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Author Topic: Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost  (Read 5738 times)

Offline George

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Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost
« on: December 07, 2012, 06:00:22 pm »
Hi all,

Driving my car home from work tonight, after making sure the trip computer stated 15 minutes I dropped the car into third gear at 40mph and planted my foot. Whilst building boost the car instantly started to shudder and the engine light started to flash and continued to flash for a few seconds after taking my foot off the gas. I tested this another two to three times in both 5th and 6th gear and the same happened.

The car is a Edition 30 with Stage 1 Revo
Current mileage is 50,000
Cam follower, PCV and plugs were changed at roughly 40,000

Any suggestions please?

Thanks, George


Offline john87

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Re: Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2012, 06:25:41 pm »
I had this exact problem. Spark plug on cylinder 1 was nackered due to water ingress (and consequent damage to coil pack). Replaced spark plugs and all was well, coil pack continues to work to this day!

Get your spark plugs out and take a look at them, if they look dirty/burnt/rusty replace them, then if the problem still exists get a vagcom scan done and find out which coil pack needs replaced  :happy2:
VCDS Hex-USB +CAN (Central Scotland)

Offline George

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Re: Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2012, 06:52:50 pm »
Well I rang my local dealer to see if they had enough time tomorrow to at least scan the car, apparently they didn't! But it turns out I have VW assist, so called them and I have an engineer coming out tomorrow morning. After reading a few things on here it points towards a coilpack or spark plug, I'll let the engineer scan the car, tell me which cylinder has the missfire, then get a new set of plugs, or a coilpack and replace.

Does anyone know if coilpacks are covered by warranty? I wouldn't imagine they are?

I'm also going to call the dealer again tomorrow to find out if my car falls into the coilpack recall catergory, and if so whether it's had the recall or not.

Offline john87

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Re: Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2012, 08:07:18 pm »
Yeah the coilpacks are apparently covered on the earlier models but not sure when this stops...mines is a 2008 and wasn't covered despite the water ingress  :confused:
VCDS Hex-USB +CAN (Central Scotland)

Offline George

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Re: Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2012, 11:45:22 am »
So VW assist turned up, couldn't stand the mechanic who started my car from cold and instantly revved it, then stood with one foot rested on my door sill filling in his forms  :fighting:

Anyway, found out it was cylinder 3 that had the missfire, he had a coilpack on the van which solved the problem  :smiley:

Offline john87

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Re: Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2012, 09:51:37 am »
What a tosser of a 'mechanic' but glad you got the problem sorted  :happy2:
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Offline donnyboy

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Re: Engine light flashing and 'shuddering' when building boost
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2012, 08:30:54 pm »
I've got a small misfire with mine. Doing new plugs and coil packs at weekend and hope it cures it. 99% sure its due to water.

Had an AA guy do the same to the wifes car when the coil pack went. I ended up telling him to give it a rest and go away as the car was at home anyway.