Damn Polo not starting again!

[Josho]

Been having trouble with this stupid Polo, 97 1.4 about 78K. Was having trouble starting it and it was cutting out ect. Cleaned it thoroughly with carb cleaner all the throttle body ect. and it has been brilliant. Really running well. Until this morning. Fired up for a couple of seconds and now won't start. HE sat there cranking it til the battery died, a good 5 mins and wouldn't go. Went out in our Golf and came back, put some leads on the Golf to the Polo and tried again. I thought it was possibly an immobiliser fault and it won't disarm the fuel pump.

Tried starting again, same trouble. Turning over fine jump leads even getting warm but nope. It occasionally judders as if a sparks just been fired and it's about to go, but won't.

Plenty of fuel in it. I've told him to disconnect the battery for a while, a good 20mins to let the ECU reset. See how it goes from there. I'm tempted to buy some Easy Start, but I dunno if that will help at all.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[rubjonny]

does the fuel pump prime?  disconnect the middle lead from dizzy and put it on inlet or rocker cover, something it can earth to.  crank it and check it sparks.

[Josho]

Thanks for that advice.

Anyway, went out there and he was cranking it with some leads hooked up to our Golf. He'd dissconnected it for 20 mins.

Went out there, saw smoke comming from his engine bay. He'd been cranking for so long, it started melting the jump leads! 

I had  to go out, so got the AA man out and he's burned out the starter. No idea what's wrong with the engine now. Can't start it anyway. AA want £201 for a starter then £70 an hour.

I'll either do it or I'll get it towed to our mechanic, he can replace it at £30 an hour and cheaper parts (trade discount) and then he's got a full VAG-COM so he can diagnose it further.