Vw polo 1996 difficult to start

Check your cooler and also the flow of the radiator if it is circulating.

check timing

need to have it checked out,could be low oil or oil pump failing,,was these things checked??

First- lets change engine coolant sensor/ECT/ and you will be very surprised.Black head with four pins.Be very carefull when change it because there is pressure into coolant system.First-open slowly the cap of engine coolant tank.Then tighten again to safe coolant.Unplug the sensor,remove the pin and pull out the sensor.If the "O"ring/old one/ is still inside-take it out.

You need to check the cable the runs from the gas pedal to the engine, it might be rusty and need some drops of penetrating oil at the point it meets with the engine accelerator valve.

i take it its a petrol engine? if so sounds like a motorized throttle body fault

There are many number of reasons for this problem...but a VERY common one is a faulty thermo sensor which controls air / fuel ratio.
John

Hi, I have a 2001 polo 1.4 mpi it lackes power when you hit a hill it just dies, It has had new cat, fuel filter, fuel pump and throttle body, but is still the same it just dose not want to give me full rev's?

you may have 2 problems 1 ightion switch and a seat belt pretensioner both faly common problems

hi you need the seals replacing in the box when they are cold the become hard as they warm up they start to do what there are suppose to yates210456