VW Polo starting trouble
 

My Mum's Polo won't start and is displaying the EPC and Exhaust system warning lamps.
It is the old shape 1.4 petrol auto. Anyone have any ideas or know of a good VW forum o try?
Cheers,
Simon.

What happens when you turn the key? Does it turn over start then stall? or turn over and not fire up at all? Not turn over? is the engine warm or cold ?

If is crap starting when cold. It'll 90% be the temp sender. Easy to do.

If it wont idle properly it will be the throttle body. Expensive and you need access to a diagnostic computer to set it up.

HTH

Dam it !! you beat me to it :D. Yer coolant temp sensor's are the norm . If it starts and stall probably a key issue ie immobiliser not reading correctly . Don't you just hate the throttle control units carrying out basic settings and then 9 times out of 10 it always comes up with a barometric sensor fault after .:brickwall

old shape Polo??

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._1_a_v_sst.jpg

It is a W-reg car. The one that preceded the current version (I think).
It turns over but will not fire at all. The car is kept in a warm garage and has no history of starting problems.

MMMmm:wonder: Really needs to be put on what Vw call a 5051B or one of the other group machines. With my experience using non Vw scanners etc quite often gives the wrong code and sends you in the wrong direction. You could try disconnecting the temp sensor which is on the thermostate housing which would put it into a base reading . The sensor is at front of the housing which points towards the rad and slightly downwards . It may be thinking it's far to cold and flooding up!

I haven't actually seen the car since this happened. I'm going on what my Dad told me. I'll pop over tomorrow and have a go myself.
What is it that makes you think it is the coolant temp sensor?
Thanks for the help.

Well they are common (work for Vw you see)it's poosible it's the sensor but make sure the fuel pump prime's and also maybe worth removing a plug if you have the tools and check for a spark. But as i said could be a number of things. See what you find tomorrow :thumb:

Didn't get over this morning but have just found out that the coolant temp sensor was replaced a few months ago. Might see it this afternoon but someone just cracked open the wine!!!!!!