I have an A3 1.6 FSI 2005 model Sportback. This is my first post so please be gentle!

I was driving up the motorway last week after a holiday (car had been stationary for two weeks). The engine emission light flicked on and off, I started losing power so I immediately pulled onto the hard shoulder. The car would turn over, but not start.

RAC came and got me, bloke had a quick look and suggested it was a bloked/broken EGR valve.
Have also since had a separate mechanic come out and look at it, dismissing the EGR valve idea and suggesting it's either the camshaft position sensor or a faulty/blown ignition coil.

He showed me the four ignition coils after removing the top plastic cover, the one on the far left is poking up, and when removed appears to have 'blown its top'

So the car stands on my drive still not going anywhere, mainly money is tight so I don't want to get it towed to a garage only to be hit with a bill I can't afford.

My question is...do I spend the £30 on replacing that ignition coil in the hope it fixes the problem or wait until I can get it to a garage?

Hope someone can help!

 

i have heard of coils popping up, if theres anyone near you with vag-com aka vcds get a scan to know for sure

 

Here is a link to a guy that changed out his own plugs and coils. I'd buy the parts on line and do it yourself. I followed his directions and if I can do it, anyone can. Hope this helps.


OOOO-A3: Coils & Plugs at 50,000 Miles

 

Thanks for the replies.

The last mobile mechanic who came out had a Bosch device, which he tried to plug into the car's socket, but it wouldn't connect so couldn't get any fault codes. He wasn't an Audi expert so I'm not replying on that being a definitive fault at the moment.

I will try changing the coils, and see if it starts after that

 

not all scanners "talk" to vw + audi the ross-tech VCDS always connects unless there are electrical issues, like when my souldered chip went bad