Testing coil packs?

SVX8588 · #1 10-25-2012, 06:11 PM

So, my car started missing badly on sunday. I narrowed it down to the middle cylinder on the passenger side. I'm guessing it's the coil but it could also be the injector I suppose. Is there any way to test the coil before spending $80 or more on a new one?

I think I'll try listening to the injector to make sure it's clicking. Just the same, if I can be sure that the coil is bad before ordering a new one it would make me feel a lot better.

1986nate · #2 10-26-2012, 10:53 AM

Pull the coil and inspect for cracks. If it's arcing, it will also show signs of being "burnt".

dannmarr · #3 10-26-2012, 04:08 PM

How did you narrow it down? What test have you done? Do you have codes?

SVX8588 · #4 10-26-2012, 08:50 PM

I don't see any burn marks, but there is a crack along the raised part (see pic).
The boot looks fine.

I narrowed it down by pulling the plug on each injector one at a time. The one that didn't make a difference is the one that I'm assuming has a bad coil. But like I said before, it could also be the injector somehow. I'm planning to listen to the injectors tomorrow and see if they all make clicking noises.
I don't have a CEL, but I didn't check for hidden codes either.

Thanks for the help!

dannmarr · #5 10-26-2012, 10:53 PM

My bad coil looked just like that. You could hear it clicking (shorting to the engine from the crack). Try switching the coil with another and see if the problem follows.

SVX8588 · #6 10-28-2012, 04:07 PM

Ok, swapped it with the center coil on the driver side and the problem followed. Just ordered a new one now. Thanks for the coupon!