Hi everyone,

 

I'm hoping someone can help me out.

 

I have a skoda fabia 2001 1.4lL 16v 75hp, and it has been running rough and misfiring the last few days. So i decided to try replacing the Ignition coil pack as the spark plugs still look fine and were changed just 3 months and 1000 miles previous.

 

Before replacing the ignition coil pack the car was starting, just running rough and jumping if you tryed to drive it anywhere.

 

It was pretty simple to replace the ignition coil pack, just removed the engine cover and unplugged air hose into the cover, unplugged the leads from the pack, removed the 3 ignition coil screws, unplugged the lead into pack and install the new pack in reverse order. I took care to note the lead positions and they are all labeled anyway so im pretty sure i didn't reattach them wrong.

 

However when i went to start the car the engine seemed like it was trying to turn over then failed and the key was locked from trying again. After i removed the key and tryed again to start the car again I wouldn't even try and turn over, there was no clicking or noise of any kind from the engine and then the key is locked from trying to turn again.

 

There are a few warning lights on while trying to start (ECU, PAS, EEM, ABS), but the more noticable is the red brake fluid level light that is flashing and 3 beeps are sounding.

 

Anyone got any ideas what happened?

 

I have tryed putting the previous ignition coil pack back in but it still won't even attempt to start. It seems as like its locked out some how, is that something that happens.

 

Would really appreciate any advice or opinion here as i'm a bit confused at to what to do next.

 

Thanks

 

Lee

 

Check the wire going to the starter motor solenoid. They have a nasty habit of breaking just at the cable entry of the connector.

Also check the battery hasn't died.

Ok will check both, and thanks for the quick replys guys!

 

I checked the battery with my multimeter and its reading ~9-10 volts, could this be the problem?

 

I haven't had a chance to try jump starting it or charge the battery, but I think that will be my next step.
 

I couldn't see the starter motor solenoid at all, I belive it is underneath the battery holder and I was having so much trouble removing it I quickly gave up and decided to only fully investigate that aftrer I have confrimed the battery isn't the issue.

Yes, try charging battery but may be beyond hope.

Battery is utterly dead, at 9-10 volts you'll definitely need a new one going into the winter.

I gotta say, I'm quite surprised the battery is so dead, the car was running and starting fine just a few days before.

 

Is it just a coincidence that the battery died just after the ignition coil changed? Could I have done something to kill the battery?

 

 

How old is it?

4 minutes ago, leety12 said:

Is it just a coincidence that the battery died just after the ignition coil changed?

I should think so, yes. Have you fitted a different stereo, or anything 'aftermarket' recently?

Does your battery light come on when you turn on the ignition and go off again once the engine is running (may not be able to tell until charged/new battery is fitted).

7 minutes ago, xman said:

How old is it?

 

I don't know, we have only had the car 6 months and I see nothing the service book notes from the last few years relating to a battery change, may well be the original battery for all I know.

 

Was just wondering its possible I killed the battery in the process of changing the ingnition pack.

8 minutes ago, Wino said:

I should think so, yes. Have you fitted a different stereo, or anything 'aftermarket' recently?

Does your battery light come on when you turn on the ignition and go off again once the engine is running (may not be able to tell until charged/new battery is fitted). 

 

Ok thats good.

 

Made no other changes and we have no 'aftermarket' anything.

 

Yeah the battery light does come on when I try to start the car but the engine doesn't turn over at the moment.

 

Will try charge the battery overnight, and if that doesn't work Ill order a new battery tomorrow.

 

Thanks alot for the reponses guys, really appreciate it!

3 minutes ago, leety12 said:

Was just wondering its possible I killed the battery in the process of changing the ingnition pack.

 

No.

 

Many batteries do fail suddenly at end of life. A cell shorts and dies. Try recharging before changing.

Just wanted to post an update.

 

Charged the battery for 24 hours and the car starts and is running fine now. The injector coil replacement fixed the misfiring and low power problem, just unlucky and confusing that the battery went at the same time.

 

Think I will get a new battery in the next few days anyway as I have no idea how old this one is or how long it will last before it dies again.

 

Thanks alot for all the help guys, really appreciate it!!

Edited 23 October, 20187 yr by leety12

Worth checking battery voltage now with the engine running to make sure it is charging - just in case.

 

The original issue was coil pack - which don't work as well if the voltage is low.