holy crap 6 coils in the last 10,000 miles

Gus_Mahn

Well-Known LVC Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2007
Messages
457
Reaction score
6
Location
SE Chicagoland
We have an '03 LS8 we bought 3 years ago with 60K. My wife LOVES the car. At 90K the coils started going. I knew it was an issue, and my car still had the one time only VC/coil 100K warranty. So I bought the first 2 coils, when the next ones went, I put the bad ones back on and took it in at 96K. The dealer changed all the passenger side coils:) This week I lost 2 on the drivers side, but I only had to buy 2 more to have all new coils. I have about $200 in new coils, but hopefully I won't need to buy any coils for the next 100K.

Has Ford/Motorcraft made any improvements in the coils since these cars were new? The last 2 coils (Motorcraft) were in plastic bags that said Made in China. I believe the previous ones were USA. Are any of the aftermarket coils more durable?
 
We have an '03 LS8 we bought 3 years ago with 60K. My wife LOVES the car. At 90K the coils started going. I knew it was an issue, and my car still had the one time only VC/coil 100K warranty. So I bought the first 2 coils, when the next ones went, I put the bad ones back on and took it in at 96K. The dealer changed all the passenger side coils:) This week I lost 2 on the drivers side, but I only had to buy 2 more to have all new coils. I have about $200 in new coils, but hopefully I won't need to buy any coils for the next 100K.

Has Ford/Motorcraft made any improvements in the coils since these cars were new? The last 2 coils (Motorcraft) were in plastic bags that said Made in China. I believe the previous ones were USA. Are any of the aftermarket coils more durable?

Good luck. I am on my third complete set with my '05 and i am feeling another misfire starting to build. The original coils lasted around 40k, the second set went out around 98k and at 110k now i have yet another misfire/bad coil which the cost is going to start coming out of my pocket. Along with replacing the previous coils they also replaced a few spark plugs. Its seems that if they replace one at a time the problem just bounces around to another coil. I have come to the conclusion that when dealing with this issue its best to do all 8 coils and all plugs at once. The labor shouldnt be much more but atleast your getting a complete rebuild in one shot. I have heard that the aftermarket coils arent failing as quickly as the oem motorcraft coils. It may be worth looking into.
 
We have an '03 LS8 we bought 3 years ago with 60K. My wife LOVES the car. At 90K the coils started going. I knew it was an issue, and my car still had the one time only VC/coil 100K warranty. So I bought the first 2 coils, when the next ones went, I put the bad ones back on and took it in at 96K. The dealer changed all the passenger side coils:) This week I lost 2 on the drivers side, but I only had to buy 2 more to have all new coils. I have about $200 in new coils, but hopefully I won't need to buy any coils for the next 100K.

Has Ford/Motorcraft made any improvements in the coils since these cars were new? The last 2 coils (Motorcraft) were in plastic bags that said Made in China. I believe the previous ones were USA. Are any of the aftermarket coils more durable?

It's not a "one time only" warranty. They will replace the coils as many times as they fail as long as you are less than 100K miles. The program was expanded.
 
Hi FLA02LS I bought a set of Wells coils on Amazon for $32 per. The ones for the V8s are even cheaper. They are made in China.
 
My 03 LS V8 has been in about 8 times for coil replacements. It has been in twice now at over 100,000 miles for even more replacements, at my expense. Ford has decided to put a limit on their Customer Satisfaction Program at 100,000 miles. As a possible resolution, I spoke with Ford, asking for them to send me 2 dozen coils and free diagnosis each time and I would replace them myself over the next few years. Of course they said to pound sand.

So, now I am dealing with a California Lemon Law attorney to get the full purchase price refunded to me. He seems pretty optimistic. I will keep you all posted.
 
I've only been in for coils once in 110k miles. I drive my baby hard but I only use Premium chevy gas or shell and I am currently running Royal Purple motor oil (Only bought high grade castrol full synthetic beforehand.

Then again my engine is also a rebuild......
 
Does this warranty only applies for the states, or does apply for Canada as well?
 
I think it also goes in canada. Someone posted that a while ago, but it's only for the v8's
 
It does apply to Canada v6's too just make sure you go to the dealer with the recall in hand.. as some like to play dumb..
 
never a problem with mine

01V6 changed them out at 110k due to oil leaking into plugs from valve cover gaskets. Got my coils on ebay. Running great 114k.
 
It does apply to Canada v6's too just make sure you go to the dealer with the recall in hand.. as some like to play dumb..

When did this happen? (I knew about the warranty finally being extended to Canada, but not about them getting v6 coverage.)
That's not fair, there's no V6 coverage in the US.
 
Well a year and four months and 50,000 miles later we're already getting the dreaded ETC failsafe again! I think I'm going to try BWD coils from Advance Auto Parts. Those coils are made in USA and have lifetime replacement. They cost about $55 ea.
 
I started having problems around 60K I replaced 1 coil, the another soon afterwards. I then replaced all 8 coils with ebay coils, and installed new motorcraft plugs and VCG gaskets (68K now 113K)no problems since.
 
ebay shows a whole set for 109 shipped with a lifetime warranty.

autozone's duralast coils have a 2 year.

i bought two, will be yanking others as they fail and "warranting" them... ;)
 
New Coils

I did my first coil replacement at a little over 100K miles. I put in a set of Accel coils for a 4.6 Mustang, as has been detailed here on several occasions. They've worked just fine.

With the new engine---see 'Land Speed LS' in the HP section---I'm going to adapt a set of Accel coils intended for the late model chivverlay. It'll be necessary to create a mount system, and do some re-wiring.

KS
 
With the new engine---see 'Land Speed LS' in the HP section---I'm going to adapt a set of Accel coils intended for the late model chivverlay. It'll be necessary to create a mount system, and do some re-wiring.

KS
I had the same thought about GM LS coils/wires. My bro has a set on a 5.3 JY engine. In the end, I just don't want to take the time to mess with it: sealing the plug wells, modifying the cars harness for weatherpack plugs, and mounting the mount. BTW looking at the truck coils, they have four primary wires where ours have two. Do you know why they have the extra wires?

The BWD coils are in. Hopefully they'll take the car to 200K miles. If not, I'll pull up the old thread and bi... a little more.
 
Aftermarket Coils

...sealing the plug wells, modifying the cars harness for weatherpack plugs, and mounting the mount. BTW looking at the truck coils, they have four primary wires where ours have two. Do you know why they have the extra wires?

That's part of the fun of it. I didn't understand your reference to 'truck'. I originally looked at a Corvette, and thought that with the coils and a set of wires with boots designed for the fuel dragster sort of 'hemi', I could create a better deal than the COP-style arrangement we now live with. A short discussion with my contact in the engineering staff at Accel assured me that I was on the right track.

KS
 
I didn't understand your reference to 'truck'. I originally looked at a Corvette, and thought that with the coils and a set of wires with boots designed for the fuel dragster sort of 'hemi', I could create a better deal than the COP-style arrangement we now live with. A short discussion with my contact in the engineering staff at Accel assured me that I was on the right track.

KS
5.3 is a LS GM truck engine, but from what I tell the coils are the same as on GM LS engines as is the rest of the basic design. GM LS wires are straight, I'd think they'd work fine in our valve covers. Please post up some pictures after you get started.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Back
Top