VW Polo problem with car stalling while driving

F

Fappas

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Hi Peeps. I need some advice. My car starts fine, drives fine, but every 2 to 3 km the fuel pressure disappear and the car dies. It then usually only start after the 3rd swing. Then there's a very strong petrol smell. Fuel also drops fast when this happens. It then drives fine and then the same happens.

The car doesn't die immediately. You just suddenly feel no power on the accelerator. When this happens and you put in the clutch is when the dash lights comes on and car dies.

Please forward any ideas of what it can be.

Thanks,
 
Does the fuel gauge go back to the original position after restarting or stays low?
 
That Fuel pump. Had it happen to me as well. If, at any point, it refuses point blank to start, just let your engine cool a bit before trying again.
 
99.99% sure that it is fuel pump as well.

My brother's Jetta needs its one replaced every 18 months!!
 
Stupid question and I could totally be wrong here.

With this in mind "fuel drops fast" could it not be the fuel tank breather that is blocked?

The pressure causes the tank to swell up (which is why the fuel level drops) and then the pressure is released somewhere.

This could also damage the fuel pump
 
Last edited:
catman37 said:
Stupid question and I could totally be wrong here.

With this in mind "fuel drops fast" could it not be the fuel tank breather that is blocked?

The pressure causes the tank to swell up (which is why the fuel level drops) and then the pressure is released somewhere.

This could also damage the fuel pump
Click to expand...

Its the 1st time i hear of the "fuel tank breather". Where on the tank is that?
 
GhostSixFour said:
That Fuel pump. Had it happen to me as well. If, at any point, it refuses point blank to start, just let your engine cool a bit before trying again.
Click to expand...

So is it possible for the fuel pump to stop pumping while driving? And then start pumping again when you start? If the fuel pump is finished doesn't it stop pumping completely?
 
Some cars have a small hole in the fuel cap. Way back a mate had a bantam that use to cut out because the little hole was blocked.
 
catman37 said:
Stupid question and I could totally be wrong here.

With this in mind "fuel drops fast" could it not be the fuel tank breather that is blocked?

The pressure causes the tank to swell up (which is why the fuel level drops) and then the pressure is released somewhere.

This could also damage the fuel pump
Click to expand...

I've actually heard of this happening before, and in an extreme case, it actually deformed the fuel tank, such was the pressure of the blockage.
 
I suppose you Fappas could drive a bit with out the fuel cap on and see what it does. Not sure if the tank has to be pressurised for a fuel injected car ????

Just make sure you don't have a full tank.
 
I had a similar problem with my old Golf, but in my case it was the fuel pipe going to the pump, which had slit in it from old age which caused air to be pumped in instead of fuel.
 
Fappas said:
Hi Peeps. I need some advice. My car starts fine, drives fine, but every 2 to 3 km the fuel pressure disappear and the car dies. It then usually only start after the 3rd swing. Then there's a very strong petrol smell. Fuel also drops fast when this happens. It then drives fine and then the same happens.

The car doesn't die immediately. You just suddenly feel no power on the accelerator. When this happens and you put in the clutch is when the dash lights comes on and car dies.

Please forward any ideas of what it can be.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

What do you mean by this? Is it the fuel gauge you're talking about.
 
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