Can the coil packs fail from too much moisture
 

When installing the WEVO SS Engine mount, we took the opportunity to really clean around the engine (using simple green, brushes and lots of water). We scrubbed the heck out of it. However I cannot imagine that the engine / drivetrain runs that rough with the WEVO SS mount installed. Maybe one of the coil packs failed or shorted out? The motor sounds and runs very rough....like it is missing a cylinder or something. At idle, it seems fine, but as you run through the rev range, it has different vibration and sound characteristics. Strange.......

So my question, has anyone experienced a coil pack failure because they got the coil pack too wet? Would you get a CEL light if the car was running on less than 6 cyl? Perplexing.....

I'm going to say yes. A friend of mine and I just replaced the coolant tank on my 911. Coolant leaked on my coils from the cracked tank. CEL said P0301, which is cylinder one. We inspected the coils and found some cracks. I reset the CEL, we ate, pulled the rubber boot, let the coils dry out and it runs fine. The coil will still need replaced.

You should be getting a CEL if your having a misfire.

Most coil packs with more than 30K miles on them have cracks... These cracks can allow moisture to intrude into the workings of the coil and compromise it..

If coil packs have more than 30K on them, replace them as a failure is imminent.

Sounds right on the money, my 911 has 33,900 miles.

Tidbit of info:

DRY out the connectors if you clean the engine. ALSO.. make damn sure you hear the "click" that occurs when you are connecting the coils. Sooo soo many times I have had people ask me to look at a running issue after they changed the plugs. They have to CLICK. Make sure your environment is fairly quiet so you can hear each one "click".

FYI: every time I clean an engine.. I have to blow out the coil pack connectors. It takes very little to cause a misfire at the coils.


B

"If coil packs have more than 30K on them, replace them as a failure is imminent."

Yikes, have most folks with higher mileage boxsters (60K+) replaced their coil packs? Mine are the original (89K on the car) and my car is running rough at idle. I cleaned the MAF, cleaned the throttle body, added Jectron to the gas, put in new plugs, still rough at idle. Durametric says there are no error codes, any ideas about going for the coil packs next?

Ed

:(

How about motor mount?

By 60K engine mounts are dead, at least 1/2 of the lifters are collapsed, vario- cam chain tensioner pads are delaminated, coil packs are cracked and the water pump bearings are history.

A TRUE 60K service needs to include all these items being replaced.. Thats what I do at 60K, most cars need it before 50K.

"how about the engine mount?"


I'm sending him a CaymanS mount :)


B

"By 60K engine mounts are dead, at least 1/2 of the lifters are collapsed, vario- cam chain tensioner pads are delaminated, coil packs are cracked and the water pump bearings are history."

I'll order coil packs and o-rings (in case I have leaks in tubes) and stick them in next week. I hope that fixes the rough idle and that its not the MAF sensor, which I also suspect. BTW, is there any liability with running the car with dead engine mounts?

Ed

:D

A dead engine mount places stress on the other components that are connected to the engine and tranny.. And it makes for a nasty transition on and off the clutch with a nasty bump between shifts.

The rough idle can also be a cracked intake manifold or vacuum hose. I see more and more cracked intakes.

"If coil packs have more than 30K on them, replace them as a failure is imminent."

I replaced mine along with plugs, fuel filter and AOS this weekend and I was impressed by their condition, it was bad. I think only one of the six coilpacks that did not have cracks and large cracks on them in several places. Funny thing was the car was running pretty good except for rough idle (probably vacuum leak).

So, I have a question about how smart our ECU's are. Do the ECU's need to readjust to the addition of new plugs and coilpacks. My old plugs were only a year old, but the coilpacks were the original (90K). The car is running fine now, but seems like it is not quite as quick (quite subjective) as it was before swapping out parts this weekend. That is why I am wondering if the ECU is adapting. BTW, if its not clear already, I know just enough about this stuff to be dangerous....


Ed

:D

Wouldn't say that replacing coil packs past 30K is necessary as "failure is eminent," as we've seen plenty of cars with 60k-80k on original coil packs doing just fine, but if the plastic casing is cracked, then yes, failure will come sooner than later. It's less an absolute mileage item and more a time sensitive item which is heavily influenced by the environment the item is in.