Hi, I've been round the houses and been given various explanations/extortionate quotes but don't think I'm being told the truth. this is an '01 fit Japan import 1.3 engine, 170,000km. Service in May (162,000) inc replace 4 plugs. End of august first noticed a jolt whilst driving, felt like slip then jolt very quick. Gradually increasing in frequency since then. I assumed CVT but was told by specialist that transmission is working as it should but it was plugs and coils and it would be expensive > $1000 NZD and that car was not as nippy as it should be. I had forgotten about plugs at service (have 2 cars).

I have been told that plugs cost $35 NZD each and coils $250 NZD, but then discovered this simply isn't true. Very very confused about the number of plugs actually in the engine as thought it was an LA13 DSi, so perhaps (different) mechanic forgot the other 4?

So anyone think this 'slipping jolty' thing is electrical or mechanical? It happens most often when going up slight inclines and not pushing the engine, gentle gradual acceleration only.

Many thanks for anything constructive

 

Definitely a coil pack. I had this exact problem. I just fixed it. I bought 1 coil pack (I'm not keeping this car long), then swapped it with old coil packs 1 by 1 until the problem went away.

I would recommend just replacing all 4, its very easy to do yourself. A 10mm wrench or socket and pull them out.

 

Thanks Skiboarder119, it turned out to be plugs as the service garage didn't know there were 8 so had only replaced 4 in May. The coils are $95 each NZD so I hope they hold out a while more. As over $800 to replace them all on a 16 year old car is stupid.