Coil-Pack life expectancy ?

[Dinosauro]

I've had a continuing problem with coil-packs, and am wondering if there is something else in system that is blowing the coils. I recently had the SHO off the road for a couple of weeks installing a new starter, a new stainless Y-pipe and some other stuff.

It had been dropping a cylinder (or) two when I drove ii into my working bay, and after having disconnected the positive lead from the battery, and finishing up the other work, it fired immediately and ran perfectly about two weeks. I thought that I had discovered something, and that the computer simply needed to be rebooted to cure the cylinder loss. Wrong ! Just as I was about to take it over for its required smog test, it started dropping a cylinder, and running the KOEO test gave me a 215 Code - (Coil No.1 circuit failure). Now, this was on a +- 2-month-old coil-pack that Autozone had given as a replacement for a previously expired pack. I haven't yet gone over to buy yet-another coil-pack, but if past experience repeats itself, it will immediately fire on 6 cylinders, and run perfectly for a couple of months, before again losing a cylinder or two. Last time it happened I got 215 and 217 Codes (#1 & 3 coil circuit failure).

Has anyone out there had such a rash of bad coil-packs ? Or a related problem in DIS that is blowing coil-packs ?

Wires and plugs were replaced about 1000 miles ago. CPS, timing-belt, and everything else on front end of engine about 2-3000 miles ago.

Help !

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Your coil pack failing is not the problem, it is the symptom.

V6 SHO coil packs are not a common problem item, at all.

 

[jmpSHO2nd]

My SHO has 325k on it and I bought it with 112k and I never replaced the coil pack yet.
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[Whydah91]

Yeah, they're about bullet proof unless ya start hanging aftermarket parts on 'em. Everything electrical on mine at 200k except the plugs is original and Motorcraft. Ya can't believe how bad parts store electrical parts are. We check everything to spec before we replace anything electrical on the cars.

 

[19sho90]

Yup mine still has the original coil pack on it.

 

[jimtash]

Check your ground wire. What plugs are you using?

 

[SHOtimer]

My pack is also original w/ 247k. What about your DIS - is it aftermarket or Motorcraft?

Doug

 

[Dinosauro]

Thanks to all who weighed in on this puzzle !

Answering questions that you asked:

1. DIS module is/was the original that came with the SHO when I bought it, or one of several originals that I bought off scrapped vehicles. Is there a good way to test these modules ?

2. Plugs are Motorcraft, new about 1000 miles ago. Wires are new Taylor, same age.

3. I like the suggestion about the ground. Were you thinking main battery ground, body-to-motor ground. or a ground more specific to the DIS or Coil-Pack. My wiring diagram shows a "dedicated ground" for the "TFI Module". As the SHO does not have a TFI ignition, I presume that this may be a ground for the DIS module. Right or wrong ?

4 I also see that Spout #1 is in the 12V power line to DIS and coil-pack. Do these "shorting plugs" ever create problems ? I would think not, if they can
be removed to facilitate smog-testing, and still run on 6 cylinders ?

Again, thanks to all readers, thinkers, and those that have made suggestions !

Dino: :thankyou:

 

[luigisho]

The DIS module is the TFI module. Thick film ignition I think from my dusty memory banks. Open one up. Full of thick film. Then again TFI were mounted on distributors and such as I recall in mustangs back in the day. Aw ****...I'm gettin old.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

You havnt painted you intake recently have you? Or missing a bolt in the cross-over tube? Maybe you have a grounding issue at the DIS.

If it turns out you are in need of a new coil pack, let me know. Im parting out a low mileage 3.0 Ive got an add in the classifieds.

 

[Dinosauro]

Is there a preferred source for the coil-packs other than Ford ?

Dino

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Considering they pretty much never fail.... junk yard.

i think rock-auto carries them too. But id be wary of any that are not motorcraft.

 

[sdpatt]

I'll chime in for a reference point that they can last at least 424,750 miles. All engine and ignition parts are as original as possible on my seasoned engine.

 

[Dinosauro]

Thanks to everyone ! I'm off to buzz out all my ground circuits.

More later.

 

[Dinosauro]

OK, here's what has happened since my last post: I checked all identifiable ground circuits; Battery to engine-lump, body/chassis to engine, both with zero resistance. ECU to DIS module did show minor resistance on line, so I added a temporary jumper from a known-good ground to ground-pin in on DIS.

Put the SHO to bed, still running on 5 cylinders and getting a 215 Code when running the KOEO test (Coil # 1 circuit faulty).

Yesterday AM, it started on five cylinders, and a half-second later switched to six ! I shut it down and went in to change clothes so that I could go somewhere. When attempting to restart, it fired up again on five cylinders !! I shut it down,. popped the hood, and pulled the No. 1 plug wire, put on my rubber glove, and refired the engine to test for spark at no. 1 plug. I had tried to lay the secondary wire down in a non-conductive area, but when I got back out front, it was sizzling all over the place, and when I got a hold on it and held it near the block, got a properly-timed, good fat spark. I shut the engine down, replaced the plug wire on the plug, and restarted the engine, RUNNING SMOOTHLY ON ALL SIX CYLINDERS, which it has been doing since (for 2 days), although this afternoon it threw a 332-Code, which has been an ongoing problem, usually cured by running a couple of cans of BG Intake Cleaner with the gas to open up EGR passages.

I suspect that the key-word in the 215 code is CIRCUIT, which apparently encompasses everthing from the coil-pack through the secondary lead to, (and through ?) the spark-plug.

I still don't know what the problem is, but it's currently (temporarily?) running like a train, and I hope, will continue to do so, so that I can go over and get my smog test !

All thoughts and suggestions very welcome !

Dino