Just came back from 2 weeks of mountain biking in wales on sunday. Car loaded with 3 bikes on the roof and load of gear in the boot. 3 miles into a 120 mile journey and the car starts running very rough (huge vibration) and the check-engine light comes on. Coilpack, I assume.

For 3.5 years and 53,000 miles it was fine. Damn.

Very difficult and uncomfortable journey.

Just dropped it into my local dealer who will "try and fit it in".

And the silver seats are filthy too.

I carry 2 spares just in case, together with a large screwdriver to remove the engine cover (a small coin would also do), a 10mm socket to undo the nut holding the vacuum tank which is above the No 3 and 4 coilpacks, and a 5mm Allen key to remove the (green anodised) bolts holding the bracket which covers the No 4 coilpack. See below:

Sounds like a good idea.

How can you tell which coilpack needs replacing?

Disconnect each in turn.

took me all of ten minutes to do all four,simple as changing a plug lead.

did anyone else have some exposed wire on the leads? number 1&2 had a bit of insulation missing off the wires.now covered of course

Got all 4 replaced as a warrenty repair (despite the car being 3.5 years old) as the car should have had all it's coils replaced at the next service (as per a service notice from Skoda which has probably been mentioned here before).

Another load off my mind.