Possible Coil Problem

Notanexit92 · Post by **Notanexit92** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:29 am

Okay, well this is occurring way to frequently now so I'm going to post something about it.

Basically, I start my car up, and it idles for a sec then the rpms drop to about 500 and the car sounds like it's running on like 1 cylinder, I get a very strong smell of gas as it's loping like a motorcycle. Then when I try to give it some gas it just sputters and barely goes anywhere.

After a few stalls and start ups it'll finally run.

I got a P0352 which is the coil. I was having similar issues with the old coil I had, and then I put another one on and it's doing the same thing but now I'm getting a code. Any guidance would be grateful!

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:31 am

NEW coil, NEW plugs, NEW wires? Squirt some dielectric grease on the coil connector, is the connector fully seated? Are the wires arcing?

neonrt_98 · Post by **neonrt_98** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:49 am

Where did you get the new coil from? Hope not Autozone or similar parts store cause they don't last very long.

Notanexit92 · Post by **Notanexit92** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:37 am

I got new plugs and wires, the original coil was the coil that came with the car and had 154xxx miles on it. This one was from an 04 sxt I found in a junk yard, I dont know how many miles were on it but I honestly thought that it would cure the driving issues.

I'll try everything you guys said, I noticed small area's of corrosion on the terminals of the coil. Would that cause big problems like I'm seeing?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:23 pm

Could be a bad coil driver in the PCM.

The PCM grounds each outer pin alternately to fire the two coils. If it has failed, possibly from the original coil shorting, you may need a new PCM.

Sadly, there is no over current protection for the PCM if a coil shorts out. My guess is the second coil you tried is fine, but the PCM is not switching to ground on that side anymore.

You could test the coil by hooking two wires/plugs to one side, and using some small clips, and powering the center pin, and grounding the outers. When the ground is disconnected, you should get a spark from the corresponding coil. I would test the replacement coil. The original may short, and melt a wire. Just a warning.

Light corrosion might do it, but a bit of penetrating oil, and sliding it on/off a few times should clean it well enough to function.

If the connector, and coil pins are heavily corroded, a new(er) connector may help.

Notanexit92 · Post by **Notanexit92** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:37 am

Okay this is a small update. I notice it only does it on start ups, when I drive around town come to an idle at stop light's it does just fine; only when I start it up does it act up. I know it's running on a couple cylinders because it bucks around when those two fire and other two don't.

After a few start ups, it eventually just does Pop Pop Pop Sputter Sputter POP and takes off! It's so weird!

I dont understand how the PCM would just decide to conk out like that?

I also noticed that the ground on that back of the head that goes next to the Torque Strut is broken, would this cause problems with a poor ground?

I'm also getting P0351 now along with P0352

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:20 pm

Maybe the connector, or wiring is bad. I would think the PCM would be one or the other. The ground at the PCM could need cleaned.

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:17 pm

.....Did you install a NEW coil yet?

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:27 pm

A better question would be did he test the coil(s) yet. No sense spending $50 to $100 on something that may not be the problem.