Ignition coil crapped out last night, and as a result, the engine was mis-firing.

Engine and the whole car started shaking when accelerating, and also when idling.

Felt pretty serious, thought there was significant damage to the engine. Check engine light was on, and flashing.

Pulled car over to the side of the road. The cause was a blown ignition coil, for cylinder 1.

 

Apparently very common on the 1.8. It is worth having a spare coilpack or two in the trunk just in case it happens, very quick fix as well.

 

How quick a fix? Are special "audi" tools required for this?

I'm envisioning taking the engine apart on the side of the road.

Stealership charged me $300 to replace 4 of them. Found out after the fact, that $115 of that was the VAG analysis.

 

I can see you're in Oakville, I wouldn't recommend the dealership there (3rd Line and QEW) to anyone...

Funny as it may sound, the Suzuki dealership just over on Wyecroft will do just as good a job, and they will never charge you anything to diagnose a problem, just talk to Rob (service manager) there and tell him Dmitry sent ya, you'll get an extra deal (say this after you get a price, cause he's usually pretty good with the prices anyway, so extra discounts would probably apply).

 

yah i had this exact problem with my a4 about two years ago. But apperantly it is pretty common thing to happen.

 

Ignition Coil Pack: happened to me a month-or-so-ago!
Car was driving really bad, but I had no "Engine" light showing!
Went to Autohouse at Warden and Sheppard, bought one coil and diagnosed in their parking-lot. When the culprit was found, I bought 3 more and replaced the rest.
Cost per pack: $42 and change with taxes.
Cost of diagnostic: common sense @ $0.00
Cost of labour: I gave myself a brake on that @ $0.00/hour
Bonus item: I have 3 used Ignition Coil Packs as spare

 

Definitely not, the only thing you'll need is a normal screwdriver....and maybe a hex key but i'm not sure I don't remember the last time I replaced a coilpack for a friend of mine.

There are a few DIY write-ups with pictures that can explain better than my handwaving can, i'll see if I can find them. Replacing a coilpack shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so.

 

No "hex" key needed... just the "flat-head" that is in the little towing tool kit with the spare tire!

 

There you go then. Even quicker.
I know a few 1.8T owners who keep a spare coilpack or two on hand just in case that happens during a roadtrip.

 

I now keep my 3 older ones in the spare wheel well...