Got a 2001 Skoda Fabia 1.4, and its been fine since new until recently when its developed a problem where it stutters when accelerating, and sometimes stalls - it also ticks over poorly, and sometimes stalls ticking over.

The stuttering on acceleration is mainly when you try to accelerate in a high gear - if youre in 4th at 40 and accelerate, it stutters like a kangaroo start - but if you changed to 3rd it would probably be ok.

Anyone got any idea what might be the cause?

Im going to change the plugs as they havent been changed since new (done 36k) - should really have been changed in a service last year but werent. When I took the plugs out just now they were all powedery matt black, with the top of 'arm' a copper colour, and the inside bit copper colour too?

Someone suggested it could be a problem with the throttle body, but that appears fine.

Anyone got any idea what the problem could be? Maybe simply down to the plugs??

cheers!!

sounds like it could be a misfire under load , i'd try the plugs to see if it gets any better , then report back here

Thanks, I'll change the plugs tomorrow and see if that helps. Im going to buy the same model of plugs that are in currently, so I assume I wont need to set the gaps or anything?

Someone suggested to me the problem may be failed coil packs or MAF sensor? I understood failed coil packs only affected 1.8T VAG engines around 2001/2?

yeah it could also be a coil problem or plug leads , but i'm not sure of the set up on the 1.4 , i'm sure someone with greater knowledge of petrol fabias will come along shortly,

Changed the plugs, and its the same :(

Turn on and tickover goes all stuttery every so often, and pops from the exhaust.

Anymore ideas anyone?!

More than likely your throttle body electrical fault, did u clean the throttle body and do the basic settings, any lights on in dash?