In the woes of driving 2fatguys car the coil went out. This was a common problem in this car due to a melted wire harness. It now has a new wire harness and it ate a coil 2 days ago. So I re located the coil to the trunk. I dont want this thing to leave me on the side of the road so I am asking WHAT could cause a coil to go bad? I hope getting it out of the heat helps.

I always thought it was one of the following for most any electrical component:

1 - heat
2 - age ( insulation doesn't last forever, and heat makes it go faster )
3 - physical damage
4 - too much voltage causing insulator breakdown
5 - did i mention heat?

Generally, the heat fries them. That's why I relocated the coil on mine. Ignition coils would only last about 5-6 months in the stock location. It's been about 2 years since I relocated the coil to the trunk wall, and no problems.

The first iteration of my coil relocation was super-easy. I only had to cut/splice 2 wires. I found a longer module-to-coil cable (the 2-wire cable) from a car in a salvage yard. And my aftermarket coil-to-distributer ignition wire was long enough to reach. I nabbed a wire plug, with about a foot of wire still attached, to extend the other 2 wires. And "voila!", I had this:

This one went in the trunk lol. Does anyone have a referance voltage from the icm to the coil? For both terminals on the coil would be nice. If its getting to much voltage that would mean a different problem and therefore keep frying coils.

The Pink wire from the wire harness has +12 on it. The white wire from the harness sends the ignition signal to the ECM. The white wire from the dist. gets grounded interminantly. The Pink wire to the dist powers the ICM.

On the coil pink is connnected to pink, white to white

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: The Pink wire from the wire harness has +12 on it. The white wire from the harness sends the ignition signal to the ECM. The white wire from the dist. gets grounded interminantly. The Pink wire to the dist powers the ICM. On the coil pink is connnected to pink, white to white

So while running I should have continuity to ground on the white wire. Do you know how many amps is going to be on the white and pink wire?

quote Originally posted by 87antuzzi: So while running I should have continuity to ground on the white wire. Do you know how many amps is going to be on the white and pink wire?

That's not what I said

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 09-07-2010).]

Having a father take shortcuts in cleaning the engine with engine de-greaser and choosing not cover the distributer and coil could do it too.

[This message has been edited by 88RedFormula (edited 09-07-2010).]

What Brand of coil?
Example: Accel make crappy dry coils. Most part are made in Mexico...
Change brand etc...

Check module Grounds. Mounting bolt act as ground for coil and module. Bolt are Black Oxide coat? Replace with plane bolt and grease to keep rust out.

Check rotor, dist cap, plug, plug wires. "bad" of them will make coil from overheat. All new? New could still be bad...

HEI coil...
Coil has no ground and is not ground to frame.
But
Frame of coil must be ground even tho it not connect to coil if you want coil to last. (Why? long story and I don't have time) Can move the coil but must keep ground for frame.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 09-07-2010).]