Coil - How the heck does this happen???

[Dan Stewart]

I am outside finishing up my comoresino test on the motor. I disconnect the plug wire from the coil and i notice something around the base of the plug connection.

The coil is cracked all the way around, under the plug. How the heck does this happen? This coil is about 3 months, maybe 4 months old, I only have tried to start the motor and maybe once in a while it would "run" but that was a while ago. Well on a positive note, this maybe the issue with my motor not starting, but it is not dead shorted out. So it looks like it had been overheated. It is has an internal resitance of 1.5 ohms. It is a petronix unit. So it looks like I am going to give Summit a call and see if i can get a new one to repalce this. But after this I am done with this ignition. I hope to sell a quad I have and get a HEI setup.

[sportsidedan]

i've had the same kind of trouble with an accel coil: the plastic base would crack and the oil would be pressurized and come out in fumes over the engine compartment.

never found what it was, only that it would run hot and do this in traffic jams or when leaving the key on the ON position.

if anyone has a clue, it could help me too :-)

[shackwrrr]

do you have the stock distributor? or an aftermarket?

[sportsidedan]

mine is accel aftermarket...

[CHICOWAGGY]

Are you still using the ballast resistor? How much voltage do you have at the positve coil wire?

[Dan Stewart]

It is the original duraspark ignition. I eliminated the resistor wire, or rather it melted itself to death. I repalce factory coil with an internal resisted coil.

[Chris P.]

Did you leave the key on for a while?

[Dan Stewart]

I probably have a time or two, but wouldnt it be the same as if you drive it for a long time? Say leave the ignition turned out for 4 hours, the same as driving the truck for 4 hours straight?

[Chris P.]

Nope. when the truck is running, the coil is being switched on and off rapidly. When the engine is not running with the key on, it is not being switched. The windings are saturated and a higher current flows so the coil heats up.

[shaolinsifu]

t.f.i. upgrade time...

[sportsidedan]

for me key was left on - indeed for about 1 hour.
but it also happened when driving in heavy traffic.
the resistor wire is still there... but how effective is it???
can i add something for it not to happen.
i've got 14V on the Volt meter going up to 15 when in hight rpm.

[[]V[]AXX]

I have had this issue with two Accel coils. One on my Jeep, and the other on a Ford van. In both cases, the coils were less than six months old, and simply cracked in the same way, the one on the van totally broke off. The heat doesn't help, but these are not well reinforced pieces we're talking about. I think that the plastic is just not up to quality and dies an untimely death. The same vehicles have worn different brands of coils for over a year without a reoccurence. I really don't think you have to look any further than the "Made In China" label.

[Cherokee-Kid]

I'm going to have to eat my shoe now after my comment in your hard start post:

"Probably safe to assume your coil is good if you have spark at the plugs."

This is the reason for the Accessory mode at the ignition switch.

[Dan Stewart]

Well I just pulled my engine harness and started to remove the duraspakr ignition. All wiring was fine. Now finish gappnig the spark plugs and order the HEI.

[Dan Stewart]

BUMMER

Called Summit racing today. I got the coil 5 months ago. The petronix warranty is for 90 days on a coil. Oh well, i will put the replacmeent money into gettin the HEI.

Just remember 30 days warranty for a Petronix coil.
That is all.