VW Virtus Stalling: Common Coil Failure Fix Guide

Having some experience working on VWs, I dealt with very similar symptoms on my 2020 VW Polo last year. The engine hesitation, misfiring, and stalling match exactly what I experienced. After the check engine light came on, I took it to my regular workshop. They diagnosed a loose connection in the wiring harness going to one of the ignition coils. The cable insulation had worn through, causing intermittent connection issues. The entire diagnostic and repair process took about 2 hours and cost 95€ to fix the wiring and properly secure the connection. A faulty ignition system can definitely cause these symptoms, but before replacing coils, having a proper diagnosis is important since multiple issues can cause similar problems. To better assist, could you share: Current mileage on your Virtus, When the symptoms first appeared, Whether the issues occur more during cold or hot engine conditions, If you have access to the specific error codes from the check engine light This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something different.

Had my last service at 90000km about 2 months ago and these issues started showing up last week. The engine stalling and misfiring happens more frequently when the engine is cold, especially during morning starts. I got the error codes checked at a local parts store, P0351 and P0303 which apparently point to an ignition coil failure on cylinder 3. Just wanted to get feedback here before spending money on new coils. The stalling has gotten worse over the past few days, particularly at idle. The engine hesitation is also more noticeable during acceleration. Starting to think I should just get all coils replaced while they are at it since they are all the same age.

Based on those error codes and symptoms you described, it definitely matches the typical signs of ignition coil failure. When I had similar issues with my Polo, I initially only replaced the faulty coil, but ended up changing all of them 6 months later when another one failed. Vehicle diagnostics showed the same codes you mentioned when my coil started failing. The cold start issues and engine hesitation are classic symptoms, especially the stalling at idle and jerking when accelerating. These symptoms tend to worsen quickly once an ignition coil starts failing. Your thinking about replacing all coils makes sense. Since your car has 90000km, the other coils are likely experiencing similar wear. When I finally did all coils together, it cost about 280€ including parts and labor. The complete job took around 1.5 hours. The repair eliminated all misfiring issues and restored smooth engine performance. Make sure to check the spark plugs while doing the coils, they often need replacement at the same time for optimal ignition system performance. Would recommend getting this done soon, as continued driving with a failing coil can potentially damage your catalytic converter.

Thanks for the detailed info. You've convinced me to go ahead with replacing all the coil packs. The symptoms match exactly what you experienced, and I dont want to risk damaging other components by waiting too long. I just called my local shop and they quoted 295€ for replacing all ignition coils and spark plugs, which seems reasonable based on what you paid. They can take the car tomorrow morning and said the full job should take about 2 hours. Will update here once the work is done, but I feel confident this will resolve the engine hesitation and stalling issues. The error codes and cold start problems really do point to failing ignition coils. Better to replace them all now than deal with another failing coil in a few months. Thanks again for sharing your experience, helped me make an informed decision rather than just guessing at the problem.