Coilpack lifespan

private9 · 15-03-2008, 08:57 PM

Hi Guys,

Just chasing a bit of a miss in an AU2 i6 motor. Plugs and leads have been replaced with no success. Leads are quality items, and plugs are of the right heat range for the application and were gapped correctly.

All I can think of now is the coilpack. The engine only has around 80k on it though, and I wouldn't have thought a coilpack would present problems so early.

Does anyone know if it's common for a coilpack to go at this sort of mileage?

I just want to avoid changing it unless I'm sure it's the problem, as it looks like a pain to change!

As always, all advice is much appreciated!

Thanks,

Justin.

mik · 15-03-2008, 10:28 PM

mine is still running like a clock at 117k`s original coil pak, perhaps the conditions play a part ,hot , dusty,humid,wet, etc, it would be interesting for some feed back at what mileages people replaced them.

FGII-XR6 · 15-03-2008, 10:38 PM

coilpacks in the AU can go with virtually no milage on them of can last the life of the car . I actually saw one recently that was faulty out of the box so really they have no set lifespan

JC · 15-03-2008, 10:46 PM

Coilpack is a bit of a pain to change, but not too different to the coils in ELs etc. If you can borrow one for a while, I'd do that, as the coil packs aren't cheap (around the $150 mark , IIRC, though you may get one cheaper on ebay)

private9 · 15-03-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

Coilpack is a bit of a pain to change, but not too different to the coils in ELs etc. If you can borrow one for a while, I'd do that, as the coil packs aren't cheap (around the $150 mark , IIRC, though you may get one cheaper on ebay)

Thanks JC - I guess I could swap the known one off the wagon just to test, but that means pulling 2 cars apart!

Thanks for the feedback so far guys - the one in the wagon is still going strong with 190k on the clock, so I kind of assumed this one should be ok.

b2tf · 15-03-2008, 11:04 PM

Justin a dead coilpack should log a fault code so it may be worth looking at this first

GK · 15-03-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Justin a dead coilpack should log a fault code so it may be worth looking at this first

True.

According to my manual the code is P0350. Ignition Coil Failure.

Possible causes
Coil shorted to ground. Coil pack faulty or damaged, faulty or improper coil signal, improper signal from Crank Position Sensor (CKS) to PCM.

There are other codes 0351-0354.
Possible causes
Fouled plugs, damaged high tension leads, incorrect plug gap, worn or damaged plugs and a few others as well.

It therefore appears that if the coil pack is stuffed or playing up, but the leads and plugs are okay, then the code will be P0350.

GK

private9 · 16-03-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Justin a dead coilpack should log a fault code so it may be worth looking at this first

Thanks Austin, this would be perfect, except the engine's in an EB running aftermarket ECU, so no fault codes for me

:

private9 · 16-03-2008, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GK

True.

According to my manual the code is P0350. Ignition Coil Failure.

Possible causes
Coil shorted to ground. Coil pack faulty or damaged, faulty or improper coil signal, improper signal from Crank Position Sensor (CKS) to PCM.

There are other codes 0351-0354.
Possible causes
Fouled plugs, damaged high tension leads, incorrect plug gap, worn or damaged plugs and a few others as well.

It therefore appears that if the coil pack is stuffed or playing up, but the leads and plugs are okay, then the code will be P0350.

GK

Thanks for the advice George. Plugs are new, correct heat range & gap. Leads are new and very good quality.

From the sounds of it, it really only could be the coil, so I'll have to build up some motivation to fit a new one!

FGII-XR6 · 16-03-2008, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

Coilpack is a bit of a pain to change, but not too different to the coils in ELs etc. If you can borrow one for a while, I'd do that, as the coil packs aren't cheap (around the $150 mark , IIRC, though you may get one cheaper on ebay)

no EL6 had a coil pack they had a dizzy the EF did but strangly they went back to a dizzy till the AU1 weird i know

**Mechan1k** · 19-03-2008, 01:32 PM

Bit of a thread mine I guess from Page 2.

But to add to this ... I had a faulty coilpack that didn't bring up a code at all.
It was an annoying miss at idle .. and under load it really showed (with a decent backfire being LPG) ... thanks goodness my intake was still in one piece.

Ford wanted $300-ish for an AUII coilpack new in box ... I got one for less than $100 from a wrecker off an engine with bugger-all kays on it. Has been fine since.

Mine original coilpack started playing up around the 200,000km mark.

bodes-sh · 19-03-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au3xr6

no EL6 had a coil pack they had a dizzy the EF did but strangly they went back to a dizzy till the AU1 weird i know

i think he was trying to say replacing a coil pack on an au isn't that much different to replacing a coil on an el

private9 · 19-03-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

i think he was trying to say replacing a coil pack on an au isn't that much different to replacing a coil on an el

That's the way I took it!

FGII-XR6 · 19-03-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

i think he was trying to say replacing a coil pack on an au isn't that much different to replacing a coil on an el

actually it's chalk and cheese the EL coil although in a difficult position is simple to replace from under the car where the coil pack it large and awkward to mount and get into position on top of the engine mount not to mention the fun connecting the leads. ford stuffed up IMHO with the location of the coilpac replacement is a real chore

bodes-sh · 19-03-2008, 10:32 PM

well i don't know how difficulty or not it is to change a coil on an el as i haven't done one before, but i didn't have much trouble at all changing the coil pack on my au from underneath....in saying that, i'd like to make a mount to move it over to the driver's side of the car near the header tank or the firewall above the exhaust manifold

waggaclint · 19-03-2008, 11:22 PM

you can check the coil pack without removing it....you can check the resistance with a multimeter its pretty easy...set your meter to ohm,s amd check for resistance between 1&6 2&5 3&4 youl find one of them will be open curcuit if theres a coil pack problem....

FGII-XR6 · 20-03-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waggaclint

you can check the coil pack without removing it....you can check the resistance with a multimeter its pretty easy...set your meter to ohm,s amd check for resistance between 1&6 2&5 3&4 youl find one of them will be open curcuit if theres a coil pack problem....

this will definatly show an open circuit or dead shor what it won't show is if it is breaking down under load ( @ high voltage) this is a common cause of missfire the engine will run on all 6 but sometimes missfire and this is a bigger problem on LPG cars

EvilChief · 20-03-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au3xr6

no EL6 had a coil pack they had a dizzy the EF did but strangly they went back to a dizzy till the AU1 weird i know

did it due to coilpack problems

on AU they changed crank pickup ad deleted dizzy pickup for reference and redesigned coilpacks

i believe there was a ef recall on coilpacks at some stage if i remember right.

**Mechan1k** · 20-03-2008, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au3xr6

this will definatly show an open circuit or dead shor what it won't show is if it is breaking down under load ( @ high voltage) this is a common cause of missfire the engine will run on all 6 but sometimes missfire and this is a bigger problem on LPG cars

That's the problem I had ... had the odd missfire here and there ... even at idle ... but it was rare enough that it took a while to find the problem. Normal driving was fine.

AU2PWR · 20-03-2008, 10:11 AM

Mines Lasted 200Thou K's .. So I Must be on a Winner .. The only thing that me is when you go through a Carwash and the Underbody Was Gets Water in the coil pack ..

Then it sounds like a Sherman Tank

JoesAu · 23-03-2008, 07:26 PM

ive picked up a coil pack today is there any way off testing it before i put it on to see if its a goody? im hoping this will fix the miss in my engine

christerri · 07-06-2010, 09:08 PM

My Au2 Has Done 260 000 Km And Has Developed A Surge Under Load Most Of The Time And Occasionaly Surges When Freeway Driving Is This Possibly The Coil Pack Had New Platinum Plugs Approximately 20 000 Km Ago Still Same Leads

AUIIPURSUIT · 08-06-2010, 12:30 AM

i need to run a diagnostics on mine as well (though it seems it may not give me my answer). ive just changed my sparkies to new iridiums (xr8 pursuit) = 180 bucks, and im still getting the occasional surge etc.. o2 sensor, leads (even tho they are a/m) or coilpack is my figured culprits.

can u self diagnose without a laptop on the AUIIs ? or is it all done thru consult port?