Less than a week into Skoda ownership, I was eased back into VAG car ownership with my first ever breakdown. Oh yay. Hence why I'm writing this at 1:30am, as I'm sure a sleepless night will endure whilst I worry about A- How to get to work tomorrow and B- how and where to get my car taken to. So lets see if you guys can diagnose this?

 

So I drove into Oxford, parked outside a friends, and when I started the car back up had a god awful misfire. I limped the car into central oxford and parked it up. There were no lights on the dash, just was running like a dumper truck. No metal shavings in the oil, good oil level etc. and no visible pipes or anything unplugged in the engine bay.

 

So after a surprisingly quick 90minute response from the RAC, the mechanic ran the fault codes. Misfire (Multiple) Cylinder 1, and 2. After clearing the codes, the car was miraculously cured. We both agree'd it was probably coilpacks.

 

HOWEVER - The coil packs have been replaced less than 1k ago by a skoda dealer. The car is on 86k with a FULL Skoda service history, and I only bought it last week. The Coilpacks do look fairly "Clean" as if they have been replaced.

 

Now, on the way home about a mile up the road I accelerated (not hard, I was still trying to nurse it home) out of a 30 and OH. ASR light and brake warning light, limited power. Further up the road this turned into an orange engine management light too. It wasn't misfiring though, so I limped it home.

 

Now first off, are these typical Coil pack symptoms? And secondly, will a call to my local Skoda in the morning do? I'm pretty stuffed without a car and considering they were replaced so recently (Although by a dealer not near me) surely it should be covered under a warranty? I will update this thread when I know anything I guess. Thanks for any advice on this.

When were the Spark Plugs last out and checked, gapped or replaced.?

You would think this was done when the Coils were replaced, but have you checked?

 

Coil Failure can be caused by Spark Plug failures, this caused by overheating.

When were the Spark Plugs last out and checked, gapped or replaced.?

You would think this was done when the Coils were replaced, but have you checked?

 

Coil Failure can be caused by Spark Plug failures, this caused by overheating.

Not checked myself, with there being a full service from Skoda in the book about 1k ago I thought it would all be okay haha. I'll mention this when I ring them, thanks!

I wouldn't expect anyone these days to check the condition and gap of plugs when fitting coil packs unless specifically asked. Worth doing though, could be linked. Your first set of symptoms sounded very much like coil packs, wouldn't be impossible to have a duff one, but 2? Unlikely.

Sounds ignition related. Symptoms are similar to MAF and CTS failure to but scan pinpointed it to cylinders anyway. ASR and brake light coming on is a bit strange. Did RAC have vag com or a generic code reader?

I wouldn't expect anyone these days to check the condition and gap of plugs when fitting coil packs unless specifically asked. Worth doing though, could be linked. Your first set of symptoms sounded very much like coil packs, wouldn't be impossible to have a duff one, but 2? Unlikely.

Sounds ignition related. Symptoms are similar to MAF and CTS failure to but scan pinpointed it to cylinders anyway. ASR and brake light coming on is a bit strange. Did RAC have vag com or a generic code reader?

Looked like a generic code reader. Going to try and drive it in Limp mode to Skoda, they open in half an hour so I'll give them a ring.

The only thing i can think of is if these have 'Hot Wire' MAF's then if some of the oil from the pipercross has got on there it could be giving some erroneous readings. 

The only thing i can think of is if these have 'Hot Wire' MAF's then if some of the oil from the pipercross has got on there it could be giving some erroneous readings. 

 

If it had a pipercross then this might be a good theory haha. Just has a K&N Panel filter, or was that what you were talking about?

Just  went to start it up, dash full of warning lights and running like a dumper truck again. Guess I wont be in work for another few hours then! ****ING CARS.

I think what J450N is referring to is too much dirt capture oil on the panel filter, which K&N need more than pipercross as it happens. If people put too much on it can get sucked in and onto the MAF sensor. Previous owner with good intentions may have serviced panel before selling and cocked it up a bit. To me it sounds like MAF or CTS. Try unplugging the Maf and see if its any better. I know his code reader pinpointed cylinders but something doesn't add up. Unplug MAF and if not that get it scanned on vcds/vag com.

Too many might not expect others to check spark plugs or do it themselves,

but there lies the problem more often than not.

 

Service Schedule / Guidelines are more often on Spark Plugs than on Ignition Coils as a Consumable.

& there are engines that have Spark Plugs having rather short life spans, even VW / NGK Long Life Plugs.

 

Basics first always when checking faults, not just Plug it in.

Fuel, Air & Spark.

 

Simple stuff, Internal Combustion Engine, Petrol not Diesel,

then once you are sure the simple things are all OK you then move on.

  Well that is how Mechanics were trained, Technicians not so much anymore.

 

As to 2 Cylinders,

you might find with Exhaust Emission Control, or EPC or Both that when in Limp Mode if triggered 2 Cylinders can be shut down as can the Turbo be Inhibited (Disabled) different engines obviously treated differently.

Reading Error Codes is all good and well.

 

But then you need enough errors in a Cycle on different ECU's at register a Code.

on the likes of a 1.4 TSI Twincharger you can have no tip left on one Spark Plug in Cylinder 3, 

and misfires and no codes Logged.

Edited 8 May, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

If it had a pipercross then this might be a good theory haha. Just has a K&N Panel filter, or was that what you were talking about?

 

Yea sorry, i meant a panel filter. lol

Unplugging the MAF did nothing I'm afraid. Just waiting on my mechanic now so he can scan it. Bloody hell there was me thinking I'd got rid of a money pit and got a nice mint low mileage car!

Get the plugs out and check them while you're waiting, mechanic can help you check for spark.

Right, cleared the codes. Car drives fine. Went for a blast, still okay. Going to give it a few days and if it starts going mental again I'll start replacing sensors. My mechanic has seen them do this with the same fault codes he got before, something to do with the ECU having a brain fart when stopping and starting the car in a short period of time. That or the V power and redex it got yesterday didn't agree with it.

What codes was it?

Can rule out replacing MAF as unplugging it made no difference. See how it settles down. Could have been just blowing some deposits through the fuel system...hhmmm like I say see how it goes.

The Redex was not necessary and you never mentioned that.

 

?

So were all 4 Spark Plugs removed and closely examined, the Ceramic for marks / Cracks and the tips, for Melting or the 

Earth Arm melting & the gaps checked?

The guy before me barely drove it so it could easily be that. Will see how it goes and update the thread! Will get it scanned again on my lunch to check. I need my own vag com.

Had no time to check that but will tonight thank you! Yeah I usually treat a car to expensive fuel and redex when I first buy them. I won't now! Haha

Nothing wrong with using Tesco Momentum 99 or the more expensive an no better Shell V-Power Nitro.

Lots wrong with putting Redex in.

 

Any reason the mechanic never just whipped out the spark plugs and checked, or is it because he is a Factory Trained Technician

and that everything is checked by codes rather than basic Motor Engineering practices?.

 

* It might not be them, but if you have Ignition Coils removed, 10 minutes checking is worth the effort.*

 

Rant nearly over,

there would be less engine failures if there were more Qualified or Experienced Mechanics and fewer Technicians and Fitters.

 

all the best with it.

Edited 8 May, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

No it's because I had to get to work and told him he could get his grubby hands on it later tonight. He's not only the best mechanic I know, but the best fabricator and welder. This sort of stuff I can do myself but when it comes to resetting fault codes I don't have the equipment.

Get an ODB reader (bluetooth) and you can do it yourself

Get an ODB reader (bluetooth) and you can do it yourself

When they work that is...

Work fine for me

Where in Oxfordshire are you ? I have VCDS as do many others locally im sure

Work fine for me

Could be 3rd time lucky but got fed up trying, got vcds anyway but it would be nice to find one that works to keep in the glovebox.