Guys

Am new to this sitte, just bought a polo 2002 1.0 3 cylinder - I've checked the history and it had its spark plugs changed at VW t 50k miles and now its on 80k miles. Although I've done a service on the car, i understood plugs only need to be changed at 50k???

I've decided to change them anyway as my fuel economy isnt very good right now so changing the plugs could help.

Would anyone know what the torque settings are for my car???

Thanks in advane for your help...

I wouldn't bother they'll be fine. For fuel economy look at your driving style.

Hi

I take it easy on the throttle and no harsh braking - there is a slight miss fire in the morning - when the engine warms up its not as bad.

Could be temp sender but I'd change the plugs.

I've never torqued spark plugs before

Normally finger tight then half a turn, that's what I do.

They did a 1.0 3 cylinder?

In a 9n?

Very small engines in heavy cars tend not to be as economical as you might expect.

yeah its a 2002 defo 3 cylinder but sorry its a 1.2 not a 1.0 - i changed my M3's plugs without torquing them and it wasnt as responsive but i then torqued to the right setting and it made a massive difference not just with the responce but also economy.....

I know the polo and M3 are a world apart but am sure there should be some kind of difference if I actually torque them........

what do you guys think????

in terms of economy am getting around 26mpg - and am driving just to work and back, which is extra urban not stop start and its approx a 20 mile run one way so no short trips or anything like that.

Plugs or leads possibly

But I would say thats a temp sender or lambda sensor problem

Does it smell rich?

26 mpg... Nice!

its got coil packs so no leads to change - if there was a lamba prob or temp sender would the engine managment light not be on??

I've just finished changing the plugs and they were not even tight at all........and they had oil on the coil packs......but the plugs were clean and did look really worn as if on the 50k mile serve VW just took them out cleaned them and put them back again!!!! and looks like whilst filling the oil they must have spilt oil and its run down the coil packs........I think....maybe there is another explination.

They really are main stealers!!!!

I've fitted the plugs just hand tightened them but still want to re torque them as soon as one of you guys help me out with that one....

cheers

its got coil packs so no leads to change - if there was a lamba prob or temp sender would the engine managment light not be on??

I've just finished changing the plugs and they were not even tight at all........and they had oil on the coil packs......but the plugs were clean and did look really worn as if on the 50k mile serve VW just took them out cleaned them and put them back again!!!! and looks like whilst filling the oil they must have spilt oil and its run down the coil packs........I think....maybe there is another explination.

They really are main stealers!!!!

I've fitted the plugs just hand tightened them but still want to re torque them as soon as one of you guys help me out with that one....

cheers

how does the coilpack get the spark to the plugs?? HT leads!

is it called a HT lead?? i thought it was coil pack....similar to my BMW's but either way does anyone actually know what the torque is for the spark plugs on a 2002 1.2 55bhp???

its got coil packs so no leads to change - if there was a lamba prob or temp sender would the engine managment light not be on??

I've just finished changing the plugs and they were not even tight at all........and they had oil on the coil packs......but the plugs were clean and did look really worn as if on the 50k mile serve VW just took them out cleaned them and put them back again!!!! and looks like whilst filling the oil they must have spilt oil and its run down the coil packs........I think....maybe there is another explination.

They really are main stealers!!!!

I've fitted the plugs just hand tightened them but still want to re torque them as soon as one of you guys help me out with that one....

cheers

how does the coilpack get the spark to the plugs?? HT leads!

Depends whether the coilpack is located on the plug or remotely.

spark plug torque settin is usually between 20nm and 28nm...not many torque wrenches go that far so nipped up with a ratchet is fine usually

haha iv got the same engine....but mines 53 plate....i get about 48 MPG haha...i just had 425 miles out of one tank the other week.....only 40litre tank too...

question on this subject though...iv never looked for my sparks.....iv always sent my car to VW at every 10k for its service.....where are they found??

something else you might want to consider....my last service changed my fuel filter...that seemed to help with my MPG a bit....

but id also recomend if you want good MPG then theres no need to have then revs above 2K on a normal flat road....that fuel will just keep going mate...

hope this helps??

how does the coilpack get the spark to the plugs?? HT leads!

Idiot...

Don't give out duff advice.

On the Polo 6N2 and earlier (pre 2002) you have ignition leads which all point into a singular coil pack.

On the Polo 9N and later (2002 onwards, including other VW's) they have independant coils per cylinder otherwise known as an "Ignition Coil". There is no HT lead, on the top of each cylinder is a plug...that plug is the ignition lead and the ignition coil combined together. So you have an independant coil per cylinder.

Plugs cost £30 each so you will need 3 of them which is £90 and they should be changed every 40,000 miles or every 4 years (whichever is soonest).

Mine wern't changed, my car got to 48,000 miles and 6 years old when one of the ignition coils packed up whilst I was on the motorway. The end result was that I broke down within a minute of the engine management light coming on, got towed home by the RAC.

...

Common faults on the Polo 9N.

1) Ignition Coils - change them every 40k/4 years

2) Wishbone bushes - they tend to split and VW will charge you £250 per bush. I had this done by a local garage for £120 for one bush as only one bush split.

3) Timing chain tensioner - Only applicable to the 1.2 12V DOHC 3 cylinder engines. They tend to give up at around 50k. I had a used car approved all component warranty...VW acknowledged that this was a common fault and replaced it free of charge.

If your not under warranty VW will charge you ALOT as its a 4 hour job because the oil sump and the side of the engine has to be taken off.

** The tensioner will not go whilst driving, it will simply knock the timing out just enough for your engine not to start. Signs of the timing chain going are a lumpy idle and a slight rattling noise. **

how does the coilpack get the spark to the plugs?? HT leads!

Idiot...

Don't give out duff advice.

On the Polo 6N2 and earlier (pre 2002) you have ignition leads which all point into a singular coil pack.

On the Polo 9N and later (2002 onwards, including other VW's) they have independant coils per cylinder otherwise known as an "Ignition Coil". There is no HT lead, on the top of each cylinder is a plug...that plug is the ignition lead and the ignition coil combined together. So you have an independant coil per cylinder.

Plugs cost £30 each so you will need 3 of them which is £90 and they should be changed every 40,000 miles or every 4 years (whichever is soonest).

Mine wern't changed, my car got to 48,000 miles and 6 years old when one of the ignition coils packed up whilst I was on the motorway. The end result was that I broke down within a minute of the engine management light coming on, got towed home by the RAC.

...

Common faults on the Polo 9N.

1) Ignition Coils - change them every 40k/4 years

2) Wishbone bushes - they tend to split and VW will charge you £250 per bush. I had this done by a local garage for £120 for one bush as only one bush split.

3) Timing chain tensioner - Only applicable to the 1.2 12V DOHC 3 cylinder engines. They tend to give up at around 50k. I had a used car approved all component warranty...VW acknowledged that this was a common fault and replaced it free of charge.

If your not under warranty VW will charge you ALOT as its a 4 hour job because the oil sump and the side of the engine has to be taken off.

** The tensioner will not go whilst driving, it will simply knock the timing out just enough for your engine not to start. Signs of the timing chain going are a lumpy idle and a slight rattling noise. **

Out of interest, what kind of labour cost/time would you expect to change all three coilpacks?