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I have a friend that has an 86. Can you tell me what the difference between these 2 coils are? One has red white and black wires and one has a red yellow and black.
Are they interchangable of are they different coils?
It is a matter of polarity. If you were stranded on the side of the road, the incorrect coil will get you going. You might never notice the difference, but it won't have the current capacity of the correct coil. The color of the coil leads should match the color of the module leads.
I had the same question so I called Accel about which one to use. The tech guy told me the same as CFI-EFI stated, they have different polarity, but he did tell me that they have done tests and either one will work. I have a 89 so I did go ahead and get the red/white wired coil which is the correct one for my car. You can't go by what the different parts sites say because they don't agree with each other, thats why I called Accel. WW
does the white wire on one coil and the yellow on the other indicate that they are of different capacity?
It isn't a matter of capacity. Either coil will have a reduced output in the wrong application. Reversed polarity of ignition coils and the problems it can cause are as old as the points and a condenser (Kettering ignition).
the coils are matched to the pick-up coil's polarity if that helps and a wrong one does cause problems as cfi-efi stated. pick up coil in my 85 is a green/white wires and its coil is a red/white. red/yellows more common to older hei and/or other gm cars/trucks.