I need help.... pretty please!

lilblackdress

Hi there,

I could really do with some help please re my car...

I bought a car 6 weeks ago... an 03 polo. It drove fine for 3 weeks when the exhaust basically fell off so I had to get that replaced (not covered by warranty) 3 nights ago I was sitting with the car idle when it began to shudder... I knew immediately it felt wrong, started to drive and basically I had to have my foot to the floor on the accelerator at times to get any power out of it. Started in first, then 2nd the 3rd and 4th gears over time. It is an intermittent problem. Brought it back to the dealership where they had replaced a spark plug and changed the coils but there was no difference between mine and the coils they used during diagnostics. I am wondering if anyone can please help to maybe give me some idea of the issue.

Very disappointed as spent months looking for a run around and I love this car already.... plus I have my driving test THIS FRIDAY :(:(:(

I am bringing it to the garage I got the exhaust done in this evening but I am just wondering can anyone please point me in the right direction as right now I am a ball of stress between not having a car for my test and knowing that the car I bought must have been a dud......

Thanks for reading

TheChizler

If it's out of warranty then avoid the dealer anyway, unless it's for ECU or diagnostic problems.

I'm presuming the garage changed the spark plug leads or at least checked them?

Regarding the test I would make arrangements to borrow either a friend's or your instructor's car and get used to it in the meantime, that would eliminate any stress about it potentially breaking down mid-test.

lilblackdress

Thanks for the reply TheChizler...

It is only out of warranty from tomorrow so that is why I went back to them. No they didn't change the lead but I know 2 polo owners who had to get their leads changed.... They said that one of the spark plugs was duller than the others so they change that.

I drove in the instructors car yesterday... after doing so well driving my own car, his car was so different that I kept cutting out and completely freaked myself out. I know a Polo owner so this may be my only option.... so disappointed as I was so afraid of buying a dud from cowboys that it took me months to get a car and it looks like that is exactly what I have done anyways....

I am bringing it to the garage that did the exhaust for me.... real old school mechanic who I think is excellent... Just so costly already!

Irishcrx

Your going to need to get it to a garage and plug into the ECU for a diagnostic check , you can do this yourself if you have the gear (Can be bought on adverts.ie or whatever) but easiest option for you now if to have a garage check it. It could be a number of thing's that cause this , dirty Throttle body , tear in intake pipe , mass air flow sensor out of allignment, fuel injector mis fire , spark plugs , ignition coils.

If you get it plugged in it should throw up a fault code which will at least point you in the right direction. Say it throws up code 5056 , you check that code against your manual and it should point to say 'Injector number 2' at fault or'Air flow system' , then you'll know where your fault lies and take it from there.

Hopefully it's nothing major for you.

PS - Just my two cents but I never buy from a dealer, in my experience they never stick by their warranty and the amount of people who drive away with a car and have an engine light come on 5 minutes later. I'd say the extra money, buy private and use the money in case anything goes wrong.

biko

Not DIY, moved to main forum

lilblackdress

Thanks Biko for moving it and sorry about that...

Thanks Irishcrx for the reply.... just had it to the mechanic that did my exhaust. He brought it up to another garage that have the latest diagnostics gear.... he said it threw off a load of faults and in both of their opinions the car is unsafe to drive.

I called the dealership back (who had called in the meantime to say that they had ordered me in a new coil pack and will fit it in the morning) and told them I will try and get it over to them in the morning (i need to get someone to drive with me which is another pain in the hole as everyone is working) and also told them that I had just been told it was unsafe to drive in. What I didnt tell them is that I was told to try and get my money back but feel like this is going to be a long and painful road.

Im not going to lie.... being a big ol girl for once and having been crying my eyes out all evening!!

Foxhole Norman

lilblackdress wrote: »

Thanks Biko for moving it and sorry about that...

Thanks Irishcrx for the reply.... just had it to the mechanic that did my exhaust. He brought it up to another garage that have the latest diagnostics gear.... he said it threw off a load of faults and in both of their opinions the car is unsafe to drive.

I called the dealership back (who had called in the meantime to say that they had ordered me in a new coil pack and will fit it in the morning) and told them I will try and get it over to them in the morning (i need to get someone to drive with me which is another pain in the hole as everyone is working) and also told them that I had just been told it was unsafe to drive in. What I didnt tell them is that I was told to try and get my money back but feel like this is going to be a long and painful road.

Im not going to lie.... being a big ol girl for once and having been crying my eyes out all evening!!

Did the mechanic tell you what the faults were?You bought it from a dealer and the car is unsafe to drive then you will be able to get your money back. Dealers have to give 3 moths warranty minimum afaik so should be ok. I believe they are given the chance to fix it before a refund is dealt.

lilblackdress

He said one fault was the Lambda sensor...

It is happening when the car is heated... I am so frustrated.

So anyway, I guess I will just get it the the dealership somehow in the morning and see if the coil pack works.... they said they switched them around today and that could be why the car is worse now than ever.

By the way, if anyone ever wants a brilliant mechanics number pm me. He didnt even charge me for looking at it or for running it up to the other garage today....

I really do appreciate the replies. Thanks for helping come to my resue :-)

Irishcrx

lilblackdress wrote: »

He said one fault was the Lambda sensor...

It is happening when the car is heated... I am so frustrated.

So anyway, I guess I will just get it the the dealership somehow in the morning and see if the coil pack works.... they said they switched them around today and that could be why the car is worse now than ever.

By the way, if anyone ever wants a brilliant mechanics number pm me. He didnt even charge me for looking at it or for running it up to the other garage today....

I really do appreciate the replies. Thanks for helping come to my resue :-)

If the Lambda is showing a fault , make sure they change that it won't pass an NCT on emmisions , get everything you that needs doing fixed while you can in warranty.

I'm perfectly sure you can handle yourself, being a hard up northsider but these lads are pushy at the best of times particularly with women, that's nothing against you it's them. Do you have a friend or brother who knows a little about cars you could take along?

lilblankdress2

Irishcrx wrote: »

If the Lambda is showing a fault , make sure they change that it won't pass an NCT on emmisions , get everything you that needs doing fixed while you can in warranty.

I'm perfectly sure you can handle yourself, being a hard up northsider but these lads are pushy at the best of times particularly with women, that's nothing against you it's them. Do you have a friend or brother who knows a little about cars you could take along?

Hahaha normally I can handle myself pretty well but I swear im being a bit useless when it comes to dealing with the dealership.... Anyways, a lil update....

The dealership had told me yesterday that they had ordered in a coil pack and to come over and get it fitted.... went over today and they actually had a new lambda sensor waiting.... I hadnt told them that that was one of the faults! so he fitted the new one and I drove the car after and it was driving ok. It only plays up when hot and after sitting idle so when I actually collect it im hoping it drives ok.

Actually my driving test tomorrow.

It only went through the NCT 6 weeks ago (well so the disc says but im suspicious/paranoid)

ironclaw

lilblankdress2 wrote: »

It only went through the NCT 6 weeks ago (well so the disc says but im suspicious/paranoid)

NCT means absolutely, positively nothing. It means for 30 mins on that day, the car was fine. That's it.

The fact it needs a lamda sensor and sounds like it has an emissions / air flow problem, and a passed NCT, says a whole lot about the process.

Irishcrx

ironclaw wrote: »

NCT means absolutely, positively nothing. It means for 30 mins on that day, the car was fine. That's it.

The fact it needs a lamda sensor and sounds like it has an emissions / air flow problem, and a passed NCT, says a whole lot about the process.

Yeah, NCT only checks thing's like suspention , brakes etc it doesn't check any of the mechanical components of the engine. Even if your check engine light is on it'll pass so long as it's deemed roadworthy.