Hello

My 1997 Skoda Felicia 1.3 LXi started to misfire last week, and has got steadily worse. I looked under the bonnet and saw sparks arching from the ignition coil. Mechanic told me that I needed a new coil.

I got a replacement coil today, but it wasn't until I had taken off the damaged coil that I noticed that they are ever so lightly different:

* New part is slightly larger

* There is the Skoda, VW, Seat and Audi badges on it, rather than just the Skoda badge

* The black points that cover the spark plugs are slightly different.

* The conenction is rounded on one end, not rectangular-sprung like on origional

* Wires going in are in a different order

ORIGIONAL

1 = green

2 = red

3 = grey & orange

4 = brown

NEW

1 = red

2 = green

3 = grey & orange

4 = brown

Can I match the colours or match the numbers?

Help please, as I'm not going anywhere until its sorted!

Does the engine run ok without misfiring? Changing the wires will just change the firing order I would think.

Does the engine run ok without misfiring? Changing the wires will just change the firing order I would think.

It still runs, but is very jumpy, especially at low revs. I was told by the garage that the coil was cracked (why the sparks were seen arching out) so I have bought a new one. I am unsure as to what to do with the wires. I will use an enclosed junction box to connect the old wires to the new ignition coil, and thinking that it will be ok as long as the order is the same.

This sound ok? If I get the firing order wrong, will it cause damage?

I get the feeling you've got the wrong part as you really shouldn't have to be changing engine wiring to make it work.

I get the feeling you've got the wrong part as you really shouldn't have to be changing engine wiring to make it work.

I agree, but was assured that it is the same part :confused:

If it fits, and plugs straight in - I'd do that and try fire up the engine. AFAIK wrong firing order would just mean it will not start, or in the unlikely event it does will run badly.

Eh, doesn't the coil feed the dizi ? And the dizi feed the cylinders ? So the coil wiring wouldn't affect the firing order ?

I got the impression this was one of the 1.3 MPI coils. There is no distributor on those models.

On the Haynes manual wiring diagram for the Simos 2p/1.3 mpi system the ignition coil has 4 wires. These are labelled 1 to 4 with colours being, in order - red, green/yellow, grey/red, and brown. These colours and numbers seem to match up with your new one.

Wires 2 and 3 are connected to the ECU, and wire 1 is the positive feed, and wire 4 is the earth contact. So messing up the wiring won't change the firing order, my mistake. I suspect there is a risk of damaging the ECU or the new coil if messing with the wiring, so be careful as it could end up being expensive....

But I would think if it fits over the spark plugs, and the connector will plug straight in then it should be ok. If it causes any damage then the seller would be liable for this damage, especially seeing as you checked with them it was the correct part. However, if you fiddle with the wiring and modify the part, then you'd be liable.

Edited 26 January, 200917 yr by anewman

Ah possible, Don't know when skoda stopped using distributors on their engines.

If you're not sure, get the supplying garage to fit.

That way if it all goes up the creak, then they have to fix it.

Ive had this problem with a replacement coil pack. When the wires were removed from the old plug and fitted, in the same order, to the new one , then fitted to the new coil , the engine would not run. I even tried all other combinations of fitting the wiring into the plug with no luck. I have also heard that genuine replacements are not available. Might be an idea to contact your local dealer

The replacement i had was listed as suitable for felicia and fabia

If it fits, and plugs straight in - I'd do that and try fire up the engine. AFAIK wrong firing order would just mean it will not start, or in the unlikely event it does will run badly.

word of caution, i pluged the distributor wiring wrong one time (extremely advance timing i guess) and the starter suffered damages caused by this...

if you have the receipt, the best option OMHO is just to do a quick trip and replace the part, i know more work,,, but safe work..

Well after a few minutes with torch, knife, and terminal block I wired up the new ignition coil. I also swapped the rubber "hoods"(?) that fit over the spark plugs and contain a spring from the old part to the new one. I went by number order, so that 1 =1 , 2=2, etc... but the engine only turned over and did not fire. So I swapped 1 and 2 so that 1 = 2 and 2 = 1 (although the colours and core thicknesses matched) and it works a treat!

Thank you all for your help and advice. I would have taken the part back when I noticed it was not identical, but not sure how you go about getting your money back from a breakers yard! And for just over £30 I got it sorted, rather than paying a lot more at a garage!

Could have been worse tho - some garages charge you £100s of pounds to plug in a computer, and that don't always yield results! Hoorah for old(er) cars!

Could have been worse tho - some garages charge you £100s of pounds to plug in a computer, and that don't always yield results! Hoorah for old(er) cars!

Glad you got it sorted... time for some more happy motoring then!

But your felly can also be plugged into a computer to see if any problems are lurking in the ecu!