2.0 running rough, already changed ignition coil

**anth** · 05-03-2013, 07:29 PM

Hi guys,

Having a bit of an issue with my Golf this past week:

- Friday last week: started running very rough, like it's on two or 3 cylinders, shaky idle.

- RACV came to look at it, diagnosed it as a toasted coil pack/ignition coil. To do this he took each lead out of the coil one by one while the car was running and held it against the body of the coil to test how strong the spark was, we both watched the spark jump out from the lead. Two cylinders were very weak, two were strong.

- Today (Tuesday): Replaced coil, car still acts the same. Cue swearing.

What should I look at next? MAF? Car is 100% stock, 2.0 manual, ~150k km.

thanks in advance.

**dylan8** · 05-03-2013, 08:15 PM

02 sensor?
mine was running like that, burning heaps of excess fuel and running on 3 cylinders.

get someone to scan?

**anth** · 05-03-2013, 08:25 PM

Yeah think I might need to just get it scanned. It runs rough but won't stall, it can be driven but it has heaps of hesitation and is low on power, don't wanna drive it incase it's dumping unburnt fuel into the exhaust and I toast my cat.

Did a new 02 sensor fix yours?

**JustCruisn** · 05-03-2013, 08:31 PM

Does this car have an ignition control module like the 1.8T? If so it may be the module, these are known to die if moved from the air filter box.

**dylan8** · 05-03-2013, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by anth

Yeah think I might need to just get it scanned. It runs rough but won't stall, it can be driven but it has heaps of hesitation and is low on power, don't wanna drive it incase it's dumping unburnt fuel into the exhaust and I toast my cat.

Did a new 02 sensor fix yours?

yeah it did.
scanned as a 02 sensor and sorted it once replaced.

it was under powered with the dead 02 sensor, but not as bad as when my MAF gave out the second time.

**anth** · 05-03-2013, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by JustCruisn

Does this car have an ignition control module like the 1.8T? If so it may be the module, these are known to die if moved from the air filter box.

Not sure, but I haven't moved anything, all stock.

Originally Posted by dylan8

yeah it did.
scanned as a 02 sensor and sorted it once replaced.

it was under powered with the dead 02 sensor, but not as bad as when my MAF gave out the second time.

Okay sweet, think I'll just get it towed to be safe (free with RACV) and get it scanned tomorrow. Mine's really underpowered (even for a 2.0 lol), sounds like the car is really labouring just to do normal speeds, and burbly like a rexy (telltale sign of misfiring). Honestly thought the ignition coil would fix it

**Stan** · 06-03-2013, 08:17 AM

might be something simple like plugs too - the spark test will tell you if it is giving power, but no if it is an issue with the spark plug(s).
Pull them in turn and have a look at them to see if they are burning nicely.
Probably wouldn't hurt to replace them anyway.