Help: Bad coils

[Little Beavis]

How can you test to see if your ignition coils are bad.

I can't start my car right now, and it seems like there is NO spark. One of the coils also got really, really hot. I think they're hosed, but don't know for sure and obviously have to figure out the problem before I put new ones in.

 

[acidbug]

One of my coils went bad..It exploded..But that's how i knew..LOL

Your best bet is to just bother another protege owner..to borrow their coil..throw it on..and viola(sp?)..

Or just purchase one from the dealer..cost me like $20..

Chas

 

[Little Beavis]

I don't know if either is working, but one looks bad the other looks good, but the good one is the one that got really hot, so it is probably shot now too. Check em out. . .I'm guessing I need new ones. . .

Acidbbg, any clue why yours exploded?

 

[Bigg Tim]

How do you know there is no spark?

edit: I just saw those pics. How the hell did that happen?

 

[dominoy2k1]

damn somthing similar happened to me, the tip on the coil was cracked.....

 

[Little Beavis]

How do you know there is no spark?

edit: I just saw those pics. How the hell did that happen?

I don't know that there is no spark. I debated about trying it with a plug out, but since I can't even start the car it isn't as easy as just pulling a plug wire off while it is running.

I can "test" it by cranking the engine and having someone watch a plug that is pulled out and sitting on the engine, but that doesn't seem like the best method. . .I'm open for suggestions. . .I'm a little cranky right now, so I'm probably not thinking too straight either. . .clouded by disgust or something.

 

[Bigg Tim]

You got the PB installed right? Are your settings correct?

 

[acidbug]

Here's a Link..to my Thread..about the exploding coil pack..

http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36207

and here's a pic

/members/acidbbg/spark plug cap/pic0.jpg

chas

 

[Little Beavis]

Anybody else have ideas? Seems like the spark plugs were gapped a little tight, but not by much. . .

Is there anything that would cause it to melt or just get really hot? I'm afraid to put in new ones just to have the same thing happen. I was cranking the car for some time trying to get it started. Ran the battery dead in the process. . .I just don't know what would have caused this!

Anyone?

 

[acidbug]

Maybe Detonation? I have heard detonation braking spark plugs up..and coil packs...

my 2 cents..

Chas

 

[Little Beavis]

Yeah, that could do it. . .but my engine wasn't even running. . .

I couldn't get the damn thing started! s***!

 

[PaulMP3]

Is this the first time starting it since the piggyback install?? (if it is installed)

 

[Little Beavis]

Yes and no. . .I put the piggy in and started it up before, but it idle pretty rough. . .so I got new plugs. . .this is the first time starting it since the new plugs. . .and I got nothing! Piggy is wired in properly. . .and it did start before. . .I just don't know if it did something wierd during my failed starting attempts. . .like go offline and screw something up. Don't have a clue. . .but it "kind of ran before, so I don't understand why it doesn't run now. . .except that the coils are probably no good now. . .can't have fried them just by trying to start the car over and over, right?

 

[PaulMP3]

we had trouble getting my car to turn over initially after installing the piggyback. The instructions we got we vague at best. I think one wire was hooked up wrong. After that it started right up. Very randomly my car takes a little longer to turn over in cold weather, not often though. It is never more than on try, just a little longer then usual. I think this might just be my battery though. I am assuming you have double checked your wiring.. so i cant really help.

 

[Kooldino]

yeah, it's probably from detonation.

 

[Aricjm15]

have someone hold the sparkplug while you crank the car, if they drop it and start screaming like a little pussy you coil is fine

 

[Little Beavis]

yeah, it's probably from detonation.

:wtf:

have someone hold the sparkplug while you crank the car, if they drop it and start screaming like a little pussy you coil is fine

(lol2)
Yeah that's what I was thinking!

 

[Keith@FP]

Forget the detonation theory, that's just plain wrong. Coils don't melt from detonation.

It's far more likely that it's something to do with your piggyback setup. Too much dwell could damage the ignitor for example. What is the PB you're using?

What was the sequence of events - something like this:
1. Car runs fine.
2. Install piggyback.
3. Car won't start.
4. Find damaged coil.
?

Keith

 

[LinuxRacr]

I'm with Keith on that logical thought process. Keep us posted.

 

[acidbug]

I had no idea that he just installed the piggy..He wasn't very informative in his first Post!

But now since he mentioned he got a piggy in..I defintely think it's a wiring issue!

Chas