Hey I'm really trying to learn mechanics and older cars like my polo, my polo was my first project car as well as the same car I learned to drive in. My polo now has an intermittent start and has recently had a new distributor cap + rotor arm, unless this has some relation to the distributor but I believe it was just a coincidence, I drive it and would fail to start after half a day and after a few days it starts fine and repeat. I'm not sure if my polo has an electric choke and if it could even be because of that? It all seems odd and doesnt directly link to one thing with my limited knowledge and experience.

To simplify & expect my issue:

• Intermittent start (works fine once, then wont work after half a day or so of rest and will work after a few days)

• Does my polo mk2f 1991 - 1L with carb likely have an electric choke and if so where would it be?

• Rarely it will start fine but dies after few mins of idle (3-5 mins) and wont turn back on again and repeats like previously

• Not 100% but distributor seems fine after replacement parts and I've also tested a spark from HT lead

• I can hear the fuel pump whirl when turned to ignition

• I only suspect something with the carb as I have not touched it and have yet to service it/take it apart

Any help and advance would be greatly appreciated and I wish you well on your own polo journeys. 👍

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Alvin.32
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Do you mean it can manage a cold start, but not a warm engine start?

It has an autochoke if you don't need to pull a lever on the dashboard towards you, then gradually push it in as the engine warms.

Autochokes on the Weber TLA and the Pierburg 1b3 carbs used on 1l are a combination of electric bimetallic strip and coolant expansion.

If the flap is angled not fully opened it could be too rich at warm start. Fuel consumption would be bad too. Spark plug tips would be coked.

When cold the flap should be closed, then when engine fires vacuum from the descending pistons acts on the pulldown unit to crack the flap open a fraction to let air in. The gap needs to be just right.

As engine warms choke flap should move to fully vertical.

Might just need lubrication.

As engine cools the flap will close again, over several hours... typically over night.