Volkswagen’s entrance into the world of GTI engine systems brought the average consumer into terrain normally seen only by owners of high-end sports cars. The Golf became an early adopter of this technology, and eventually became the most popular GTI model on the market. The third generation Golf GTI ran between 1993 and 2001 and remains one of the most popular GTI cars on the road today. Some 3rd generation GTI’s suffer from problems with the coil pack.
The coil pack’s purpose is to ferry sparks to each cylinder’s spark plug, which in turn ignites the fuel that makes the car run. Sometimes, the coil packs develop hairline cracks that result in dropped sparks, causing the engine to begin misfiring. If a cracked coil pack operates for long enough, the excess fuel created by lack of ignition can run down the exhaust and melt the catalytic converter.
Common signs indicating a malfunctioning coil pack include rough idle, and a distinct drop in power. Some owners experience intermittent “Check Engine” light flashing, and the engine may run at a noticeably louder rate. The easiest way to begin identifying a cracked coil pack is to listen for misfires coming from the engine (moments where the RPMs lessen or increase for no apparent reason).
While the coil pack may not sound like such an important part, it is vital in maintaining your car’s performance and safety. The extra wear on the engine caused by cracks in the coil pack can prematurely immobilize your car, and then you’ll be shelling out even more cash to replace your entire vehicle. To avoid this nightmare, schedule an appointment with a local VW repair expert. They’ll have your GTI running smoothly in no time.
Search for a local, independent Volkswagen repair shop with Volkswagen mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.