Hi guys just bought an early square head lamped mk2 polo loon. Had a 1.3 engine fitted but still has the 3+E gearbox. Am I right in they normally cut out when stopping at a junction then once start off engine starts up? Well mine doesnt do that thank feck

What mine does do is judder only in 1st gear. Could it be the mounts or adjust the cable?

Cheers guys

Mine did the same, completely fine in all other gears but just had probs when pulling off (gearstick used to shake!). got pregressively worse, it started to slip out of all gears so ended up changing the clutch plate and all was sorted!

It's a pain, but you're going to have to live with it unless you want to tear the whole shoot down - it'll either be oil leaking into the clutch (new main bearing oil seal) or the mounts (2 engine 1 gearbox) being old and tired. Either way, you don't really want to tackle it unless at the same time as something else (major) needing to be done!

Just saw the post above - that may be the answer, but if the main bearing oil seal is leaking, then it'll just happen again with the new clutch.

Edited 1 July, 200719 yr by labougie

Some early formel E model polos were fitted with something called SSA, (start, stop, something) there was an orange switch on the right hand side of the steering wheel a bit lower down, it was a economy/environment saving device that when turned on caused the engine to stop when neutral was selected at a junction then automatically restart the engine when first gear was selected. There are a few people on here with cars with this function but i don't know if anyone has one that works or would dare use it! I think the starter motors were a bit beefier to cope!

as for the clutch judder, look at the arm where the clutch cable goes on the gearbox, see if its a bit slack, you shouldn't be able to move the arm much it may just need tightening up only need two 10mm spanners if both nuts are right near the top of the cable thats an indication that the clutch need might need replacing although the cable could just be worn and need replacing which is cheap and easy to fix.

if the clutch itself is worn then you will need to slacken the cable off moving the nuts nearer to the end, there is a locking nut that you need to slacken off first and move them up in turn and lock back together if that makes sense. just fiddle with it and try pulling away see if it makes it better or not, it may get a bit better for a while at least until you can get it replaced.

Stop start assist. Depending on the car, a lot of them used a spring to restart the engine. I drove a Golf Formel E once and it wasn't exactly the most reliable system.

Stalling when you roll to a stop is a polo trait. Assuming the car's been serviced up. Either ignition timing, carb, or vac system fault usually.

Change those worn out engine mounts that will pretty much fix the clutch judder

Anyone about in a couple of weeks to help me out?

Ps its this one!

pretty well known polo I think!

It certainly looks pretty familiar!

where abouts do you live? sure someone nearby will be willing to help. although if the engine has been changed recently perhaps the bolts on the mounts have just come loose, if they were really that bad then the previous owner may (should) have replaced them when they did the engine swap. I'd personally point my finger at the clutch cable adjustment first...

I'm in Billericay Essex. Not sure when the engine was swapped, but I know it hadn't been used in a while.

Once the weather changes back to dry ( git keeps raining) I'll try the clutch cable 1st

Oh yeah...I did forget it does have a major oil leak near where the crank oil seal is

But surely if it was leaking then I'd get clutch slip in all gears?

Small amounts of oil on the clutch with cause it to judder, but even so, changing the engine mounts will have the biggest improving effect

can i be the first to say yuck!

either way if there is oil on it or its worn your going to have to take the gearbox of to have a look so makes no difference as long as you sort that leak at the same time!.

You can say yuk as much as you like. This weekend I'll be underneath scrubbing it down to see if I can find out exactly where its leaking from (weather permitting!)

Was doing it on mine, I think front upper gearbox mount is the problem. Although I changed the clutch and gearbox at the same time as a few other things and it went away after it was done. Didn't change the cable for another 12 months. Could be the problem, but not too likely.