EPC Light - Cylinder 2 misfire. How to fix?

[Lordie]

Hi guys

Unfortunately, I'm having an issue with my 2014 GTi. A few weeks back the EPC light came on and it went into limp mode. I switched the engine off and back on again and the light went off and it was normal again but just with a slightly rougher idle. I noticed a few weeks before that idle was a little more rough than usual. When I got home I plugged in my ODB11 which showed these faults:

P130A00 - Hide Cylinder Intermittent
&
P030200 - Cyl.2 Misfire Detected

So a quick Google search seems to suggest it could be new injectors due to a carbon build up. I do a lot of short journeys so that also points towards that but the car has only done 40,000 miles. Then again it could be something more simple like a coil pack maybe?. A local garage also said to try good quality coil packs first

Is there any way I can check or look for things that point towards a carbon build up?. Spoke to an RAC guy last week and he suggested I look at the spark plugs for any yellowing but I don't know what that means and I don't know how to do that. He also said he has the same car and his wife does lots of short journeys in it, this meant he needed new injectors at 50k miles.
Not a lot I can do myself with my skills but I think I could change the coil packs myself with the help of a YouTube video. Alternatively I could swap 2 coil packs around and see if the fault follows it. But since I don't have any fault lights lighting up on the dash I assume the OBD11 won't be able to pick up any fault codes until one comes on ?

I haven't driven the car much since (4 times or so) as everyone says it could cause further damage. Hopefully can figure something out before the MOT comes up next month

Any help or advice would be much appreciated 

[sjw]

Start by swapping two coils, that's what I'd do. It might take a while but you'll get to the fault eventually

[Lordie]

Start by swapping two coils, that's what I'd do. It might take a while but you'll get to the fault eventually

If there’s no lights popping up will it still show a fault code on the OBD11?. I’ve been driving it a bit already with no light coming on again and just a bit worried about driving it even more. Due to the miles and age, is it worth swapping the coil packs for good new ones anyway?. Don’t know how long they’re meant to last

[sjw]

Start by swapping two coils, that's what I'd do. It might take a while but you'll get to the fault eventually

If there’s no lights popping up will it still show a fault code on the OBD11?. I’ve been driving it a bit already with no light coming on again and just a bit worried about driving it even more. Due to the miles and age, is it worth swapping the coil packs for good new ones anyway?. Don’t know how long they’re meant to last

Yes, I believe it'll still show a misfire. Mine was doing it for weeks, but I only got a light (and limp mode) once or twice. I could feel my car "hiccupping" under acceleration

[Lordie]

Start by swapping two coils, that's what I'd do. It might take a while but you'll get to the fault eventually

If there’s no lights popping up will it still show a fault code on the OBD11?. I’ve been driving it a bit already with no light coming on again and just a bit worried about driving it even more. Due to the miles and age, is it worth swapping the coil packs for good new ones anyway?. Don’t know how long they’re meant to last

Yes, I believe it'll still show a misfire. Mine was doing it for weeks, but I only got a light (and limp mode) once or twice. I could feel my car "hiccupping" under acceleration

Ok I'll see what I can do and try it out on the weekend. If I do find that the fault follows the coils, do I swap 1, 2, or all 4? . and is there anything else I need to change if I do the coil packs?.

Really appreciate the help 

[madstaff]

Seeing as you've had no misfire on cylinder 3, I would swap the coil packs around from cylinder 2 and 3 (first mark them 1,2,3 and 4).

Then run and see if the misfire follows coil pack 2 to cylinder 3 proving the coil pack 2 is faulty.

[Lordie]

Seeing as you've had no misfire on cylinder 3, I would swap the coil packs around from cylinder 2 and 3 (first mark them 1,2,3 and 4).

Then run and see if the misfire follows coil pack 2 to cylinder 3 proving the coil pack 2 is faulty.

Ok thanks  . My plan this weekend is - scan with OBD11 again and see if it still shows the same fault codes. If so, switched the coil packs around. Then drive it a little bit and scan again

If I do need a new coil pack, which should I get?. Do I use another genuine VW one or switch to a different brand?.

Also, is it ok to swap one for a different brand or do all 4 have to be matching ?

[sjw]

Seeing as you've had no misfire on cylinder 3, I would swap the coil packs around from cylinder 2 and 3 (first mark them 1,2,3 and 4).

Then run and see if the misfire follows coil pack 2 to cylinder 3 proving the coil pack 2 is faulty.

Ok thanks  . My plan this weekend is - scan with OBD11 again and see if it still shows the same fault codes. If so, switched the coil packs around. Then drive it a little bit and scan again

If I do need a new coil pack, which should I get?. Do I use another genuine VW one or switch to a different brand?.

Also, is it ok to swap one for a different brand or do all 4 have to be matching ?

I bought mine from Progressive Parts, it was about £40 iirc

[Lordie]

Weeeell now I'm stuck. Scanned the car 3 times (before and after a drive) and no fault codes relating to the engine popped up. So now I don't know what to do. Suppose I could just change the coil pack as it's relatively inexpensive anyway?. The cars still idling slightly rough and it shivers every now and again, but when driving everything seems pretty much normal.

Anyone have any other ideas?

It it worth putting some cleaner into the petrol to attempted to remove any potential carbon build up?

[Lordie]

Updating in case anyone views this in the future - Tried replacing the coil packs to no avail, still shivers a lot on cold starts. Will see what the local garages says.