I went out to check my wifes car tonight (oil,coolant,etc.) and i started it up to listen to it as usual. Its a Dodge and doesnt have "drive by wire" so i am able to rev the engine while under the hood. Since it was getting dark i was able to notice one of the coils was arcing to its bolt. Figured that cant be good, called the local parts store and picked up a new coil for $37, got home and had it installed in literally 90 seconds. Fixed in about 15 min (including drive time to parts store) and for $37. While i was relieved that i was able to fix the problem so quickly it made me reflect on the LS. Recently i felt the engine have a little stumble now and then and i also was able to see a tiny oil leak on the passenger side vcg in the back by the firewall. I ordered a new vcg and thought that would fix it. In the process of replacing there was no oil in the plug wells and the coils looked fine, HOWEVER, the rear most coil now has stripped threads for the mounting bolt and three of the four coils have broken tabs for the wiring harness and are held on by a dab of silicone. After putting everything back together there is no longer an oil leak but the damn stumble is still there. Soooo, i am guessing that there is yet another coil goin bad somewhere which would make it about the 20th coil that has failed. RIDICULOUS. Why the f*ck couldnt Ford have a little easier coil setup and last a reasonable amount of time. So damn irritating. Times like this i wish the damn thing would just catch fire in the driveway and i could have the insurance write me a check and be done with it already. There, i feel better!
Gotta rant about coils...again
- Thread starter Fla02LS
- Start date
Krakabeast
Well-Known LVC Member
Yeah I hear ya! I thought gen2's weren't supposed to have as many coil issues as gen1's. Here I got my 04' last September, have had 2 failures and a bad cat due to em.
Fortunately, my mechanic threw some type of sealant on the new ones and haven't had problems since *knock on wood*. I too hope Ford burns for COP.
Fortunately, my mechanic threw some type of sealant on the new ones and haven't had problems since *knock on wood*. I too hope Ford burns for COP.
rwurst918
Well-Known LVC Member
Make sure your airbox is seated correctly. If it is not seated exactly perfectly, it can throw off the air intake and make it misfire. Thats how I got my first misfire. Two months after that the coils went bad to due to vcg leaking. Yes mine is a gen 2.
chris2523
93 Mark VIII
we took the air filter out of mom's LS and went to drive it to get a new filter. just the air filter being out threw everything off enough that it missed and had zero power..
these things are picky..
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
The design intent was for the coils to last the life of the car, and the plugs to only have to be changed every 100K miles. Because of this expectation, they felt there was no need to make coil and plug access easy. Unfortunately, they failed.
It could be worse. There are some GM cars that the engine has to be partially removed to change half of the plugs.
It can be better. It is a breeze to change plugs and coils (though they don't seem to fail) on a Grand Marquis/Crown Vic.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
You know that is bad for the engine and the MAF?
diskfunktional
Dedicated LVC Member
OP, try dielectric grease on the connection between your coils and spark plugs. It might help and from the f/i world that stuff has saved alot of headaches and may be a good cheap measure to prevent problems like this.
FASTLLS
Dedicated LVC Member
I always use a bit on the tip of the plug.. 
chris2523
93 Mark VIII
yes.
OhTreeLS
Active LVC Member
I have been experiencing that, too. However, I only have one broken electrical connector tab. A zip tie has been applying pressure successfully.
Like F-bodies from the 90s? Their engine bays do not look very user-friendly.joegr said:
Joe is right, the COP remove and reinstall process could be a whole lot worse. They're easy to access, provided you have a good assortment of extensions and a 3/8" and 1/4" universal.
chris2523
93 Mark VIII
for 2 minutes? i understand its not good idea, but we rolled down the boulevard and into the store. 2 minutes tops.
that was like 20 thousand miles ago.
like 110k on the factory coils and everything. no problems here.
FASTLLS
Dedicated LVC Member
Yea, not that bad.. It would be different if you drove it for 60 miles in pouring rain with no filter..
chris2523
93 Mark VIII
yeah that i wouldn't do.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
For a two minute drive, I would have walked. Assuming you went 60 MPH or less, that is less than two miles.
Mechanicboy
Dedicated LVC Member
I have my third coil going in about 13k miles. I'm trying to find a solution for the v6, you v8 guys seem to be able to use mustang coils successfully.
Oh i know all about that. I had a '91 GTA and a '96 T/A. The '91 wasnt that bad but the LT1 engine, forget about it... 75% of that engine was inaccessable and tucked under the cowl.
OhTreeLS
Active LVC Member
Yep, those are the ones I was referring to. The distributors were in the back too, right?
No
the distributor is on the front under the waterpump.
I have a 97 LT1 m6 convertible
philly0420
Dedicated LVC Member
Don't get me started on the optispark. POS
Actually if you put locktite on the rotor screws and waterproof seal the cap and harness with silicone gasketmaker it will live a long time.
Rotor won't come loose and water and dirt won't get inside.