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VW Ignition Coil Problems?
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***one question: For those of you who have had all of the coils replaced...Have any of you experienced additional problems, either coil related or other failures due to the coil problem? **** IhAtErEnTaLs....
I should hope that cyanide laced capsules would be recalled immediately. Hardly something the CEO & the Board has to debate internally or get an award for IMO. Acting fast was the ONLY solution to the problem.
Car companies are particularly bad, though. They have a history of moral lassitude that I think goes back to just after WWII, when any car, no matter how bad, could be sold, and any person, no matter how bad, could enter the car business. It wasn't a great time for Auto Industry PR and I think they are still living down that somewhat shady past created by the many bad apples in the 1940s and 50s.
From fighting emissions laws to burning Pintos and "runaway" Audis to bursting Firestones to disintegrating GM diesel car engines to rusting Chryslers to flipping Samurais, on and on, the auto industry does not step up to the plate. It's very rare.
The public won't hold this against VW for long. Look at the Explorer case, which to me is much more serious. Yet Explorer set several sales records right after that. If Passat sales go down, and I guess they just did this year, it won't be because of coil problems.
I was under the impression that eventually all 4 coils would be replaced on these cars. Recently, my car was in for an oil change and I asked the service manager when i could expect to have mine in to have all remaining coils replaced. I was told that they were not so sure now that is was specifically the coils, and maybe it was a "chip" or something else.
Any updates on this??
Dani4
Have a 2002 GLS. with 12.5K miles.
(I have test-drive this car and it is a very good car, but I am not sure if this problem still persists in 03 model).
Second, if you really like the car and need some reassurance, ask the dealership to show you the coil packs on the engine. If the part number ends in the letter "J", then these are the latest iteration of the part and not particularly troublesome (it was the "H" version that was the problem). As part of your sales agreement, require a car with the J coil packs.
Third, you might be able to determine the component used by build date of the car. Not sure if this applies exactly to Audis, but VW's with the 1.8T engine built beyond 8/2002 had the J version installed at the factory, according to some other enthusiast websites. I'm sure there are similar sites for Audi owners.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
I have a '99 1.8T Passat wagon which died suddenly and had to be towed to the shop. The dealer said it was not bad coils,but a faulty control unti which costs about $400 for parts and labor.
Has anyone had this happen?
By the way, I've heard that some Nissan Maximas also have had coil pack issues, and it is apparently not being covered under warranty. The rumor is they (Nissan) are considerably more expensive than the VW/Audi ones. So I guess the problem is not only for VAG. I'm sure you could find more on this topic elsewhere.
I think the overall concept of the coil pack is somewhat else reliable than the old single coil design, perhaps due to moving the coil off the firewall to directly on the engine itself. It may be the negative side of having that much additional control over the spark ignition of every cylinder.
'Course, thinking back over my many cars, I think I had a coil (old single style) go back on a Ford in the 1970's or '80's.
My 2002 GLS 1.8T went down with the coil issue last Dec. Outrageous drivetrain vibration and noise... got roadside assistance to tow the car to a nearby dealership. Got a coil pack replaced. Not sure how many were being replaced though.
Today I went to have an oil change. When the car was ready to be picked up, the guy told me the coil showed up faulty again and they replaced all four packs. Basically the coils were replaced twice in 8 months.
FYI: I did receive a letter from VW Canada in Feb regarding the coil issue. Free replacement is warranted for those of you who has the faulty parts.
Was told initially that the problem was only encountered in the 1.8T.
Two Number two cylinder misfire faults.Found a crack behind the coil pack.Replaced coil packs.
Works fine now.
They also cleaned and vacuumed the car.
Before I call the dealer I want as much info as possible since they are so rude! Thanks for any help.
I have my car looked at at Bernardi VW in Natick.Ask to have an emergency appointment.
I believe the new coils are the J type( or is it the H-type).I read this on this forum. Have this verified.
Thanks!
My Mom drives a VW Passat, and from what I understand the Audi and VWs, despite being otherwise phenomenal cars, share this common gremlin. I'm gonna call her and give her a heads-up, based on everybody's experience and advice.
She drives slower than an arthritic grandma with low-grade narcolepsy in a mollassas factory, but still-- I'd hate to think about her getting plowed into by someone 'cause her Passat blew a coil pack. Thanks for the warning, guys!
I know I'm intruding a bit here as a loathsome Audi owner, but I wanted to say that I very much appreciated the reassurance I got from reading these posts. I was absolutely freaking out when my car started acting goofy, and now I feel MUCH better. I had only had the car on the road for less than 2 weeks, and I was terrified I was looking at a thrown rod or a warped head or dozens of other worse-case-scenarios. Also, it was extremely relieving to learn that my car's symptoms are probably the result of a coil issue, and not the admittedly brutal way I've been tossing it around corners and stomping on the gas pedal. I thought I had broken my new baby by driving like a moron; it was nice to see that perhaps it's not my overzealous lead-foot after all.
Lastly-- it great to see so many Canadians posting. I live in Colorado, but I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, and I get homesick, so it was cool to see all the maple leafs on the board; makes me miss it a little less.
Thanks for posting, everybody!
an ignition failure, you just gasp along or shudder to a stop like a shaky old dog. fixable when you get the parts.
Thanks in advance.
if your dealer is ready to implement preventative recall changeouts as VW has been promising in newspaper articles, even better.
if not, there's no telling when they will conk out, if ever. if you don't get the engine all that warmed up much, you might not have gotten the coils busted up enough to have the issue.
if you're really paranoid, log all the VW dealers on a map on routes you're likely to take, and take the route that has the fewest gaps... or buy a spare coil for the trunk.
otherwise, try to allow a dead day or two in your planning in case you have to spend them in Gutbuster Junction waiting for the bus to catch up to the tow truck that hauled the Passat away.
I personally wouldn't wake up screaming over this. while you might have gotten your coils from the last of the rotten materials, life is short enough, and VW should have parts in stock now if you need 'em. be flexible and have fun.
This is a huge problem for me because I'm a real estate agent, and when my check engine light comes on and beeps that really loud beep while my clients are in the car, they think they're gonna die in my POS car with me. I think I'm having that ignition coil problem. At first I thought it was the starter. Now that I know many people are having the same problem, I guess I will take it to the dealer ASAP. It's been so bad that my car almost didn't start at all a few times. And the other morning, I started my car and right away it died. I had to restart it and it was okay, just okay.
My problem is that I can't afford to be without my car. I took it to an independent after I took out a loan to buy my car when the lease was up (BIG mistake), and he hooked the car up to the computer and did a diagnostic test to see what the problem was that was making the check engine light come up. He said it was a faulty error and that there was nothing wrong, and he re-set the computer in the car. I'm serious, about 2 weeks later the light started coming on again! My clients are freaking out! I don't have the time to take my car in every 2 or 3 weeks just to have the freaking thing re-set! Anybody else having this problem?
Hm, what else, I noticed probably a year and a half ago or so that my fuel gauge seems to "float" when it gets down to low levels. I can watch it floating while I'm driving! Also, I got a flat tire while showing property, and the car wasn't even 3 years old. Crappy tires. Also, there's something wrong with the light panel on the dash because the lower part of the light panel doesn't work, and then, all of a sudden, zing! we have lights down there.
I'm also having another problem that I don't know what it is. But in reading other messages, I think I have that steering wheel column problem. At first I thought it was the right wheel bearing, because it only makes the rattling noise on the right front side when you turn the wheel, but now I don't know. Help!!! What is going on with this stupid car? Is anybody else as frustrated as me? I would just die if I got stranded with a client in the middle of nowhere.
Thanks for the feedback!!
But let me address some of your other issues:
Flat Tires: Any tire at any time can pick up a nail or what-have-you from the road and go flat. It's not a VW problem.
Rattling Sound on Right Turn: Sounds like a torn CV boot that was not replaced quickly enough and ruined the Constant Velocity joint, from your description. Can happen to any front wheel drive car...I've had it happen on Hondas, Toyotas, etc, which have bullet-proof reliability reputations. It's just part of owning a front wheel drive car.
Good luck with your other problems.
Do you fill up the car yourself ?
Do you close the cap tightly, 3 clicks ?
By the way, 3 years for tires is quite decent time. I would blame roads not tires for flats after such amount of time.
I got nice flat tire within 1 month of buying new car. Sidewall developed tiny hole and there were no signs of impact. What can I tell, I avoid Goodyear Eagle GAs as much as I can.
Coilpack problem.
You say that you have problems starting the car but what about running. Does it run smoothly ?
If you have problem to start the car it is something else. Did you check battery ?
Krzys
Yes, I fill up myself, and I actually called the dealer a while ago and described the problem over the phone, and he asked me the same questions. So now I have been closing the cap to 4 clicks, at least. Still a faulty check engine light. What a joke. The error code is "emissions workshop."
Um, when the car does finally start, it runs okay. But I've noticed it's been idling real funny and almost stalled once or twice while sitting at a stoplight.
One other thing I didn't mention because I've already gotten it fixed was one day I went to charge my cell phone, and the connection was completely dead in there. No juice. I don't smoke, so I don't have any idea how long ago that decided to stop working, but just one more thing to add to the list.
I should have bought a Honda or Acura.
Thanks,
Andrea
Was scary the first couple times I saw it, now it's ignored.
It will come back! It always comes back! Someone told me that manufacturers knowingly install faulty equipment like ours so that we have to keep coming back for service. That's a bunch of B.S.
Well, for your sake, I hope it doesn't come back, but mind always does.........
I'm running out of option whether to keep it still or remain paranoid whenever I get in the car & drive it. Perhaps, seeking legal help from a Lemon Law lawyer would do. What do you think guys?
Thanks!
SteVanz
My local VW dealer had no idea? It seems the public pressure was wearing down due to attrition and no recall will occur?
thanks - J