000 miles) has the same issue. It started of doing it when the car was left in the sun the whole day. It has been doing it more and more and completely dead now.

Did you find the issue. I spoke to somebody else with a 2002 polo who also started experiencing this issue in the last year or so.

I would be greatful if you have found the problem.
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JASON_MARSHALL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I took the Polo to an Auto Electrician who indicated that the ignition is a common issue. He replaced the electrical parts of the ignition and it working now.

So symptoms are:

When car is left in sun it will not start. Only when it cools off will it start again. You can see oil, temp, etc ligths comming on and also electrical fans starting, it just does not start the engine.

It gets worse over time. It took about 1 to 2 years to completely give in.

If you have a 3rd party Radio installed tied to the ignition, and it stays on when the ignition is turned off, then that is another symptom you can go buy. This is working fine now.

I hope somebody with this same issue finds this message!
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AHMED_BASSAM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hello,
my 2008 polo (78000 km) does the same. The car doesn't start straight away, and it takes about 3-5 tries to get it started - or even one long try that lasts about 6-8 seconds and then it runs fine. I took it to an electrician and he has not figured the issue.

Jason, could you please clarify what did you mean by electrical parts of the ignition? And how much will it cost approximately? It would be really helpful if you could answer because i'am pretty sure I will be forced to explain the fixing procedure to the electrician since we don't have professional electricians here " Palestine-west bank"

help is much appreciated.
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JASON_MARSHALL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi Ahmed

Not sure if your issue is the same, but it gets worse over time. I found it was to occur when the car was left in the sun.

Not exactly sure how many parts the whole ignition consists of, but it was relatively cheap. I paid R400 SA for the replacement parts. I did have to replace the keys or re-program the Computer unit, so not the electronic or mechanical parts.

Regards
Jason
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JASON_MARSHALL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I did not have to replace the keys or re-program the Computer unit, so not the electronic or mechanical parts.
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AHMED_BASSAM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi Jason,

Thank you for your reply. I will definitely give it a try to see if there will be any progress. I will post an updating reply as soon as it gets fixed.

Best Regards
Ahmed
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Friday, January 18th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)

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