Leon Cupra R fault - dilemma...

[LawAys]

Hi all,

I've got a bit of a dilemma with a fault on my 2003 Leon Cupra R so I'm looking for ideas as to what the best route to take is...

I had it serviced/inspected down at JKM in Portsmouth a couple of weeks ago, happy with the service but they found a few faults, among which were an oil leak and a boost leak - neither required immediate attention (was planning to get it booked back in with them soon).

Did a few hundred miles and all was OK, however a couple of nights ago I got a flashing orange engine management light and the engine felt and sounded like a tractor, so I got towed back to my home in Southampton to avoid potentially causing more damage by driving it.

I don't really want to risk driving it down to Portsmouth, so it would cost me £85 to get it towed to JKM (+ the hassle of picking the car back up as I've got no other transport), or do I take it to Regal Autosport which is less than a mile from me (but who I have heard nothing about)?...

Open to other suggestions/recommendations.

Thanks

[Cupramax]

Its probably just a coil pack failed... I'd pop into Regal and get them to read any ECU faults logged.

[LawAys]

They wanted to give it another full inspection (which includes diagnostics) so I might just try and get them to go straight for the fault reader.

[RobCrezz]

Hopefully the sound it just misfiring due to a coil failing or due to the boost leak. Have you been keeping an eye on the oil level due to the leak? As if its got too low on oil then it can cause big end failure, which can sound a bit tractor like and is bad - hopefully its the former.

[Prof Prolapse]

Are coil pack failures so prolific on these cars you don't check the plugs and leads first?

Genuine question.

Also, everybody should have a code reader. They're £12 on Ebay. Buy one.

[RobCrezz]

Prof Prolapse said:

Are coil pack failures so prolific on these cars you don't check the plugs and leads first?

Genuine question.

Also, everybody should have a code reader. They're £12 on Ebay. Buy one.

From what I have heard about the VAG 1.8T, its fairly common for coilpacks to fail.

[Cupramax]

Yes, I had mine changed twice (all 4 at once) both time in 4 years and it gave exactly your description, the car feels like a tractor and the engine chugs like a goodun

[KaraK]

There was a design flaw on the original coilpacks used on that engine - and yes they go with spectacular regularity. IIRC there is an updated part that should be used to replace them, it's pretty common when one goes just to replace all of them with the updated one and then it's one less thing to worry about.

[Prof Prolapse]

Learn something everyday.

[CzechRS]

Coil packs, nice guide here -> http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2964360-...

[*Al*]

Very very likely to be a coil pack, a flashing light is generally a misfire.

[Olivera]

Definitely a coil pack failure, I had exactly the same thing in the same car a couple of weeks ago. As far as I am aware that's the first coil pack that's failed on my car in over 100k+ miles/8 years, including many track days and lots of abuse. Apart from the first batches of 1.8T coil packs they are actually very reliable.

[LawAys]

Thanks for the info guys.

[Kurtcobain]

If you needed another person to say it, I think it's coil pack.

[mwcr85]

Very common, that common that Audi had an ongoing campaign where they would be replaced for free even out of warranty. That was 6 years ago, so it may be worth asking SEAT if it's the case. If not Euro sell genuine ones(without the vag box) for less. I have seen some that knackered they fall apart on removal.

[fozzymandeus]

OBD will log any misfires and changing an ignition coil can be done in a trice. As regards frequency of failure on the 1.8t 20V engine... my wife called the AA when her car started to misfire 250 miles from home and he repaired it, by putting in one of the ignition coils he had ready in his van.

It's not a coil pack per se, just a coil.

[LawAys]

Just as a quick update... You guys were right in saying it was the coilpacks. Changed all 4 myself today and it's fine again now - pretty easy job and it's the first mechanical job I've ever done

Cheers

[Cupramax]

Well done, glad you got sorted. I'd love to still have my old Cupra R... top mota