Troubleshooting my SEAT

Katryn · 2 Jul 2012 at 18:07

I have a 55 plate Seat Ibiza 1.4 16v petrol and I'm noticing that when I put my foot down in the lower rev range especially the car will jerk/hesitate occasionally through the lower rev range until it reaches about 2-3k and when it seems to get better.

It doesn’t feel like normal engine strain because the acceleration is lumpy when you're putting your foot down for some extra power (when rolling in second for example and pulling out at a roundabout). Last week I had one incident when the engine started to idle strangely, when at a stop the car was shaking more than it should do and the revs were jumping about between 700-900rpm when it’s usually constant at 700 or so when warm, the engine seemed to lack power also. After stopping the car and opening the bonnet the engine seemed to be physically wobbling and I decided to stop and start it and the rough idle seemed to go away.

No warning lights on the dash so...could any of you shed any light on what it could be?

Phil W · 2 Jul 2012 at 18:32

Coil Packs/Spark Plugs?

Maz · 2 Jul 2012 at 18:59

Phil W said:
Coil Packs/Spark Plugs?

What this man says, coil pack failure is very common on this engine.

Phil W · 2 Jul 2012 at 19:02

Maz said:
What this man says, coil pack failure is very common on this engine.

Thinking about it, might be worth giving your local dealer a call and seeing if there are any outstanding recalls on your car for Coil Packs. VAG Group had a big recall on them and replaced them on various makes/models. My Octavia had a full set replaced

Maz · 2 Jul 2012 at 19:09

Phil W said:
Thinking about it, might be worth giving your local dealer a call and seeing if there are any outstanding recalls on your car for Coil Packs. VAG Group had a big recall on them and replaced them on various makes/models. My Octavia had a full set replaced

True, I had 6 replaced on an 05 Audi A4 Cab last year for free!

Katryn · 2 Jul 2012 at 19:09

Phil W said:
Thinking about it, might be worth giving your local dealer a call and seeing if there are any outstanding recalls on your car for Coil Packs. VAG Group had a big recall on them and replaced them on various makes/models. My Octavia had a full set replaced

That's interesting I might give the local dealership a call, did yours suffer from the same kind of symptoms?

It's only when I put my foot to near the limit that it's really noticeable, I'm really worried if it's more serious than the coil packs/spark plugs. I thought it could be the clutch slipping or the drive shafts

Phil W · 2 Jul 2012 at 19:11

Mine didn't suffer from Coil Pack failure, i read about in on the owners forums and called the dealer just out of curioisty really, they booked me in and changed them all even though they weren't actually failing.

Enfield · 2 Jul 2012 at 19:16

I had mine changed under recall on my Octavia vRS (not the same as Phil W's). Mine wasn't failing either but it was free - idle was still pretty lumpy though which is apparently characteristic of that engine (2.0TFSI).

If it's not the coil pack I would suggest changing the spark plugs.

rodenal · 2 Jul 2012 at 20:12

Could be quite a few things

Coil packs / plugs as already stated (and probably the most likely) - dead easy to check

MAF / MAP problem - again easy to check

Cam position sensor - should chuck a code though not always a light

Other general breathing problem (check all the piping at the air inlet etc)

miniyazz · 2 Jul 2012 at 22:59

If you've got an Android phone, get Torque and a cheapo OBD II adapter from the 'bay and check fault codes.

dazz25 · 3 Jul 2012 at 13:16

Katryn said:
No warning lights on the dash so...could any of you shed any light on what it could be?

miniyazz said:
If you've got an Android phone, get Torque and a cheapo OBD II adapter from the 'bay and check fault codes.

This won't display anything if no fault has been logged.

My g/f has the same car and it goes through coil packs all the time. I replaced all 4 a few months back and everything has been fine since. It's almost a yearly occurrence on here car, especially in the winter!

rodenal · 3 Jul 2012 at 13:21

dazz25 said:
This won't display anything if no fault has been logged.

My g/f has the same car and it goes through coil packs all the time. I replaced all 4 a few months back and everything has been fine since. It's almost a yearly occurrence on here car, especially in the winter!

*Edit* Misread that post, nevermind.

miniyazz · 3 Jul 2012 at 13:34

dazz25 said:
This won't display anything if no fault has been logged.

My g/f has the same car and it goes through coil packs all the time. I replaced all 4 a few months back and everything has been fine since. It's almost a yearly occurrence on here car, especially in the winter!

My Golf was misfiring, no CEL lit, so I checked fault codes and there it was: misfire on cylinder 3.

Swapping over two of the coil packs soon confirmed they were the problem.

Brookert · 3 Jul 2012 at 13:38

Could try cleaning the maf, if not, probably coils. Worth trying to clean the maf as it is a cheap fix.

Katryn · 20 Jul 2012 at 18:48

As you all thought it was a coil pack failure on cylinder 1. 4 new coil packs installed and 4 new spark plugs because they needed doing anyway and all OK now. Let's hope they last!

Thanks for your help