Octavia VRS Warning light and feels like 3 cylinders.

[Bobbajob]

Got a 2001 Octavia CRS

Just came home from work, after 20 miles of gentle motorway cruisning, I felt a few splutters as I slowed down for the island at the motorway exit.

A few hundred yards further on more splutters.

Then the Engine warning light started to flash

Followed by a big loss of power and what sounds and feels like the car running on 3 cylinders.

Any suggestions ?

[WW_VRS]

Coilpack gone?

[TaviaRS]

Coilpack

[Bobbajob]

Should I be worried then ?

Whats this going to cost me ?

Anyone recmmend anywhere in the Midlands to get this sorted ?

So many questions !!!

I'm only a Skoda owner of 6 days and I'm having withdrawal symptoms already from it being broken for half an hour.

[VRStu]

I'm sure an Octy owner will be along shortly to advise you. They were a known problem and Skoda/VW/Audi/SEAT changed them FOC.

[cheezemonkhai]

Sounds like a coil pack:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/post652636.html

DGW has a good coverage on it in that post

[DGW]

Do you have breakdown cover, eg AA or RAC? Either of those may well carry spares in their breakdown vans and be able to fix the problem for you at the roadside. In the meantime you shouldn't drive your car until the problem has been identified and fixed else you might cause permanent damage to the cat. The last time I looked coil packs (ignition coil with spark plug connector) were circa £24 and the one you want is PN 06B 905 115L. If you car has a full Skoda service history and is still fitted with the troublesome 06B 905 115H version, you may be able to get them all replaced FOC by a Skoda dealer subject to Skoda UK authorising this. Any VAG dealer should stock the one you may need if this is the problem.

[Bobbajob]

Thanks for all the info, I drove about 2 miles with the car in this condition, hope I haven't knackered up my cat.

Is it a case of buying one and then trying it in all positions to find the faulty one ?

Will the error go once it's changed or does it need resetting?

I have got RAC cover, but not at home, so I'd have to drive the car round the corner before calling them out, which is something I'd rather not do.

Once the car has cooled down, I' will take the coil packs off and check whether they are the latest type, and if not, it's probably worth getting a full set I guess.

Thanks again for all the help, I was really worried it was going to cost me a fortune to get fixed ! Images of blown turbos and big bills flooded my head !

[WW_VRS]

Personally I reckon it's worth driving it / pushing it away from the house. Then call AA/RAC to get it to the dealership.

If it's the coilpack as is very likely, they ought to be able to sort you out straight away. Biggest benefit of doing it like this would be you don't cause (potentially further) damage to the car, you may get it for free, and if the dealer does do this for free they'd also reset the error etc.

If your turbo had gone it would behave quite different

Main reason to avoid driving it is to avoid poisoning your cat, they're not that cheap either.

[DGW]

It is a DIY job and there is a series of photos here showing what is involved. Go to gallery, click on D, then scroll through the Coil Pack Change photos starting with the one below. Once you have checked which versions are fitted, post the answer here.

http://www.briskoda.net/photoplog/index.php?n=6

[Bobbajob]

Ok, I've taken all four out and they are all "L" versions.

I'll go to the dealers tomorrow and get 1 new one, and then do a bit of switching around to find which one is dead.

One of them has a beigey colourred dust on the plug end, any idea what that might be ?

Thanks again for the help.

[DGW]

Well done. Could you please post the price so that I can update the list here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/octavia-useful-part-numbers-octavia-diy-servicing-mods/55981/

[richm]

disconnect each fuel injector plug in turn until you find the one that doesn't make any difference. If you have to drive it a short distance, then leave the injector disconnected so it doesn't put unburnt fuel into the Cat, then just drive gently, no Cat damage will be done.

ps. I just picked up a set of boxed "L" coils from a 10K mile Golf on Ebay for £25 they replaced my "H"'s nice and cheaply

If it's any help to anyone, this is a response I got from Skoda UK just this week regarding the question of replacement coils ....

Iwrote:

Please can you confirm if there is still an outstanding Ignition Coilpack replacement policy for Octavia vRS 1.8 20vT (AUQ) models from 2001/2002?

I believe the coils with part# 06B-905-115D,G,&H were getting replaced with the 06B-905-115L due to failures with the earlier type?

I have a '02 Octavia vRS with the "H" type coils fitted still that didn't get replaced, and have heard that they may possibly still be replaced FOC, is this still the case?

Many thanks for your help in this matter.

Reply from Skoda UK Customer service:

Ref: TG 154416

Dear Sir

Thank you for your email.

I can confirm that a defective batch of ignition coilpacks were produced about 3 years ago and there were some vehicles that required replacement of coilpacks , therefore, we recommend that you contact your nearest Skoda Approved retailer, so they can determine whether your vehicle requires this procedure. For your convenience I have enclosed the details:

.

.

.

.

I can advise that once your vehicle has been diagnosed, we will then know how best to proceed.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Terry Gallagher

Customer Service Specialist

SkodaAuto Customer Services

I read into this that probably if a "H" type coil is diagnosed as having a problem then it would get changed out, but not unless it was already faulty..

[Bobbajob]

Thanks all for your advice, car is back running fine now. Replaced 1 coil pack (luckily the first one I tried) and all is well.

The engine warning light is no longer lit, so it hasn't stored the fault code. Saves me a journey to the garage anyway.

Bit worrying though that the failed coil pack was an "L"

[KLB]

Thanks all for your advice' date=' car is back running fine now. Replaced 1 coil pack (luckily the first one I tried) and all is well.

The engine warning light is no longer lit, so it hasn't stored the fault code. Saves me a journey to the garage anyway.

Bit worrying though that the failed coil pack was an "L"[/quote']

I can understand that you are worried because the coil pack failed even though it was an L variant. However, even the "new, improved" L variants are not absolutely perfect - there are bound to be the odd handful of failures.

Don't worry too much, though - the bad batch ("H" variants IIRC) were MUCH more prone to failure. You were (probably) just very unlucky to have a failure in a new coilpack - it's (probably - that word again!) the last one you'll ever have.

[jos]

Where abouts in the midlands are you?

[DGW]

I now view them as consumables - like spark plugs, bulbs, brakes pads etc. It really is worth carrying one as a spare just in case - plus screwdriver, allen key and mini socket set in case it is the No 3 or 4 which needs replacing.

[Bobbajob]

Where abouts in the midlands are you?

I'm in Wolverhampton, but work in Wellington, close to Telford.

Whereabouts in Telford are you ?

[jos]

Telford's only a small place so youre extreemly close to me. I work out in the sticks and live in Shawbirch