Accel Super Coil FAIL - Any Ideas?

[DeepPower]

Anyone have any experience with the Accel SuperCoil #140036 for the '89 SHO?

I noted the spark plug wires on my coil, removed my existing coil for my '89 SHO, put in the Accel Super Coil, triple-checked the firing order, started the car and for four seconds my engine made the most God awful mechanical banging sounds I've ever heard in my life.

Replaced it with the original coil, same firing order, and all is O.K.

Yes, I got the plug wire order correct. I hope I haven't done anything to my valves. Anyone ever try this coil and any ideas why it went horribly wrong???

 

[kevinspann]

I haven't tried it, but the Accel coils seem to be widely regarded as shit. In fact, I recall one being set on fire...

 

[Toolman]

Mine worked great, guess I had an exception.

You sure your wires were securely attached?

 

[93markVIII]

I haven't tried it, but the Accel coils seem to be widely regarded as shit. In fact, I recall one being set on fire...

yup, in this application as well as others.

 

[DeepPower]

Mine worked great, guess I had an exception.

You sure your wires were securely attached?

Absolutely, positively yes. In any case it didn't SOUND like any cylinders were not firing, it sounded like the cylinders were firing in the wrong order. And I know I got the order right on the coil because the wires are labelled with the cylinder numbers.

If yours worked fine, do you have an '89 SHO? Did you have to reverse the ignition connector to get it to fit properly?

 

[Racer X]

Wait, I'm sorry... did you say that you reversed the connector on the ignition coil when you installed it?

Because if you did, it's no wonder that you're having issues.

That quip in my signature about Accel isn't there just because it's funny, but at the same time if you plug it in backwards, you really shouldn't be surprised that it isn't working properly. Just saying.

On the connector not fitting right side up, just twist/ shave off the alignment tab on the coil that's blocking the plug from fitting properly, and plug it in the right way. Let us know how that goes.

 

[DeepPower]

Wait, I'm sorry... did you say that you reversed the connector on the ignition coil when you installed it?

Because if you did, it's no wonder that you're having issues.

That quip in my signature about Accel isn't there just because it's funny, but at the same time if you plug it in backwards, you really shouldn't be surprised that it isn't working properly. Just saying.

On the connector not fitting right side up, just twist/ shave off the alignment tab on the coil that's blocking the plug from fitting properly, and plug it in the right way. Let us know how that goes.

Well, what I'm saying is that the male connector on the Accel coil, isn't keyed to fit the car's female connector in the same alignment as the OEM.

If I try to connect the two connectors in the same alignment as the OEM it simply won't fit, the keying prevents it.

But if I rotate the car's connector, 180 degrees, it clicks snugly and correctly on the connector and fits properly as if they are made for each other.

Are you saying that I have the right coil but the wiring is reversed?

In other news, Accel responded to my support ticket with this:
Thank you for your interest in our performance parts. At this time we do not offer a coil for your year, make, and model car. The car you have is a 1989 Taurus, SHO. This coil fits a 1996-1997 3.0 Liter so it would not be compatible with your car.

 

[Racer X]

Which coil did you order? What's the part number?

 

[SHOtime2511]

Do yourself a favor and just repack that coil and return it to where ever you purchased it.

 

[sperold]

The early connectors (89 to 91 or so) had the locating tab in the middle location on the bottom of the oval coil snout. The harness snap retainer is on the top.
Later coils have the locating tab positioned towards the front of the car when it is mounted. It is still on the bottom of the oval snout and the harness snap retainer is still on the top.
It is reported you can simply lob-off that pesky locating tab on the coil snout and everything works fine.

 

[RonPorter]

Unless you run some serious levels of boost with an s/c or a turbo, the stock coil works as well as any. Aftermarket coils are a throwback from the days of point and small factory coils.

 

[jimtash]

Unless you run some serious levels of boost with an s/c or a turbo, the stock coil works as well as any. Aftermarket coils are a throwback from the days of point and small factory coils.

Agree. I even run copper NGK's instead of Platinums.

 

[93markVIII]

that accel tower coil is probably for like a 3.8 essex or something.
in which case, they moved some wires.
you need to a, ditch the accel coil, or b, fix the wiring.
we wired the 92 for a the 3.8 tower coil, for which a drop in accel coil is available.

 

[DeepPower]

Which coil did you order? What's the part number?

See below: There has to be some way this coil works - both SHOSource and Summit Racing sell it.

Anyone have any experience with the Accel SuperCoil #140036 for the '89 SHO?

The early connectors (89 to 91 or so) had the locating tab in the middle location on the bottom of the oval coil snout. The harness snap retainer is on the top.
Later coils have the locating tab positioned towards the front of the car when it is mounted. It is still on the bottom of the oval snout and the harness snap retainer is still on the top.
It is reported you can simply lob-off that pesky locating tab on the coil snout and everything works fine.

So basically you are saying that if I reverse the harness connector, and snip off the locating tab on the Accel coil connector so it will fit, then the coil will work?

BTW, in the official Ford Car Shop Manual for the '89 SHO, on page 23-04-3 they have the spark plug wiring diagram for the coil backwards. I found the correct diagram on this forum.

I checked the Accel coil with an ohmmeter and the 12V contact is the one closest to the firewall.

Is there a wiring diagram I can reference?

 

[K-Dawg]

You would just need to trim the tab on the bottom of the coil connector. The only wiring diagram you need is the one stickied at the top of this forum section: http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=89091

Study it carefully.

 

[DeepPower]

You would just need to trim the tab on the bottom of the coil connector. The only wiring diagram you need is the one stickied at the top of this forum section: http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=89091

Study it carefully.

Yes, that's the plug wire diagram I found. That plug wire diagram is correct and the Ford manual is wrong. But what I'm concerned with is the coil connector. We seem to be using different terms for the same thing and I want to make sure we are in sync.

On the 4-contact ignition coil connector, if the Ford manual is to be trusted (and I don't) the 12V contact is the contact closest to the front of the car, while according to my ohmmeter on the Accel coil the 12V contact is the contact closest to the firewall.

Your point is, I need to reverse the ignition connector on the Accel coil - correct?

 

[kevinspann]

The 3.0 Vulcan coils are different. No idea why Ford didn't just wire them all the same, and use the same coil.

If you still want to run an aftermarket coil, I'm pretty sure you need Accel 140035 - it has the correct horizontal connector, and should actually work properly.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Accel/110/140035/10002/-1

I don't know of anyone who has said the OEM coil was less than sufficient.

 

[DeepPower]

The 3.0 Vulcan coils are different. No idea why Ford didn't just wire them all the same, and use the same coil.

If you still want to run an aftermarket coil, I'm pretty sure you need Accel 140035 - it has the correct horizontal connector, and should actually work properly.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Accel/110/140035/10002/-1

If I understand the Accel part numbering system, the difference between the 140036 and the 140035 should only be the position of the coil connector, and not the wiring of the connector?

jegs.com says the 140035 coil will fit the 1989 SHO:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Accel/110/140035/10002/-1

while Summit Racing says the 140036 coil fits the 1989 SHO:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/acc-140036

And the photo in SHOSource appears to be the 140035:
http://www.shosource.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48
(I just bought an axle from SHOSource, they used to list that coil for $140, now it is $97)

I don't know of anyone who has said the OEM coil was less than sufficient.

I've heard that Accel coils improve gas mileage, and there is a small increase in performance.

 

[luigisho]

I have never heard of this benefit, and seen problems with their coils across vehicle platforms. Specifically my other vehicle-grand prix GTP- coils.

 

[DeepPower]

I have never heard of this benefit, and seen problems with their coils across vehicle platforms. Specifically my other vehicle-grand prix GTP- coils.

What type of problems? Can you be more specific?