Another dead ignition coil
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 2
From: Sherwood Park AB
Another dead ignition coil
I have replaced two igition coils within 400 km, but over two years.
I have a new ignition module, plugs, cap, wires, rotor, rebuilt alternator... Timing set at 36 degrees total.
I have one burned wire, and have not replaced pick up coil.
What keeps killing them?
I have a new ignition module, plugs, cap, wires, rotor, rebuilt alternator... Timing set at 36 degrees total.
I have one burned wire, and have not replaced pick up coil.
What keeps killing them?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
IF you have an HEI, which it sounds as if you do, what with that sending coil and all.....
look at the spark coil up top, are any of the connections showing anyting burnt?? if so, you have to know that iron core is grounded by either a wire or metal grounding strap from under one of the 4 mounting bolts, connecting to the center lug of the 3 wire plug, which goes to the dist frame....ground....
the other failure mode I haved noted over the years is the crimp connections of the 'bare' but insulated copper wires the red and yellow/white wires, they are crimped in sloppy fashion to the spade connectors, right through the lacquer brown insulatioin known as form-var, varnish for copper coil windings, it's insulation really, well guess what?? that crimp can be intermittant, and can fail completely....just scrape off the form var insulation and solder it normally, and your problems with THAT failure mode are over.....
GENE
look at the spark coil up top, are any of the connections showing anyting burnt?? if so, you have to know that iron core is grounded by either a wire or metal grounding strap from under one of the 4 mounting bolts, connecting to the center lug of the 3 wire plug, which goes to the dist frame....ground....
the other failure mode I haved noted over the years is the crimp connections of the 'bare' but insulated copper wires the red and yellow/white wires, they are crimped in sloppy fashion to the spade connectors, right through the lacquer brown insulatioin known as form-var, varnish for copper coil windings, it's insulation really, well guess what?? that crimp can be intermittant, and can fail completely....just scrape off the form var insulation and solder it normally, and your problems with THAT failure mode are over.....
GENE
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 2
From: Sherwood Park AB
Thanks Gene
Yes, I do have an HEI, coil in cap, with the original distributor on my 78.
Nothing looks burnt on my coils. I know there is a ground wire that is held to the coil body by one of the 4 coil hold down bolts. I figured that the center wire of the three wire plug from the dist to the cap is the ground wire.
The wires you are mentioning here are the ones that are one the coil itself? I will ensure they are soldered on my new MSD.
Just to make sure, I test the coils by reading the resistance between the red and yellow wires and the center carbon contact? If the resistance is infinate, the coil is fubar?
Yes, I do have an HEI, coil in cap, with the original distributor on my 78.
Nothing looks burnt on my coils. I know there is a ground wire that is held to the coil body by one of the 4 coil hold down bolts. I figured that the center wire of the three wire plug from the dist to the cap is the ground wire.
The wires you are mentioning here are the ones that are one the coil itself? I will ensure they are soldered on my new MSD.
Just to make sure, I test the coils by reading the resistance between the red and yellow wires and the center carbon contact? If the resistance is infinate, the coil is fubar?
