Has anyone changed the solenoid on a 2011 1.6 TDi, I have removed an injector, which is not working, when I removed the solenoid and connected it to a battery it wasn't working, I tried to move / remove  the center plunger but it appears to be seized solid. Has anyone had that same fault or have seen a stuck plunger. My solenoid is a Continental (which I would take with a large pinch of salt)

Is there a reliable brand of solenoid or a brand to avoid?

8 hours ago, DavyF said:

Has anyone changed the solenoid on a 2011 1.6 TDi, I have removed an injector, which is not working, when I removed the solenoid and connected it to a battery it wasn't working, I tried to move / remove  the center plunger but it appears to be seized solid. Has anyone had that same fault or have seen a stuck plunger. My solenoid is a Continental (which I would take with a large pinch of salt)

Is there a reliable brand of solenoid or a brand to avoid?

Hi think you will have better luck replacing the whole injector, they come as unit so I would doubt you would get that part anywhere except from an injector specialist who would probably want to recon your existing unit.

Steve.

Thank you for replying Steve, I had read online about someone who had changed the solenoids, but after searching for solenoids I found some on Alibaba or one of the other Asian businesses, it's not that I have anything against those sellers but I thought it would be better avoiding them.

When I contacted a local diesel specialist they told me the injector used in the 1.6 CAYC cannot be reconditioned (apart from changing the nozzles).  Unfortunately, despite being a good looking comfortable car, being 2011 it's not worth spending £1200 + VAT on a new set of injectors!! 

7 hours ago, DavyF said:

Thank you for replying Steve, I had read online about someone who had changed the solenoids, but after searching for solenoids I found some on Alibaba or one of the other Asian businesses, it's not that I have anything against those sellers but I thought it would be better avoiding them.

When I contacted a local diesel specialist they told me the injector used in the 1.6 CAYC cannot be reconditioned (apart from changing the nozzles).  Unfortunately, despite being a good looking comfortable car, being 2011 it's not worth spending £1200 + VAT on a new set of injectors!! 

Hi sorry to hear of your problems, but I would not take your diesel specialist word as law as I have noticed a lot of them dont have the equipment to service Piezo injectors, try United Diesels who are at the top of the injector evolutionary tree, if not try second hand from a company called Nirro they break VAG cars and do some very good parts for not a lot of money, let us know how you get on, BTW I dont blame you for avoiding Alibaba and his four million thieves.

Steve.

On 12/17/2025 at 6:29 PM, Stevey Y said:

Hi sorry to hear of your problems, but I would not take your diesel specialist word as law as I have noticed a lot of them dont have the equipment to service Piezo injectors, try United Diesels who are at the top of the injector evolutionary tree, if not try second hand from a company called Nirro they break VAG cars and do some very good parts for not a lot of money, let us know how you get on, BTW I dont blame you for avoiding Alibaba and his four million thieves.

Steve.

Having spoken to several injector specialists, including United Diesels, they told me they do not refurb the early A1 injector because it is normally the solenoid that is faulty, which cannot be repaired.

22 hours ago, DavyF said:

Having spoken to several injector specialists, including United Diesels, they told me they do not refurb the early A1 injector because it is normally the solenoid that is faulty, which cannot be repaired.

Hi sorry to hear that but I rather suspected that it might involve a whole new unit, please let us know how you get on.

Steve.