I am having a problem with my B reg VW POLO and would be REALLY
grateful for any advice that anybody can give me!

The car starts and drives fine....and the problem is not consistant!

I can be  driving for a few miles on roads where speed limits are 30 n
60 mph-without any problem...  then all of a sudden (generally when i
am accelerating ie..from a slip road onto a dual carriageway...  i try
and accelerate...the car REALLY struggles, and i can hear the engine
which sounds as though it revs more than it should  (only way i can
describe it ...its the same feeling as trying to set off in 2nd /3rd
gear...very little power...but it "gets there" eventually...and then
seems fine again???

I have had clutches that have burnt out in the past...and it "sort of"
feels a bit similar...but i have always found that once it starts to
go...its fairly consistant??

Any idea's what the cause could be??? I have been ripped off by several
garages in the past...and i aint got a clue with cars!

shaz wrote:

> I am having a problem with my B reg VW POLO and would be REALLY
> grateful for any advice that anybody can give me!
> 
> The car starts and drives fine....and the problem is not consistant!
> 
> I can be  driving for a few miles on roads where speed limits are 30 n
> 60 mph-without any problem...  then all of a sudden (generally when i
> am accelerating ie..from a slip road onto a dual carriageway...  i try
> and accelerate...the car REALLY struggles, and i can hear the engine
> which sounds as though it revs more than it should  (only way i can
> describe it ...its the same feeling as trying to set off in 2nd /3rd
> gear...very little power...but it "gets there" eventually...and then
> seems fine again???
> 
> I have had clutches that have burnt out in the past...and it "sort of"
> feels a bit similar...but i have always found that once it starts to
> go...its fairly consistant??
> 
> Any idea's what the cause could be??? I have been ripped off by several
> garages in the past...and i aint got a clue with cars!
> 

It sounds like one of a few possible things.

First of all replace and re-gap the points and check the plugs and 
timing. ( a 35 crypton tune up should check these things.)
It could be a carb fuel blockage or pump problem, the diaphram in these 
fuel pumps often split, check the oil level and smell the end of the 
dipstick for fuel.
It could also be the breather pipe on the bottom of the carb has split.
Thirdly it could be the gearbox bearings, top up the gearbox oil, I have 
had the same problem on an 'F' reg 1.3 polo mk2 - 5th gear froze, then 
4th etc....

Andy

"dreadly" <dreadly@andredenleydotcodotuk> wrote in message 
news:43259560$0$22928$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...

> shaz wrote:
>> I am having a problem with my B reg VW POLO and would be REALLY
>> grateful for any advice that anybody can give me!
>>
>> The car starts and drives fine....and the problem is not consistant!
>>
>> I can be  driving for a few miles on roads where speed limits are 30 n
>> 60 mph-without any problem...  then all of a sudden (generally when i
>> am accelerating ie..from a slip road onto a dual carriageway...  i try
>> and accelerate...the car REALLY struggles, and i can hear the engine
>> which sounds as though it revs more than it should  (only way i can
>> describe it ...its the same feeling as trying to set off in 2nd /3rd
>> gear...very little power...but it "gets there" eventually...and then
>> seems fine again???
>>
>> I have had clutches that have burnt out in the past...and it "sort of"
>> feels a bit similar...but i have always found that once it starts to
>> go...its fairly consistant??
>>
>> Any idea's what the cause could be??? I have been ripped off by several
>> garages in the past...and i aint got a clue with cars!
>>
> It sounds like one of a few possible things.
>
> First of all replace and re-gap the points and check the plugs and timing. 
> ( a 35 crypton tune up should check these things.)
> It could be a carb fuel blockage or pump problem, the diaphram in these 
> fuel pumps often split, check the oil level and smell the end of the 
> dipstick for fuel.
> It could also be the breather pipe on the bottom of the carb has split.
> Thirdly it could be the gearbox bearings, top up the gearbox oil, I have 
> had the same problem on an 'F' reg 1.3 polo mk2 - 5th gear froze, then 4th 
> etc....
>
> Andy


these have a rubber mount below the carb that splits , might be that, 
certainly worth checking.

mrcheerful

"shaz"  wrote in message 
news:1126533313.431005.51160@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>I am having a problem with my B reg VW POLO and would be REALLY
> grateful for any advice that anybody can give me!
>
> The car starts and drives fine....and the problem is not consistant!
>
> I can be  driving for a few miles on roads where speed limits are 30 n
> 60 mph-without any problem...  then all of a sudden (generally when i
> am accelerating ie..from a slip road onto a dual carriageway...  i try
> and accelerate...the car REALLY struggles, and i can hear the engine
> which sounds as though it revs more than it should  (only way i can
> describe it ...its the same feeling as trying to set off in 2nd /3rd
> gear...very little power...but it "gets there" eventually...and then
> seems fine again???
>
> I have had clutches that have burnt out in the past...and it "sort of"
> feels a bit similar...but i have always found that once it starts to
> go...its fairly consistant??
>
> Any idea's what the cause could be??? I have been ripped off by several
> garages in the past...and i aint got a clue with cars!
>


Has your car got a manual choke or Auto? I had lots of trouble with the auto 
choke on a polo of similar age, eventually swapped out carb for a webber one 
with manual choke, and far better afterwards.

I have the carb \ choke conversion kit for sale if you're interested.

Alan.

It sounds as if the clutch might be slipping - any smell of burning as well?

"shaz"  wrote in message 
news:1126533313.431005.51160@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>I am having a problem with my B reg VW POLO and would be REALLY
> grateful for any advice that anybody can give me!
>
> The car starts and drives fine....and the problem is not consistant!
>
> I can be  driving for a few miles on roads where speed limits are 30 n
> 60 mph-without any problem...  then all of a sudden (generally when i
> am accelerating ie..from a slip road onto a dual carriageway...  i try
> and accelerate...the car REALLY struggles, and i can hear the engine
> which sounds as though it revs more than it should  (only way i can
> describe it ...its the same feeling as trying to set off in 2nd /3rd
> gear...very little power...but it "gets there" eventually...and then
> seems fine again???
>
> I have had clutches that have burnt out in the past...and it "sort of"
> feels a bit similar...but i have always found that once it starts to
> go...its fairly consistant??
>
> Any idea's what the cause could be??? I have been ripped off by several
> garages in the past...and i aint got a clue with cars!
> 

Replace the condensor, check the points & check the rubber seal below the  
carburettor.

Duncanwood wrote:

> Replace the condensor, check the points & check the rubber seal below 
> the  carburettor.


FYI :- You can check the rubber seal around the botom of the carb by 
running the engine and squirting a liberal dose of WD40 or equiv. around 
the gasket, if the engine revs or drops you know it's leaking.

Andy