Well, went and picked up a 54 plate vRS today. Got it from Sandcliffe in Leics (not a Skoda dealership...the car was a part ex). Bodywork, interior and everything about it are great. HOWEVER! On the way home I was accelerating after a junction and I feel a hesitation. Traction control I think! Wrong! Look down and it's not the TC light that's flashing but the engine electronics light. Needless to say my heart sank, but not as much as it did when it started to run like a bag of nails. I stopped as soon as I could, got out, checked under the bonnet, checked the water temp. Turned it off, checked the oil, left it for a couple of mins, restarted but still the same.

I was only a mile or so from home, so limped home at about 30mph and parked up. Idles terribly and distinct smell of sulphur and unburnt fuel. So, I had an idea it could be coil packs, so have come up here and looked at the problems. Needless to say, they seem to fit, but, having checked them all, they're all N revision and they're all fairly newish looking. I've phoned the dealers and they're happy to sort it out, but since it still won't run properly after an hour of sitting off, it's unlikely I'll be able to drive it there.

So.....is it coil packs or could it be something else. Symptoms are as follows:

• Idle hunts between 500-800rpm

• Will rev fairly cleanly in neutral

• Put any load on it and it splutters

• Coming down a hill it sounds normal

• Try to accelerate in any gear and it shudders terribly
  

Try unplugging 1 coil pack at a time to see if the car runs worse or the same.

If the car runs the same on all but 1 when you unplug them to see if you have a duff coil plug.

Also check if they are pushed down properly especially no.2.

Could be coil packs but without fault code its anyons guess.

Back to the dealers, and get them to sort it

AA are on their way now. Got full cover, so will see what they say. Otherwise, it's back to the dealers on a flatbed!

I took all but the last pack out to to check the codes and reseated them, but it still wouldn't run well.

Could it be anything else? I'm a bit worried it's more terminal, but I've got the dealers to fall back on anyway. 14 day money back.....

Typical it should happen today.....it's my Birthday!

Typical it should happen today.....it's my Birthday!

Oh bad luck! At least you shouldn't be out of pocket whatever happens...

AA are on their way now. Got full cover, so will see what they say. Otherwise, it's back to the dealers on a flatbed!

I took all but the last pack out to to check the codes and reseated them, but it still wouldn't run well.

Could it be anything else? I'm a bit worried it's more terminal, but I've got the dealers to fall back on anyway. 14 day money back.....

Typical it should happen today.....it's my Birthday!

But did it get any worse when you removed the coil packs?

It will be the coil packs mate as thats what mine did but i had no engine light one

AA are on their way now. Got full cover, so will see what they say. Otherwise, it's back to the dealers on a flatbed!

I took all but the last pack out to to check the codes and reseated them, but it still wouldn't run well.

Could it be anything else? I'm a bit worried it's more terminal, but I've got the dealers to fall back on anyway. 14 day money back.....

Typical it should happen today.....it's my Birthday!

its also friday the 13th!!!!

is its not coils, what about a very leaky vacuum hose. would explain bad idling...

AA are legends so hopefully they will find it.

Happy Birthday Hope All Sorts Out!

It sounds like coil packs, but could be a vacumn hose, MAF or N75 I think. Whatever, it's clearly a case of "give a dealer a clue".

But did it get any worse when you removed the coil packs?

Fixed now! The numpties at the garage had bent the pack on cyl 1 causing it to fail. AA man had a spare (an R version) and the garage will pay the £41. Runs better than it did when I picked it up, must have been on it's way out!

I'll post some pictures of the beastie up soon enough. Really happy now!

Thanks for all your suggestions.

See told you it was nothing to worry about

Don't you just love a happy ending :grouphug: