Octavia Mk1 VRS - a "made-friday-afternoon-after-we've-been-to-the-pub-for-lunch" car (costs a fortune in repairs and spares I'm afraid but i love the drive so stick with it) 114k now.

Just had two coils fail so the garage suggested a replacement of all 4 ignition coils. Not replaced with VAG coils. The car works ok and is accelerating as well as ever but the engine warning light is on. Was into skoda today for a diagnostic (lack of trust with the garage that fitted the coils I'm afraid) and the report from the diagnostic unit was related to an "open circuit" error on all the cylinders. Skoda think this is down to the non-skoda parts. Does anyone elsa have experience of this problem. Skoda suggest a replacement of all 4 coils (£170) but having spent £140 on the ones that have gon in I'm a little reluctant to fork out again. The garage that fitted them is denying there's anything wrong as the car is functioning ok.

The old coils dated back to 2002 (replaced following a faulty batch in the new car) and had done 100k without a hiccup. References on the old coils (that I still have as 2 of them are ok) 06R 095 115J/L

I think you might have to bite the bullet and fork out for new VAG coilpacks, but if i were you i would buy and fit them yourself. There simple to fit and you should be able to get the four for about £100 ish. If you have two that are ok then only buy two for now if you want to save a few pound, i had two go within two weeks but the others went on for another four months. But in hindsight i would of changed all four at the same time!

I had 2 coils fail on separate times & my light came on but went off once coils were replaced. i have replaced all 4 coils with pattern parts from a local motor factors & had no problems. i doubt if its a problem with the replacement coils,its possible but its more likely to be a bad connection or damaged wire in the coil pack wiring loom.if you clear the codes does the light come back on?

I think you might have to bite the bullet and fork out for new VAG coilpacks, but if i were you i would buy and fit them yourself. There simple to fit and you should be able to get the four for about £100 ish. If you have two that are ok then only buy two for now if you want to save a few pound, i had two go within two weeks but the others went on for another four months. But in hindsight i would of changed all four at the same time!

£100 for 4 genuine coil packs.....not a chance,try £180+. i got 4 pattern ones using our work trade account & it cost £135.

Have you thought to change the plugs,they might be duff causing the coils to go?

I had 2 coils fail on separate times & my light came on but went off once coils were replaced. i have replaced all 4 coils with pattern parts from a local motor factors & had no problems. i doubt if its a problem with the replacement coils,its possible but its more likely to be a bad connection or damaged wire in the coil pack wiring loom.if you clear the codes does the light come back on?

You might be onto something. The error codes (from skoda's diagnostic printout) say N70, N127, N291 & N292 from cylinders 1-4 respectively. The description includes (for cyclinder 1) "Engine electronics - (P1355) Ingnition activation cylinder open circuit. Ignition coil ! with Power output stage -N70-" There are 4 of these messages with a change in the codes for each cylinder.

There are also other error codes including a "positioning motor for air flow flap valve - V71-" and a reference to a pressure drop "connection from turbocharger to throttle valve leaking" although skoda don't seem to be concerned about the last two errors.

The errors kept appearing after the technician reset the codes. Once the error is cleared and the car is swiched off it will then run ok without any warning for the next journey but once it's switched off and then restarted the EML comes back on.

I don't have a code reader but have just ordered a handheld VAG one for £90 so I can try different coils and then reset the EML.

I have had a search but can't find genuine VAG parts - will keep looking.

Thanks for your advice. This is a brilliant forum that I have looked at for a couple of years but never felt knowledgeable enough to post to.

Mickey VRS is right about the loom to the coilpack. It gets hot and brittle and the sheilding comes off the wires causing shorts. also the ground connection gets corroded and needs to be cleaned. All fairly straight forward and done in less than an hour. As well as checking the wiring I would definately recommend checking the plug gap (especially if you are remapped) and also they need to be tightened to the correct torque or the cylinder pressure can leak past the plug and even pop the coilpack up! Again a fairly easy thing to check. I had some real issues with coilpacks missfiring all the time and did start to worry that cylinder three was knackered but it turned out to be the plug gap was too big which killed the coilpacks.

£100 for 4 genuine coil packs.....not a chance,try £180+. i got 4 pattern ones using our work trade account & it cost £135.

try Ebay link for 4 Genuine coils for £100.

hth, Dave

try Ebay link for 4 Genuine coils for £100.

hth, Dave

I stand corrected...... that is a very good price if they are what they say they are. I paid more for pattern parts with a trade discount.