auditech79 is correct on this one many people try to pry the plug leads of only to damage them I use special grips from the old days

 

Audi has found out recently that massive coil packs are failing right after the 40k mark, which is when the spark plugs are due. Since there are coils failing in pairs it threw audi's attention, and hence did an investigation. They found that lightly prying up on the press in coils easilly breaks them. There isn't any visual damage, but the coil is built so tightly together inside it shorts out the power output stage and causes a dead miss.
Audi is in the process of eliminating the coil packs from warranty all together and making the dealers pay for them, but i doubt it will happen.
They can get pretty stubborn to take out, especially when people pressure wash the engine and rust the coil.

 

it sounds like coil packs to me as well, my '01 did the same thing in Aug. The CEL blinks cause a misfire due to bad coil pack can cause cat converter damage. Cost meless than $150 to replace all 4.

 

thats just stupid. I have the hitachi bolt downs on the TT and my brother has the push down bremi packs on his passat. Not once have i thought or needed anything to lifta pack.

 

You forget techs are flat rate and lazy, they will grab a hold of a small pry bar and break them all loose as fast as they can. Most 40K services can be done in 20-30 minutes which pay around 2.5 hours.

 

Thats just sad. If they dealer/shop does it, they should be responsible for dying packs, not the owner or VWofA. Another reason i dont let people touch my car.

 

hell I do that^^

 

fact is I did it knowing what to grip and that's the difference most people grip the rubber and damage it

 

Dave, glad your in the UK, im never trusting my car to you [8D]

 

Eh, i do it to im not gonna lie, its under warranty. If its an 80k however i'll be a little bit more carefull because its my *** on the line then.