Rang my (new) Skoda dealer today, to check on stock levels. They haven't had any warnings to increase stock levels (yet). They have been Seat main dealers for a while; recently took over the Skoda franchise from Langstone Motor Company.

Anyway, the guy in the spares department is keeping a couple of "L" suffix coil packs ready for me to collect on the weekend (

Originally posted by big k in this post

haven't heard the rummor about coil packs yet but will over stock this winter (hope skoda take back excess stock) as for audi dictating colours tell me about it skoda are the same i guess they have gaines that bulls**t from the vag group.

My local dealer is ditching Skoda because of it....he is very small - but very good on sales etc -- but he can't justify the expense of a new dealership - which is what Skoda want.....however Fiat - are quite happy to re-brand him,supply his used stock & parts stock & train the techs and supply special tools -- for a - what he called - "ridiculous amount of money - no contest"

Edited to say- Having said the above - a more recent conversation with one of his colleagues leads me to believe all is not lost -- maybe LadyLoki can advise ?

oh dear, im begining to feel worried about this coil business!!! i own a 2001 vRS only 16k on the clock, im the second owner and to my knowledge no coils have been replaced. i really dont want to breakdown and get stuck somewhere! any advice? sell the car maybe(joke)

yeh we are having to move into a town centre but are taking on a daihatsu dealship in our old place daihatsu very simple low cost (just like was of old and yes i can remember that far back i come from the breed of skoda uk in kings lynn)

Originally posted by kenny in this post

oh dear, im begining to feel worried about this coil business!!! i own a 2001 vRS only 16k on the clock, im the second owner and to my knowledge no coils have been replaced. i really dont want to breakdown and get stuck somewhere! any advice? sell the car maybe(joke)

Dont drive it...or get a diesel.

Andy:rolleyes:

Originally posted by kenny in this post

oh dear, im begining to feel worried about this coil business!!! i own a 2001 vRS only 16k on the clock, im the second owner and to my knowledge no coils have been replaced. i really dont want to breakdown and get stuck somewhere! any advice? sell the car maybe(joke)

Kenny -- my advice -- for what it's worth -- get yourself down to your local dealer and buy 2 coils -- they are not expensive around

Should be OK if I keep my driving local have 6 spares when driving the RS and 4 when driving the Superb

Originally posted by skodaw in this post

Kenny -- my advice -- for what it's worth -- get yourself down to your local dealer and buy 2 coils -- they are not expensive around

Depends on your engine -- some have a bracket over 1 of the coils - which requires removal with 10mm and some engine's have their coils secured by 2 8mm allen bolts.

Dave's right, the RS has something bolted ontop of cyl 3 and 4 that requires removal. Cyl 1 & 2 are no problem though.

what type of coils should i get(what is the type that doesnt break, lol) should i just book my car into the dealer and get the 4 replaced?

The original ones that had the problem ended with codes upto "H" and from "J" on they should be ok. You maybe lucky and have all "J" anyway. I now have 2 old "H" and 2 "J" in mine, and carry a spare "J" just incase.

Kenny, I carry 2 spare Js - a bit of belt and braces - but if you just buy one J (or L if that is suitable) for emergencies that should be enough to keep you mobile and, more importantly, to give you a feeling of security. Hopefully all of us with the problematic coils will get them replaced FOc in the fullness fo time. The USA currently seems to have priority for a recall.

I have 3 J coilpacks as spares.

So I can get all mine replaced if 2 or more fail? Guess how many dead ones I have in my garage? Hmm, I feel a bulk coilpack replacement coming on

oh dear, how can i tell what coil packs i have? my car is a Y reg. none have gone so far, have i just been lucky? should i put it into the dealer to get them replaced

Stupid question - if one goes wrong - how do you know which one to change at the side of the road???

Steve

Originally posted by kenny in this post

oh dear, how can i tell what coil packs i have? my car is a Y reg. none have gone so far, have i just been lucky? should i put it into the dealer to get them replaced

The only reliable way to identify them is by inspection. You'll have to remove the engine cover (turn the four clip thingies a quarter turn anticlockwise), then you can see the coil packs. The serial number is stamped on them somewhere near the wiring connector. It might be necessary to unclip the connector (ease the latch gently with a small screwdriver,and pull) to get a good look at the number.

Originally posted by skodaw in this post

Depends on your engine -- some have a bracket over 1 of the coils - which requires removal with 10mm and some engine's have their coils secured by 2 8mm allen bolts.

D'oh! I should have remembered the bracket! Still, IIRC, mine haven't got the allen bolts to contend with.

Must get the cover off & check...

Originally posted by steveredvrs in this post

Stupid question - if one goes wrong - how do you know which one to change at the side of the road???

Without diag tools it will be trial and error, easiest way is to switch off ign and remove key, and disconnect 1st one. Try and start car. if it starts and feels just as lumpy, you found it 1st time. if it starts but is worse, then its not that one. switch off ign and remove key, then on to the next one and repeat.

I think I read somewhere that No 3 is the most common failure. Use Manny's method, starting with that one

lol, some amount of messing around. i think a trip to the dealer is in order. ill get them to replace them all as a precaution, what you think? will they supply me with the new type or will i need to check with them?

Just remembered a conversation last weekend with a Seat owner who said there is a theory that excess heat is a factor in coil pack failures and had been recommended to lose the plastic engine cover. I know some of our members run without the cover (usually due to big dump valves).

Do any of these members have experiences with coil pack failure to suggest there is, or is not, a correlation between these two things?

Originally posted by ncarring in this post

I think I read somewhere that No 3 is the most common failure. Use Manny's method, starting with that one

How can #3 be the most common?.. surely it shouldnt make a difference! :confused:

in all seriousness

is a trip to the dealer is in order? am i aswell getting them to replace them all as a precaution instead of carrying them about?, what you think? will they supply me with the new type or will i need to check with them? dont want to replace them with other faulty ones

Kenny, they wont, and I repeat, wont replace coil packs up front. It wont hurt to ask, but be prepared to take no for an answer.