i have a white mark 4 1.0L polo ... N reg...

when i go to start the engine sometimes i turn the key and it goes al lthe way round as usual but the engine does not start...instead it makes a whirring noise... does anybody know what this could be as its getting quite frequent of late. cheers peeps!

starter motor......sound like its on it way out

no chance it could be the ginition coil then?

Boomp!

starter motor......sound like its on it way out

not a very good explanation

it sounds like the starter motor isn't engaging the flywheel

the "whirring noise" will be the starter motor shaft spinning at high speed due to having no load on it

engine won't start due to the starter motor not engaging the flywheel

ahhh right...cheers psshears.... i mnot too clued up on it all I'm afraid! know any chepa places to buy one? I've been quoted 79 pounds for one :(

BUMPAGE! oh and also when i get in my car my trip milage and clock aswell as all my ehadunmit settings have been reset to default... does anyone know if this is related to the starter motor problem at all?

starter motor......sound like its on it way out

not a very good explanation

it sounds like the starter motor isn't engaging the flywheel

the "whirring noise" will be the starter motor shaft spinning at high speed due to having no load on it

engine won't start due to the starter motor not engaging the flywheel

i have the same problem with my 1.4 8v 6n!! is it easy to fix yourself or would i need to take it in?

Dont think its that bigger job... propably a few screws and a lead maybe? i wil lbe doing mine myself once someone gives me some more ibfo on it! I've jsut been quoted 80 pounds for a starter motor from autofactos... anyone know any chepaer places? also do your electrics reset them selves as well jonH?

had the headunit thing happen to mine when i bought a new loom. You have got to chop the red and yellow wires and crimp the red to yellow, yellow red etc. (I think)

had the headunit thing happen to mine when i bought a new loom. You have got to chop the red and yellow wires and crimp the red to yellow, yellow red etc. (I think)

nah its definatley not the headunit wiring at fault as the dash clock and trip milage get reset and I've had it all professionally installed aswelll ! anyone?

Dont think its that bigger job... propably a few screws and a lead maybe? i wil lbe doing mine myself once someone gives me some more ibfo on it! I've jsut been quoted 80 pounds for a starter motor from autofactos... anyone know any chepaer places? also do your electrics reset them selves as well jonH?

Hi mate no my electrics dont reset themselves but it does the whirring and not starting but then decides to start when you try again.

if you use second-hand parts it will be a fraction of the price but be careful when selecting them e.g scrap yard/ebay etc.

new ignition coil if key turns all way round aroun 30 quid to buy better off getting it fitted if possible if not then haynes manual to guide you through common problem on mk4s happened to mine mate

new ignition coil if key turns all way round aroun 30 quid to buy better off getting it fitted if possible if not then haynes manual to guide you through common problem on mk4s happened to mine mate

HUH?? do you mean that if you replace ignition coil it will solve the starter motor not engaging???

not saying it will solve it mate but its part and parcel of the problem if your key turns all way round pal then u will need a new ignition coil at some point not sure what starter motor sounds like but on my old polo mk4 i started it and the cocks stayed out a few seconds longer than it should do mate

Sorry, but that doesn't make any sense at all.

As PShears says, it's the starter not engaging before it spins. Either from a solenoid fault, or possibly a missing tooth on the flywheel.

Next time it does it, put the car in gear and push it back or forwards a few feet, stick it in neutral and try again.

ahhhh i never thought of the flywheel missing some teeth, is there any possible way to determine which fault it is before i replace the starter motor

it sounds to me like your cogs arnt cummin fur enough out or like he said a tooth missing and it not engaging properly mate

Its more likely the starter as the ring gear teeth are harder than those on the starter motor

still not got to the bottom of this yet guys... found a big lump of corrosion on my negative battery lead... any idea how much and how easy they are to fit ?

The corrosions are quite common and you should only really beto worried if it starts to break at all. Snapped right off my mates 1.4, couldnt start it one day!

the starter motor is an easyish job but getting there is the problem I've heard.

Is the starter motor a bendix type?

If yes it will need a good quality charged battery to throw the pinion gear forward to engage the ring gear.

A whirring noise is indicative of the starter armature turning but not engaging the ring gear due to a poor battery

regards

engineerthomson