VW Bora Stalling Issues Point to Faulty Ignition Coils

I had a similar issue with my VW Golf 2005 1.6 gasoline last year and can share my experience since I have some basic maintenance knowledge. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I experienced, engine stalling at idle, hesitation during acceleration, and an illuminated check engine light. These are classic signs of coil failure or connection issues. In my case, the workshop diagnosed a loose connection in the wiring harness going to one of the coil packs. The cable insulation had worn through, causing intermittent connection issues and misfires. The total repair cost was 95€, which covered diagnostic time and fixing the damaged wiring. Before jumping to replacing parts, I would recommend: 1. Getting the check engine light codes read 2. Having the coil pack connections inspected 3. Testing the spark plugs To help diagnose your specific issue, could you share: Have you had the error codes read? When was the last spark plug change? Does the misfire happen more frequently when the engine is cold or warm? Is the problem constant or intermittent? This information would help determine if you are dealing with a similar connection issue or if you need a complete coil pack replacement.

Thanks for the feedback. My latest service was 2 months ago at 67016km, and they changed oil and filters but didnt check the ignition system. The check engine codes show P0301 and P0303 cylinder misfires. The issue happens more when the engine is cold and seems worse on damp mornings. After reading several responses, it does sound like a failing coil pack based on these symptoms. The spark plugs were replaced during the service, so I think we can rule those out as the cause. The misfiring has been getting progressively worse over the past few weeks, rather than being a sudden failure. I will get the ignition coils tested properly before replacing any parts. Thanks for sharing your experience with a similar issue, very helpful to know about checking the wiring connections first.

Thanks for the update. Given those specific error codes and the symptoms getting worse in cold and damp conditions, your situation seems different from my wiring issue. The fact that its progressive and happens more in cold weather strongly points toward actual coil failure rather than just loose connections. After fixing my initial wiring problem, I actually ended up replacing two ignition coils about 6 months later when similar symptoms returned. Vehicle diagnostics showed the same P0301 misfire code you are getting. The cold weather sensitivity is something I noticed too, classic sign of deteriorating coil packs. Since your spark plugs are new and the engine hesitation is getting worse, I would focus on the coils. In my case, the replacement coils cost 160€ total for two units. The improvement in engine performance was immediate, no more stalling at idle or jerking during acceleration. Make sure to get good quality replacement coils though. I initially tried cheaper aftermarket ones and had to redo the job when they failed after just a few months. OEM coils might cost more upfront but proved more reliable in my experience. Let us know how the coil testing turns out. Based on the matching symptoms and error codes, I suspect you will find at least one failed coil.

Thanks for all the detailed input and suggestions. After having my car checked at the garage today, you were absolutely right about the coil pack failure. They found two faulty coils causing the cylinder misfires. The total repair cost came to 280€ including parts and labor. They replaced all four ignition coils since the others showed signs of wear too. The mechanic confirmed the cold weather sensitivity was indeed a classic symptom of failing coils. The engine is running smoothly now with no more stalling or hesitation during acceleration. The check engine light is off and the misfire codes are gone. Really glad I had this checked out before it led to more serious issues. Good call on going with OEM parts too, the mechanic said the same thing about avoiding cheaper aftermarket coils. Will definitely keep an eye on the ignition system during future services to catch any issues early.