Coilpack frustration, this is seriously annoying

[copia22]

November 2008 2 of my coilpacks failed and were replaced along with four spark plugs.

January 7th another coilpack failed and was replaced along with the spark plugs.

TONIGHT on my way home from work, the car goes into limp mode (CEL blinking) when I am over a certain speed I think and the car has the same symptoms as previously when the coils failed. It didn't even do it near an autozone so I could have had them test it.

I have read the diy's thanks to audizine so I know how to replace the coilpack now without having to shell $250. But my car has 68K miles on it, what the hell is going on for all four coils to have failed within a few months of each other, is it normal for all four to fail like this.

Also what brand can I use that would ensure they at least last a bit longer, because the first two were put by a different shop in NJ and the third one in CT I know the brands are different is this a cause?

Is there a bigger problem with the car that is causing the coils to fail like this?

This is really frustrating, I was on my way home from work and off to NYC and this happens. Sometimes i love this car and sometimes i F**king hate it, honestly this is horsesh*t

EDIT- also because the nearest Autozone is 13 miles away, would it be ok to drive their and have them check which coil it is, or is there a way to tell which coil it is by just inspecting it? And do i need to change all the spark plugs again???

[02B6]

When mine blew, I let the car run and popped out the coils and whenever you heard the car shut down a cylinder and idle worse, you knew that one was ok. Pull one out and nothing happens from the current poor idle, then you knew that was done.

[Monkey77]

I feel your pain!
It is usually recommended that you do not drive the car a long distance on blown coil packs. An easy way to figure out which coil pack is blown is to just remove them one at a time, and narrow it down to the faulty one. Replace it, then keep two spares in the trunk. I just bout a set of Hitachi CP's, and you can also go with Bremi, or STI. Just see which one you can get a good deal on. Good luck.

[copia22]

Should I just order 4 and replace all four of them, and keep the other 3 as spares? Does having different brands affect it or no?

Also do i need to do the spark plugs as well?

[EBG 18T]

Should I just order 4 and replace all four of them, and keep the other 3 as spares? Does having different brands affect it or no?

Also do i need to do the spark plugs as well?

You mind as well order 4 new coilpacks so you can have the save version throughout and keep the others as spares. The 'r' version is the most recent release from Audi. some people run the hitachi's as an alternative. if you order from a place like clair parts or ecs they are ~$25/each. Your plugs should be fine, they don't need to be replaced too often. If you are running OEM plat plugs they are usually good for ~40k miles. If you are running copper plugs many people replace them every 5-10k miles.

Personally i run the bosch platin side fire plugs and replace every 40k miles. i am about due for a new set of plugs and coilpacks since my current set has ~40k miles on them.

here's a link to coilpacks that are cheaper than the dealer:
Coilpacks @ ECS Tuning

[Monkey77]

Should I just order 4 and replace all four of them, and keep the other 3 as spares? Does having different brands affect it or no?

Also do i need to do the spark plugs as well?

If you have the funds you can go ahead and get four of the same brand, and keep the ones you have now that work as spares. Don't stress about the plugs, unless you have more than 40K on them.

[afozzie40]

buy a new set. I got r type karlyn packs from ECS for $115. and when mine failed I pulled them out one at a time and the faulty one broke in half both times (pretty easy to tell which one was bad) on my brother's 3.0 he said the faulty coil pack looked burnt and smelled like electrical fire. bad spark plugs should have nothing to do with blown coil packs, but a bad coil pack will make your plug fail and foul. drive as little as possible when on a blown pack, you will fail your cat, this expensive and bad, don't ruin your 800 dollar cat by driving to autozone.

[copia22]

Thanks guys, the spark plugs were literally changes 2 weeks ago with NGK laser Platinum spark plugs.

With a little help of the search function I found the spark plugs at three different places.

1. autozone http://www.autozone.com/selectedZip,.../selectZip.htm
32.99 brand - Duralast

2. Partsamerica http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=190&PTSet=A 24.99 brand - Niehoff

3. audisuperpartsstore http://www.audipartssuperstore.com/c...roducts_id=473 25.92 coil pack R version [06B-905-115-R] 25.92 they have the disclaimer about the right part, but pretty sure as you guys mentioned the R will work with my engine correct?

GeniuneVWaudiparts has them for $23.04 but doesn't say what brand.

As mentioned I am leaning towards the R coils from audi parts super store, it comes down to $12 bucks difference from the cheapest.

[copia22]

Thanks guys from the time the CEL went off, the total distance to my house was 8 miles. I did not drive over 30mph.

[Papachristou]

i put a set of hitachi E bolt down CPs. been running them for over 45k miles on apr 1+... i dont think anyone on here has had a set blow... ecs has them as does purems