Possible Coil Test?

mlara1129

mlara1129

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My car has been running like crap lately and I've noticed significant less power. I'm thinking its a coil problem (ebay coils, so i wouldnt be surprised) but im also getting a whistling/humming every time i drive. its pretty embarrassing when your engine sounds like sh!t, and not a V8, as you drive past the pretty girls around campus :(

Anyway i found this vid. Thinking about trying it with the LS. What do you guys think? i know its not perfect, or that it would give me any definitive answers but it seems simple enough to try.

YouTube - BMW E46 M3 Ignition Coil Replacement and Cylinder Misfire
 
the coild problem they are showing is a coil completely broken.. the ls coil problem doesnt usually work that way.. they usually work on and off.. so this will not necessarily work unless the coil is completely broken.
 
It will work if you keep driving it like that until your coil is really bad, then you'll be able to test them like that. Thats how my dad tested them when mine got that bad, I didn't know they were coils were the issue since it happened right when I got it and I didn't know about lvc. I wouldn't suggest trying to drive long with bad coils just so you can test them out like in the video though, my pcm got damaged shortly after finally getting new coils, dealer said coils caused it.
 
So how do folks on here test/diagnose their coils, when the check engine light is not on?


im going to the dealership this time, but i dont want to spend $90 each time.
 
mlara1129 said:
So how do folks on here test/diagnose their coils, when the check engine light is not on?


im going to the dealership this time, but i dont want to spend $90 each time.
Click to expand...

I was able to force the computer into telling me a missfire code by putting the throttle to the floor for a few seconds while it missed. It's not the best way, but it worked.

FASTLLS said:
And I don't think a whistle or hum would be because of a coil..
Click to expand...

ditto. Sounds like a vacuum leak.
 
FASTLLS said:
Joe already did!

And I don't think a whistle or hum would be because of a coil..
Click to expand...
i know, but so does that mean everyone goes to the dealership to get them diagnosed?

Mechanicboy said:
I was able to force the computer into telling me a missfire code by putting the throttle to the floor for a few seconds while it missed. It's not the best way, but it worked.

ditto. Sounds like a vacuum leak.
Click to expand...
thanks, that sounds like it could be the problem

ill read into it vacuum leaks
 
mlara1129 said:
i know, but so does that mean everyone goes to the dealership to get them diagnosed?

vacuum leaks
Click to expand...

There is no really good way to test them yourself.. So it's buy new ones or have them test them

That would be my guess also.. Is the whistle happening the whole time even if its in park?
 
yup, but you really need to put your ear to the engine to hear it.

when driving it is audible even with windows closed, oh and did i mention performance sucks d!ck
 
That's quite the tool buddy has in the video to remove the coil(s), anyone got this tool. Never seen it till now, hopefully my local parts source might have one..
 
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