Help! Coil pack failed? Symptoms?

fastVeRSion · 19-06-2004, 17:36

Just started up from cold. Car felt a bit rough but i thought hey ho it'll sort itself out in a minute. Wrong! - the cars misfiring badly and after turning round to come back home 'check engine' light starts flashing...

Get it home and switch off and there's a definate burning smell.

Does this sound like coil pack failure? If so, can I drive it to a dealer or should I ring up and get it towed?

Would you believe the dealer refused to replace the coil pack when i bought the car, saying that it was too new to have coils that are prone to fail. I am not happy

Steve vRS · 19-06-2004, 17:58

Yup that's a coil pack. Don't drive it and get the AA out. The patrol that came to me carried a spare! My dealer then replaced all 4 packs.

Steve

**mannyo** · 19-06-2004, 18:58

Yep, coilpack for sure. I am suprised they didnt check and change them before you took delivery.

fastVeRSion · 19-06-2004, 19:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannyo

Yep, coilpack for sure. I am suprised they didnt check and change them before you took delivery.

I was specifically told that 'they do not fail on cars this new' after I asked for them to be changed as a precaution. At the time, I accepted that because I didn't know any different. Guess what sort of review i'm gonna post for this dealer.

Blubber2 · 19-06-2004, 19:23

Sounds like my ex-dealer. Who was it?

fastVeRSion · 19-06-2004, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blubber2

Sounds like my ex-dealer. Who was it?

Riding & Co Preston.

Blubber2 · 19-06-2004, 19:41

No not mine, that means now there must be 2 bad Skoda dealer in the UK.

fastVeRSion · 19-06-2004, 19:49

To give them some benefit, it was the salesman who told me that, not someone from service / parts dept. Maybe if the question was put to them, I may have got a different answer.

ventmore · 19-06-2004, 20:14

Sorry if I sound dense, but what is a coil pack?

Am picking my new VRS up next week, is this something I should worry about?

Cheers
Ventmore

fastVeRSion · 19-06-2004, 20:21

Others may correct me if i'm wrong, but as far as i understand it, each sparkplug lead has its own coil and they are prone to melting due to a manufacturing fault or just bad design?

My advice, buy some spare ones before you get a problem...

ventmore · 19-06-2004, 20:25

@fastVeRSion
If I buy spares, will this eradicate the problem for good?...should I make the dealer change these FOC before taking the car away?

Cheers
Ventmore

**mannyo** · 19-06-2004, 20:31

There are serveral versions of these coilpacks on all VW 1.8T engines, not just the vRS. They were originally fitted with the "H" coilpack, like mine. These were the really prone to failure ones, usually on damp days for some reason. Then came the "J" ones, these were better and this is what I now have. VW changed supplier, and then came "L" I think which is the current one. So if its a brand new car, shouldnt be a problem, simillarly late 02 on should be ok. I still carry a spare since my 1st one failed. I had 2 failures before the skoda tech bulletin, its posted somewhere in general.

fastVeRSion · 19-06-2004, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by ventmore

@fastVeRSion
If I buy spares, will this eradicate the problem for good?...should I make the dealer change these FOC before taking the car away?

Cheers
Ventmore

There's 2 or 3 versions of the same part out there (any will work) and some are more prone to fail than others. Even if you get new ones, you may still have one fail at some point. If the car's under warranty, a dealer will replace FOC but only _after_ one has failed...

I wish I had some spare ones to hand at the mo - i'd be out there putting a new one in right now....

fastVeRSion · 19-06-2004, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannyo

I still carry a spare since my 1st one failed.

Mannyo, have you got any idea on pricing for a spare set? Also, I am sure I saw a replacement procedure on here somewhere, any ideas where I saw it 'cause i can't find it now...

KLB · 19-06-2004, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by ventmore

@fastVeRSion
If I buy spares, will this eradicate the problem for good?...should I make the dealer change these FOC before taking the car away?

Cheers
Ventmore

If your car is a new(ish) model, then you don't need to worry much.

The problem coils packs (identified by the suffix "H" after the serial number) came from a single supplier and were fitted to cars built from early 2001 to (mid? late?) 2002. They are (were) prone to breakdown, resulting in misfires and other engine problems.

Earlier ("G") and later ("J" and "L") variants are much more reliable.

MonkeyHanger · 19-06-2004, 20:43

ANY part can fail.

However the new type coilpacks are LESS prone to failure than the old ones.

Nothing is 100% reliable, if your car has the "new" coils then your dealer is absoloutely correct. You may well be one of the first to have a failure.

Alternatively, your car may have been fitted with older coils at the factory, in which case your argument is with Skoda, not your dealer

ventmore · 19-06-2004, 20:45

Cheers guys...appreciate the advice.

Ventmore

Steve vRS · 19-06-2004, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLB

If your car is a new(ish) model, then you don't need to worry much.

The problem coils packs (identified by the suffix "H" after the serial number) came from a single supplier and were fitted to cars built from early 2001 to (mid? late?) 2002. They are (were) prone to breakdown, resulting in misfires and other engine problems.

Earlier ("G") and later ("J" and "L") variants are much more reliable.

Wrong I'm afraid.

Mine was a Oct 2003 car and no.3 pack melted! My car was from Ridings too. They are a strange bunch. The salesman takes you out in their REVO'd demo then the service manager tells you any mod (even brakes) invalidates the whole warrenty. I've taken my service business elsewhere, even though I had 2 years free servicing

Steve

**mannyo** · 19-06-2004, 20:47

Check the 1st post in this thread

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showt...light=coilpack

Steve, I suppose its possible that before you bought yours, the dealer had to change another customers coilpacks and may have swapped them with yours. When my 1st one failed They were going to get the replacement from the brand new one in the showroom, except it was sold to someone.

KLB · 19-06-2004, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastVeRSion

Mannyo, have you got any idea on pricing for a spare set? Also, I am sure I saw a replacement procedure on here somewhere, any ideas where I saw it 'cause i can't find it now...

OK, I'm not mannyo, but...
"L" coilpacks were (IIRC) around £18:50 exc. VAT not so long ago. I have two sitting in my boot - bought the week before Skoda told their dealers to check and replace any "H" ones free of charge (got mine replaced the very next week...). If anyone wants to buy one for £10 (buyer collects), PM me - first come, first served...

19-06-2004, 17:36	#1
fastVeRSion Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: North West Posts: 408 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help! Coil pack failed? Symptoms? Just started up from cold. Car felt a bit rough but i thought hey ho it'll sort itself out in a minute. Wrong! - the cars misfiring badly and after turning round to come back home 'check engine' light starts flashing... Get it home and switch off and there's a definate burning smell. Does this sound like coil pack failure? If so, can I drive it to a dealer or should I ring up and get it towed? Would you believe the dealer refused to replace the coil pack when i bought the car, saying that it was too new to have coils that are prone to fail. I am not happy

19-06-2004, 17:58	#2
Steve vRS Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cumbria and Cheshire Posts: 1,145 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Yup that's a coil pack. Don't drive it and get the AA out. The patrol that came to me carried a spare! My dealer then replaced all 4 packs. Steve __________________ From Tavia vRS 230bhp to Impreza WRX STi Version V Type R to Clio 182 Cup and now a vRS TDi Octy II in Lightning McQueen Red

19-06-2004, 18:58	#3
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage Herts. Posts: 10,760 Thanks: 27 Thanked 265 Times in 248 Posts	Yep, coilpack for sure. I am suprised they didnt check and change them before you took delivery. __________________ Manny 2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info

19-06-2004, 19:23	#5
Blubber2 Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sussex by the Sea Posts: 187 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sounds like my ex-dealer. Who was it? __________________ Blubber2 We shall show them mercy, but we shall ask for none!

19-06-2004, 19:41	#7
Blubber2 Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sussex by the Sea Posts: 187 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No not mine, that means now there must be 2 bad Skoda dealer in the UK. __________________ Blubber2 We shall show them mercy, but we shall ask for none!

19-06-2004, 19:49	#8
fastVeRSion Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: North West Posts: 408 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	To give them some benefit, it was the salesman who told me that, not someone from service / parts dept. Maybe if the question was put to them, I may have got a different answer.

19-06-2004, 20:14	#9
ventmore Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 592 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry if I sound dense, but what is a coil pack? Am picking my new VRS up next week, is this something I should worry about? Cheers Ventmore

19-06-2004, 20:21	#10
fastVeRSion Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: North West Posts: 408 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Others may correct me if i'm wrong, but as far as i understand it, each sparkplug lead has its own coil and they are prone to melting due to a manufacturing fault or just bad design? My advice, buy some spare ones before you get a problem...

19-06-2004, 20:25	#11
ventmore Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 592 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	@fastVeRSion If I buy spares, will this eradicate the problem for good?...should I make the dealer change these FOC before taking the car away? Cheers Ventmore

19-06-2004, 20:31	#12
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage Herts. Posts: 10,760 Thanks: 27 Thanked 265 Times in 248 Posts	There are serveral versions of these coilpacks on all VW 1.8T engines, not just the vRS. They were originally fitted with the "H" coilpack, like mine. These were the really prone to failure ones, usually on damp days for some reason. Then came the "J" ones, these were better and this is what I now have. VW changed supplier, and then came "L" I think which is the current one. So if its a brand new car, shouldnt be a problem, simillarly late 02 on should be ok. I still carry a spare since my 1st one failed. I had 2 failures before the skoda tech bulletin, its posted somewhere in general. __________________ Manny 2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info

19-06-2004, 20:43	#16
MonkeyHanger BANNED Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Anywhere but here Posts: 8,781 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ANY part can fail. However the new type coilpacks are LESS prone to failure than the old ones. Nothing is 100% reliable, if your car has the "new" coils then your dealer is absoloutely correct. You may well be one of the first to have a failure. Alternatively, your car may have been fitted with older coils at the factory, in which case your argument is with Skoda, not your dealer

19-06-2004, 20:45	#17
ventmore Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 592 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cheers guys...appreciate the advice. Ventmore

19-06-2004, 20:47	#19
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage Herts. Posts: 10,760 Thanks: 27 Thanked 265 Times in 248 Posts	Check the 1st post in this thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showt...light=coilpack Steve, I suppose its possible that before you bought yours, the dealer had to change another customers coilpacks and may have swapped them with yours. When my 1st one failed They were going to get the replacement from the brand new one in the showroom, except it was sold to someone. __________________ Manny 2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info Last edited by mannyo; 19-06-2004 at 20:50.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode