Misfire on Cylinder 1

[Pudz]

Hey guys,
new at this and have little car knowledge so please bare with me.
My g/friend car is a 2004 1.4 polo 16v and has been having the engine management light coming on the veichle.
I managed to find someone with a universal software to read it and it came up with the message Misfire on cylinder one.
From this he changed to coil pack and it did nothing so then we swaped (not changed) spark plugs and still nothing. He has suggested it might be a sticky valve?
The car has done 51000 miles and the spark plugs did look a little worn.
Need help from here. Tempted to take to VW to get checked but wanted a little advice first.
Much Appriciated if i get some replies..

Puds

[9n3 Silver Bird]

Dear Pudz,

As I understand it, the fault light (the fault code) stays there after you have "fixed" the fault.
You have to cancel the fault code (use a VAG-COM or similar ODB-II device).
If the fault persists then the code (and the fault light) will come back.

If it comes back try swapping the spark plug cables with another car (or just buy new ones).

You might have more than one code, if you can see more codes then these will help you to diagnose the fault.

Good luck.

9n3 Silver Bird
NW London

[Pudz]

Hey guys, thanks for the reply.
Took the car to VW. Told them that i had changed the Spark Plugs and coil pack and i was having this fault.
They asked for 0.5 hrs to look at it. 45 quid
Call bk and they explained they think it is the Spark plugs. I said i had changed them but its is there designed car so why not.
Phone call . its Not sorted.... Can we have an other hour their reply was. 95 quid later...
We think it is the Coil packs.
Packs i said. Its only misfiring on 1 cylinder. Yes he replied but now all 4 are. The car is powerless.
I said ok do what u think is best.
Call bk. No sorry ain't fixed it. Car we please have another 3 hrs labour to take car apart....
What shall i do??? Please any suggestions will be great.....

Puds

[Crasher]

Ask them to do a compression test before they do anything else, these are prone to burning out exhaust valves. They have also probably upset the EGR valve adaptation by clearing the fault codes.

[Pudz]

Thanks for the reply.
Also would any one know. The car is 8 months out of warranty but has had the servicing all done by VW. On the last one i believe it was meant to have the big service but the service manager said it would be ok to have a yearly serivice and wait till next year.
Now they are turning around and saying that it ain't been kept to service agreement. They first guy i spoke to yesterday said the service agreement was fine.
Do you think i might manage to get GOOD WILL ?
Any ways to approach this would be greatfull.

Slightly stressed...

[Crasher]

I bet you don’t have it in writing that it was OK to do just an oil change. They will use any excuse they can to wriggle out of goodwill. A year ago this wasn’t happening but now times are tight, VAG UK have really cracked down on goodwill work.

[Pudz]

Compression test has been done. Cylinder 1 was quite alot lower.
The random misfire has been sorted by replacing the coils on the other cylinders but 1 still not preforming.
They are taking the head off on monday to have a better look then will get in touch with VW.
Hopefully some good news will follow.

[churp]

i had this on my a4, found it to be a bent conrod