Running on three cylinders

1996 VOLKSWAGEN POLO
19,000 MILES • 1.4L • 4 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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ZUSEY02
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My car seems to running on three cylinders. Replaced coil pack, plugs,leads and cylinder four injector. I know it is cylinder four since when i take the plug leads off one by one cylinder four makes no difference. Could it be a blown head gasket or blocked throttle body? I notice that when the car is sat their idling the tick over slightly increases and decreases by its self.
Car does not have an ECU so cannot diagnose electronically.

Any help much appreciated.

Regards, Mike.
Oct 29, 2016 at 3:37 AM
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JIS001
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If you have a vacuum gauge then check your manifold vacuum. If needle bounces when you here the tick then you have a sticky valve and will need a valve job on the head. You may also want to do a compression test. Here is a link for misfire diagnoses.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

Oct 29, 2016 at 9:38 AM