VW Polo 3rd gear limiter problems

[lhammo]

Hi all.

I have a 1.4 VW polo 2001. I have a strange issue in 3rd gear only. It will accelerate well until it reaches 5000RPM when the limiter will kick in. Every other gear is fine and goes through the Rev range. We have asked mechanics but they all seem stumped, looked around on forums and found nothing. Any ideas will be much appreciated.

Many thanks, Lisa.

[Rhubarb]

I think you're mad trying to rev a 15 year old engine higher than that!

[Noberator]

The rev limiter or red line as it's known is there to protect the engine.

Your not hitting the set RPM limit in the other gears because your not at the pre-determined RPM set level so just don't redline it in third gear and change up to fourth well before the 5000 RPM red line limit.

Your not doing the engine and gearbox any good redlining it in third gear or any gear for that matter if it's on a regular basis.

[Joepublic]

You don't say what it revs to in 1st, 2nd, 4th or fifth?

[lhammo]

Hi Joepublic

Sorry forgot to say, redlines at around 6,500RPM. Every other gear goes past 5000 without a problem.

Any help would be great ☺

[Joepublic]

May 2, 2016 18:53:19 GMT 1 lhammo said:

Hi Joepublic

Sorry forgot to say, redlines at around 6,500RPM. Every other gear goes past 5000 without a problem.

Any help would be great ☺

I think you should buy a faster VW

Power will be tailing off by then, you'll probably gain speed faster by changing up anyway.

[rhyds]

I've only ever had one car that could hit the limiter in 3rd, and that was a twin-spark Alfa Romeo 146 (it had an 8500RPM limiter and revved like a power drill).

Personally, I'd double check its actually the limiter kicking in and not an under load missfire, and I'd also invest in a spare bottom end for when the pistons fly out of the bonnet.

[Karl]

Are there any drive ability issues ?

Likes been said its not a good idea to drive an old/worn engine like that

[lhammo]

Haha thanks for the help guys.

All it is, is I brought the car and my other half took it for a proper drive to test the engines full potential. Please don't assume I cane the crap out of it, I don't. I was worried that because its not hitting anywhere near the red line in 3rd that it may be an underlying issue with the engine. As I am thinking of selling her for a bigger car so I want it to be cushty for the next owner.

And yes Joepublic, a faster VW sounds great ?

[lhammo]

KarlB

No it doesn't effect the drive at all. Just curious as to what it could be. Worried there may be problems with the engine or gearbox.

[Karl]

Then it sounds perfectly fine to me , and if you've also had a second opinion from a garage. And they couldn't fault it. I wouldn't worry

[wheelnut]

Nobody has answered her question, why would a limiter cut in on third gear but not on any other gear?

Where does it say she "also had a second opinion from a garage. And they couldn't fault it"? Post 1 says in part "We have asked mechanics but they all seem stumped"

[rhyds]

Unless you have a ridiculously low geared box, a downhill run of serious distance, a fooked clutch, or a takeoff assistance rocket I doubt you can get a 1.4 Polo to hit its limiter in 4th or 5th, or would ever need to.

[Noberator]

May 5, 2016 7:50:41 GMT 1 rhyds said:

Unless you have a ridiculously low geared box, a downhill run of serious distance, a fooked clutch, or a takeoff assistance rocket I doubt you can get a 1.4 Polo to hit its limiter in 4th or 5th, or would ever need to.

It's all about Gear Ratios as rhyds mentioned.

First gear is the highest and fifth or six gear will be the lowest and third gear somewhere in the middle for quick overtaking (when safe to do so).

The gear ratios in transmission and final drive are important because different gear ratios will change the characteristics of a vehicle's performance.

[rhyds]

Personally I'm thinking its a heavy load missfire. Getting anywhere near the limiter in 3rd is going to involve running the engine at maximum power for a long time.