Hi folks

I was driving along last night, about 40 miles into my 65 mile journey, when the car gave a bit of a cough and the EML came on. It lots a bit of power and sounded rough, so I assumed that the exhaust had broken (MOT is due, always expect exhaust to fail!).

I carried on driving and noticed that the EML would turn off if I coasted an would return under acceleration. Got to my destination, enjoyed the gig, came back to the car and tried it to see if it was any better. It wasn't, so the AA was called and they towed me home. The AA guy says he thinks it's a coil pack that's gone on it (makes sense to me with it just being cylinder 4 missing), just wondering if anyone else has any suggestions.

Funds are mighty tight at the moment, so I'm really hoping it is a coil pack as I can fit that myself and they're pretty cheap.

Thanks in advance people!

Try spark plugs first as they're cheaper. If they have never been replaced and there's over 50k miles it could easily be that.

Worst case scenario would be something like the headgasket.

I shall try spark plugs first then, thank you.

Checked plugs (swapped them round to see if misfire stayed in same place), they all work fine. Took the whole coil pack out, put plugs in and turned engine over, plug 4 not firing. Also borrowed a compression tester from my friendly local independent and confirmed that it definitely not a head gasket issue. Thank heavens!

My friendly local independent has ordered me a new coil pack and I shall be fitting that tomorrow evening.

Thanks for help so far chaps, will let you know if that fails to cure it.

Edited 14 July, 201114 yr by nea102

Genuine coil pack is £120 plus VAT iirc.

Got mine at cost, not sure if it's OEM etc though. Still, at £54 I'm not going to whinge too much.

Also, I have a bit of confusion over the engine in my car...

The engine cover states that it's an MPI, so I would assume that it is the 8V variant. The V5 document also says 8V. The badge on the back says 16V. Now, common sense would leave me to believe that it is indeed an 8V BUT... I checked the MOT history on the DVLA website and in 2008 there was a change of detail in 2008 and again in 2009. I bought the car of my dad, so I know he didn't have the engine changed or anything. Any easy way to tell other than take bits off and manually count the valves?

I'd guess that if its got a coil pack instead of COP - ie individual coils mounted on the plugs, so no HT leads, then it would be the Skoda engine, if its 16V then its a VW engine and wil have COP and so no coil packs or HT leads.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320644709954#ht_1433wt_1139

That's what my coil pack looks like. That from the 8V then?

Got a call from the garage who ordered me in the coils pack - they were sent the wrong one! I'm now officially puzzled as to what engine my car has in, because surely when they check for parts, they do it of a system that takes info from the V5?

This is the 8v/mpi

It is Over-Head Valve design, and so the spark plugs are at the front of the engine with the coil pack, which fits to all 4 plugs.

I can't find a good picture of a 16v, they all have the engine covers on.

Cool, mystery solved. It is indeed the 8V I have then. Thank you!

Right, got new and correct ignition coil, fitted it and Bub is back up and running like a good 'un. Thanks for assistance people!

Cool, nice to know it's sorted.

Mines a little 8v, it rocks!

Is that a custom RHS engine mount, or has the top plate just not been re-fitted? I like the hose directing external airflow to the induction filter, nice touch. Also notice the battery box appears non-standard.

Not all the MPis had the top plate and the battery box is the original.