AU XR8, Series 3

[Edxr6]

Guy's

Driving to work today, started the car and it felt like it was running on four cylinders. Just made it to work, and then took the car to the local mechanic, apparently the coil packs are shot. Should I go for the factory Motorcraft or any other suggestion. $88.00 each from Ford.

Cheers

[mchaggis]

I recently put in a set of MSD8241 coil packs, they were 125 each new from fleabay.

I also did the leads and plugs at the same time.

[Edxr6]

Originally Posted by mchaggis

I recently put in a set of MSD8241 coil packs, they were 125 each new from fleabay.

I also did the leads and plugs at the same time.

Mchaggis

What leads and plugs did you use?

Cheers

[undertow]

$88 is a decent price for genuine.

I'd also compression test it first though as broken valve springs are not uncommon on 220s. Especially if it's missing at idle.

You can usually tell which cylinder is missing by starting from cold for a few seconds then turn off and (carefully) feel each header pipe.

[Edxr6]

Originally Posted by undertow

$88 is a decent price for genuine.

I'd also compression test it first though as broken valve springs are not uncommon on 220s. Especially if it's missing at idle.

You can usually tell which cylinder is missing by starting from cold for a few seconds then turn off and (carefully) feel each header pipe.

Undertow,

That's what I thought for genuine Motorcraft. I was expecting a lot more from Ford, especially what they charge for their genuine leads. I think I will go ahead, given the fact it's still in the mechanic shop. I told the mechanic to hold on until I shop around to see what I can get, I didn't expect that Ford would still have them in stock. I think I will keep it original, before they do come obsolete like most other parts for the AU's.

Cheers

[Edxr6]

Guys,

Replaced both coil packs on Friday with the new motorcrafts, and now I have noticed that the idling has changed. When I am braking to slow down to stop and press the clutch in, my revs will suddenly increase to 1100-1000 then drop to about 500 and stabilizes to about 750 idling normal. When I start the car up in the morning I have also noticed that the idling is pulsating for a few minutes then settles. The car was running perfect until I changed the coil packs. I have checked to make sure all leads are clipped on properly. No issues. I thought over the weekend it may settle, however during the week it still remains the same.

Any ideas?

Regards

[mchaggis]

I bought generic leads from Repco, nothing to write home about.

As for the bad idle, that could be a vacuum leak, or maybe you bumped the sensor leads off the air intake. Isn't there 3 different plugs at various places on that thing?

Or maybe you loosened up one of the O2 sensor plugs?

[Edxr6]

Originally Posted by mchaggis

I bought generic leads from Repco, nothing to write home about.

As for the bad idle, that could be a vacuum leak, or maybe you bumped the sensor leads off the air intake. Isn't there 3 different plugs at various places on that thing?

Or maybe you loosened up one of the O2 sensor plugs?

I only removed the leads off the coil packs and removed the four bolts from each pack and popped the plugs back on. A very simple task, I thought. However, when I changed the first coil pack, passenger side. I started the car, and the problem was solved. The mechanic said, both packs had failed which I thought at the time was very strange both packs failing at the same time. I might replace the drivers side coil pack back to the original and see how it runs. Maybe there is an issue with the new coil pack on the drivers side. Who knows they could of been sitting on the shelves of Ford for years, possibly dropped or kicked around.

[undertow]

No harm in trying swapping them around, they're nice and easy to get to.

I wonder if the idle issues are caused by the ECU trying to learn around the dead coil? There are idle airflow trims which "learn" the adjustments required to get the idle speed where it should be. With a dead coil the idle speed will drop, then the ECU will increase idle airflow to try and compensate, and eventually learn this correction. Then with a new coil it will idle too high until it learns back down (which can take a while). Try disconnecting the battery for a while to reset things.

[Edxr6]

Originally Posted by undertow

No harm in trying swapping them around, they're nice and easy to get to.

I wonder if the idle issues are caused by the ECU trying to learn around the dead coil? There are idle airflow trims which "learn" the adjustments required to get the idle speed where it should be. With a dead coil the idle speed will drop, then the ECU will increase idle airflow to try and compensate, and eventually learn this correction. Then with a new coil it will idle too high until it learns back down (which can take a while). Try disconnecting the battery for a while to reset things.

That's what I thinking, possibly the ECU trying to adjust to the new coil packs. I must admit driving the car every day since last Friday, there is improvement with the idling. However I will disconnect the battery over the weekend as suggested. I think your on the money undertow.

Cheers mate.