Gone through 3 Ignition Coils!

2077 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by diego50, Oct 13, 2014

diego50

Discussion Starter · Sep 29, 2014

First coil was an MSD Blaster 2, which I admittedly mistakenly put on 12V, bypassing the resistor wire. This lasted only a week.

Second coil, also an MSD Blaster 2, I used the resistor wire and this lasted over a year. When it went bad, I assumed it was due to the extreme heat here in Dubai and it lasted as long as it could.

Third coil was a Pertronix Flamethrower. As per the instructions, this coil was run on full 12V. Less than a month later, this coil decided to go south, too.

Both times I ran a coil on 12V, they didn't last long. The Blaster 2 coil was a mistake and I get that it shouldn't have been run on 12V. But the Flamethrower, I didn't expect that to go so quickly.

I measured 12.7 volts at the wire going to the + side of the coil (coil disconnected). Location of the coil is the stock mounting on the intake manifold, next to the distributor.

Car is a 65 Galaxie, FE 352, Pertronix (1) ignition module. Any ideas on what could cause this coil to go bad so quickly? Any suggestions on a coil brand I should try?

How about those solid state coils? Can I run those?

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danv

· #2 · Sep 29, 2014

Double check what the instructions said with the Pertronix coil.
Pretty sure it should use a resistor for the coil, but 12v to the Pertronix module at the distributor.

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My427stang

· #3 · Sep 29, 2014

I doubt that it is a voltage input issue. All of those coils should be perfectly happy all the way up to 15V. Typically limiting voltage is to protect the distributor, through the trigger wire, not to protect the coil.

I would look at

- Extreme heat from the way its mounted
- Vibration
- Check the plug wires and coil wire for excessive resistance (unlikely, but worth a check)
- Extreme plug gap (also very unlikely)

The reason I say the last two are unlikely is if the plug wires or plugs had too much resistance, you would probably be cross-firing under the cap, however with the dry conditions there, maybe not. I'd check the heat and vibration first

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diego50

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 29, 2014

danv said:
Double check what the instructions said with the Pertronix coil.
Pretty sure it should use a resistor for the coil, but 12v to the Pertronix module at the distributor.

Yup, I double checked the instructions for the Flamethrower coil. I made sure before installing since my experience with the MSD Blaster 2 coil.

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diego50

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 29, 2014

Plug gap is stock, wires are just a year old but I'll check the resistance.

Cap and rotor are still like new after 6 months use.

Like you mentioned, it's possibly the heat since its mounted on the intake manifold. I guess these coils are not designed for the extreme heat here in the desert.

I'll try ordering another Flamethrower coil and mount it on the inner fender. Let's see how much longer it lasts.

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arnoldtx

· #6 · Sep 29, 2014

Check that you have the correct resistance coil and voltage.

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diego50

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 5, 2014

Check wires and all fall within spec. I relocated the coil to the inner fender. Let's see if this works and make it last longer.

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PSIG

· #8 · Oct 5, 2014

diego50 said:
Third coil was a Pertronix Flamethrower. As per the instructions, this coil was run on full 12V. Less than a month later, this coil decided to go south, too.

The instructions are definitely confusing, but if using a PerTronix-I Ignitor module, you must run the resistor to the coil, and no resistor to the module. The coil does not determine the need for the resistor - the module does.

diego50 said:
Location of the coil is the stock mounting on the intake manifold, next to the distributor.

If the coil is laying on it's side, that can cause early failure, as the cooling oil in the coil can have an air bubble that exposes the top of the core windings. Install upright whenever possible. However, I don't think that is the big problem here.

diego50 said:
... Pertronix (1) ignition module.

That is the part that determines if a resistor or ballast is used or not. If you do not want to use a resistor or ballast to the coil, then you must get a P-II or P-III module.

danv said:
Double check what the instructions said with the Pertronix coil.
Pretty sure it should use a resistor for the coil, but 12v to the Pertronix module at the distributor.

Dan is again correct. I found where we went through and tried to explain this more than a year ago in this thread? What made you decide to change it?

David

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diego50

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 5, 2014

I didn't change anything until I had the Blaster 2 coil fail again. I had that coil on the resistor wire.

I then went with a Flamethrower which in the instructions, clearly states to use 12v, no resistor. That failed in a month.

I am currently using a Delco coil which came with the car, using the resistor wire. It's been my back up coil ever since.

I've move the coil from the manifold to the inner fender, mounted upright.

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My427stang

· #10 · Oct 5, 2014

My guess is that laying down on the intake took them out due to heat and vibration.

It's hard for people to realize how much different desert heat is compared to a 100 degree day somewhere else. I didn't realize it until I was stationed in Nevada for 3 years. It's a different animal.

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diego50

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 5, 2014

Too true. I've been trying to upload a photo to no avail with the mobile app. Anyway, coil is in a cool area now sitting upright. Hopefully my new coil (when it arrives) will last.

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diego50

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 6, 2014

My427stang said:
My guess is that laying down on the intake took them out due to heat and vibration.

It's hard for people to realize how much different desert heat is compared to a 100 degree day somewhere else. I didn't realize it until I was stationed in Nevada for 3 years. It's a different animal.

Here are photos of the new coil location.

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Cruisin63

· #13 · Oct 9, 2014

Make sure you have a good engine to chassis ground too.

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diego50

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 13, 2014

Double checked all grounds and retightened them.

I now have my new extreme duty Vertex Ignition coil. Let's see how this goes.

Thanks for the replies!

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