Just decided on a late 2001 4x4.

1) Am I right to be suffering early paranoia about coilpack failure?

2) Are the supplies improving / how long do I need to panic for?

3) Are there any other routes to getting hold of a spare one ?

Don't want my first Skoda experience to end prematurely with a

"Never Again"

Good car though.....:confused:

Is the 4x4 an estate?

19000 miles?

If so i think its already had 1 coil go.{they nicked 1 off my RS to move it around}

Steve

Originally posted by Fabpreza

Just decided on a late 2001 4x4.

[...]

Subaru>Audi>Audi>Subaru>Skoda 4x4

So in the end you decided to stick with AWD? Good for you, congratulations! Will you be modding the car?

BTW, great pedigree of cars there

I'm sure the 1.8T old-timers will tell you all about coilpacks. My take on the issue is that your paranoia will be wholly unnecessary. With a 2001 car it is bound to happen... So you'd better resign to the idea, get it fixed when it happens (doesn't affect the rest of the car) and move on

Steve

What colour ?

What would you do ?

...I like the car and all that

No-one seems to be saying how long it will be before the problem will be resolved. I need a reliable car (hence the Subaru now) and I'll take a limited risk for a while, but not if its Christmas before I know its going to be totally reliable !

Originally posted by Fabpreza

No-one seems to be saying how long it will be before the problem will be resolved. I need a reliable car (hence the Subaru now) and I'll take a limited risk for a while, but not if its Christmas before I know its going to be totally reliable !

That's the issue entirely. I've bought a new car which will have an improved J coil or better still, the all-new Hitachi coils from the new supplier, so I will be alright. I had some apprehensions too, coming over from Subaru, but I understand the coilpacks are the car's single reliability issue. On all other fronts it has Japanese-style robustness

For used cars it's a different matter. Skoda Auto has decided against a recall, so that you will need normal repair service for the coils to be changed - but without cost. So you will have to wait for it to happen - and no-one can tell when they will break. A worst-case scenario would mean four replacements, or perhaps three, if Steve has indeed identified "your" car... So for used cars I'm afraid there's no final date for the resolution of the problem. It will be solved when all four coilpacks have been replaced.

The 4x4 estate i took out {and very nearly bought!}was finished in Eucalyptus Green{well i think thats what its called- light Green/Silver}.

The previous owner sold the car to buy a new Scooby.

He also fitted a cat 1 alarm to it.

It drove well and if Marlborough hadn't offered me the RS back

i would have had it.

Dont let the coils put you off ,ask Trevor if they would give you a courtesy car if 1/2/3 any of them fail.

Is it the same car?

If so PM me .

Steve

Matt

Where did you hear that the all new coil packs are being supplied by Hitachi? The latest I had read on 20VTurbo.com (or VWVortex.com) was that there were 2 versions of the J - the latest being dated Feb or Mar 03. But that didn't make a lot of sense because I would have expected the later one to be renamed the K version if it is the long-anticipated fix for the H problems. There was no mention of a change of manufacturer in the thread I read.

Anyone heard from my owner today?........

I had a Subaru STI before the Octavia, Thankfully didnt get the piston slab a lot of people get & only had one melted piston, oh & a couple of wheel bearings & the aircon packed up in the south of France in August & etc, Im quite looking forward to only a coil pack going ( + Im averaging 29 mpg, the scoob was about 21)

Basically there are good & bad examples of all cars & I was unlucky with the Scoob but with the exception of the coil packs all you seem to hear are niggles not real problems. If you go on scoobynet there are some real horror stories.

Also VAG appear to be fixing cars without quibling & I believe are also giving out loan cars. For what it costs if you are really worried buy a spare or go to the scrappy & get a set off a wreck, OK all 4 may not be good but at least you will have one to get you home & I gather they take minimal time to change

Stuart

DGW Wrote

Where did you hear that the all new coil packs are being supplied by Hitachi?

There was no mention of a change of manufacturer in the thread I read.

Denis , sorry to hijack your question to Matt , but I also heard there was a change of manufacturer for coil packs . As I am lead to believe the previous manufacturer was a firm called Bremi .

Steve / Stuart

I've sent you a PM and do appreciate your views / advice.

Next stop will be Jabba once this I have some confidence !

Denis,

Desperately trying to relocate the source, but can't find it as yet.

I can tell you though that on February 5 there was news that the original coilpack manufacturer, Bremi, had filed for receivership because of the issue, and that VAG had requested another German supplier, Beru, to step in. Beru would be supplying VAG with Hitachi-licensed coilpacks.

However, the strange thing is that a Google search on Bremi, Beru and coils doesn't lead to any fitting news item - and I wasn't dreaming when I read that!

fabpreza

Have sent you a couple of e-mails,

see you in Peterbourough !!

Stuart

Question from me re coil packs, If it goes I assume the car will go onto 3 pots & presumably into some sort of "limp home mode".

How far is it safe to drive the car, I gather cats are sensative to un-burnt fuel, will Skoda replace a cat if it gets damaged, now that opens a whole new can of worms as they say

Anyone know the definative answer, I guess its probably already been covered, perhaps we need a new forum entitled "coil packs - the facts!"

Stuart

Stuart,

The car will enter a kind of limp home mode and the cel will flash like a good'n.

I think I have driven the furthest although not recommended distance of 45-50 miles on 3 cylinders. Initially its not to bad until the pack gives up completely then driving it is a real pain. The pack in this case once removed had split in 2. If that happens you will need to use a pair of plyers to remove the part still in the engine.

I would think a couple of miles is ok though.

Thanks for all the advice.

I've got the Skoda part no off here (for the J and H-it'll do!).

Anyone know what I need to ask for if I source one from another VAG group maker - is it the same with a different prefix or a totally different ref ?

The part is exactly the same, whether you go to vw/seat/skoda/audi dealer.

Well , ive got my car back , and now theres a black 1.8T auto hatch round the back of my dealers with no coils in it at all! I got the last one , 3 have went to an owner of a 4x4 estate in Kelso who had 3 go in quick sucession! Incidentally i cannot find a fault with my dealer at all , mentioned to the warranty man yesterday when i seen him , he said 'oh just pop it down in the morning and well put the last one out of the auto on it , have it ready for you when u finish work'..and it was ready , no probs at all , I was in and out of the dealer in 2 mins! Oh and it was the coil on cyl no 1 that went! (altho im pretty sure its just another H that went into her...better than nowt tho , and they have ordered me a J)

Now sorted and car collected - thanks for the advice people !

Fabpreza

First opinions on your new car?...are you enjoying her so far?

Duncan

Gut feeling - right choice.

I've owned 14 4wd cars now (I can't believe it either !) so I can comment on the 4wd side ok.

First impressions (before I 'improve/ mod' it !):-

+

Build

Ride (Considering its 'jacked-up' the balance is very good)

Gearbox/clutch

Torque delivery

Stability

Grip

Steering (surprised at this one)

Mway MPG (not a Scooby turbo then !)

- / so-so

Engine noise

Wind rustle

Rear leg room ( no worse than my old A4)

Fabpreza

Looking forward to seeing your car 'evolve' over the next few months or so , one day I might even start to mod mine!!

Originally posted by Fabpreza

- / so-so

Engine noise

[..]

You can't be serious - or is that lack of engine noise?

Compared to the Scooby it's much less intrusive. The fact that the WRX comes with a Remus backbox these days - the target audience will love this, of course - was one of the reasons I declined on the WRX in favour of the 4x4 hatch, me being a dad and all, and wanting to give my family some comfort during the ride.

Originally posted by Fabpreza

+

[...]

Torque delivery

[...]

And that was another reason for picking the Octy over the WRX...

Oh, and congratulations on your new set of wheels, of course!

Dutch - I am serious !

I wasn't really comparing the 4x4 - just giving first impressions as requested. The Impreza is MUCH noisier engine wise.

I think you hear more engine rumble on the motorway than I expected in the Octavia - it feels slightly shorter geared ?

Impressed with the suspension set up the most so far.

Oh, OK, fabpreza, then we do agree on this - the Impreza is louder by far alright, it's just that you were expecting the Octavia to be even quieter than it is!

Originally posted by Fabpreza

I think you hear more engine rumble on the motorway than I expected in the Octavia - it feels slightly shorter geared ?

Yeah, it's been said before it would benefit from a 6th gear.

To it's credit though, it is very responsive in 5th gear on the

motorways, changing speed is pretty easy even in the 1.6.

It's certainly a lot better than the 1.8 Vectra

Rob.