Ignition coil failures - is it just me?
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:09 pm
I'm just canvassing opinions here. I know there are modern alternatives but all my Lotuses and other classic cars have always run pretty reliably on conventional points and coil ignition systems, as long as they are maintained properly. However, over the last five years or so I've noticed that my S4 likes to eat up ignition coils. I always use non-ballasted coils now. Years ago I tried using ballasted coils and found they didn't produce a strong spark over 6000rpm so went back to non-ballasted. That could just be a red herring.
Where once upon a time a coil lasted for years and years and thousands of miles, I'm now getting typically 2-3000 miles out of a coil - ie about the frequency of my oil changes! I've just had another one fail today. Having been caught out in the past, I now keep a brand new replacement in the boot, along with points, condenser, cap and leads and mount the coil so its easily accessible without removing the engine
I buy my ignition parts generally from Moss Europe and all my coils have come from there for the last few years. Points and condensers, I bought about 50 sets ten years ago from a motor factor who was selling up so I just change them when needed.
So what is it with my coils? Are they just crap these days, compared with when all cars used them? Or could there be some underlying fault that's causing them to fail so frequently? I will add that my Healey Sprite has eaten a fair few in the last five years too. So I'm erring towards the "crap" theory. However, I am prepared to be educated by those that are coil experts...
Anyone have an opinion as to what might cause frequent coil failures?
Nigel F.
Where once upon a time a coil lasted for years and years and thousands of miles, I'm now getting typically 2-3000 miles out of a coil - ie about the frequency of my oil changes! I've just had another one fail today. Having been caught out in the past, I now keep a brand new replacement in the boot, along with points, condenser, cap and leads and mount the coil so its easily accessible without removing the engine
I buy my ignition parts generally from Moss Europe and all my coils have come from there for the last few years. Points and condensers, I bought about 50 sets ten years ago from a motor factor who was selling up so I just change them when needed.
So what is it with my coils? Are they just crap these days, compared with when all cars used them? Or could there be some underlying fault that's causing them to fail so frequently? I will add that my Healey Sprite has eaten a fair few in the last five years too. So I'm erring towards the "crap" theory. However, I am prepared to be educated by those that are coil experts...
Anyone have an opinion as to what might cause frequent coil failures?
Nigel F.