over the last 3 weeks i have done around 6 plug changes on pre 96 cars and in 4 of these i have found broken ends on the coil packs.

the 2 cars that didn't need new ones had already had the pack replaced .

if you have a pre 96 car and haven't changed the coil packs yet i would put enough money to one side when you do get the plugs changed to buy a set of coil packs too.

symptoms are misfiring under load and general hesitation, this is due to the spark earthing out to the head.

the problem seems to be the plastic on the end of the coil (under the rubber boot) goes brittle.

plastics seem to be the major problem on the early pre 96 cars as the plastic header tanks and plastic radiator end tanks also suffer from cracking and splitting.

all down to age i suppose but its something to look out for when running an early scoob.

hope this helps.

 

its fine Jonny.................you just need to know who to call!!

LOL.....................

 

I have had this issue with a few customer cars lately, most noticable when increasing the boost level.
Whats the going price for a new set of coil packs nowadays ? Alan ? Jonny? Anyone ?

Andy

 

mine wer about 50 to £60 each from subaru

 

Yip thats about right. Paid £223 inc vat for 4 of them back in April of this year.

Stuart

 

they are a pain in the ***!!

 

RRP is £75inc./coil.....................of course some places don't charge that!?!............
LOL........

 

APi charge considerably less than Subaru, but of course they're used.

 

yeah thanks Alyn for helping me out of a sticky spot not many people have them on the shelf!

Andy- going price seems to be around the £240 mark for a set to the man in the street

 

I find the problem with broken coil pack is most of the time down to the way they are pulled out...if they are reluctant to come out they end up being forced/twisted/bent and end up with lovely minute cracks to send the spark down directly to the cylinder head under load.

Obviously a MY96 car is getting on abit now and had the plugs checked and replaced a fair number of times, so it's ineveitable that they will end up breaking.

A problem on scoobies thanks to the tight access - although, be thankful that the coil packs aren't as brittle and delicate as the VAG ones! (remember the "faulty" coil pack design...erm no, just too many heavy handed spanner monkeys in the VAG service dept ).

 

theres a lad comes through the car wash with a silver scoob, he came in near when i started and i had a bit of a chat, he had just bought it and didnt know anything about it but it was hesitating on boost

told him to clean the boost soleniod and if it wasnt that it was probably the coil packs

i think R&P woods did the work and it turned out to be a coil pack
1 week later he comes back in and says its started doing it again
"yes mate they tend to all go at the same time"
2 coil packs down and 2 packs to go

hes happy with the car tho, brought in sum stella for me the other day LOL

 

yeah mick, its a good idea if you can afford it to change them all.

do you have an address of the car wash as i want to come and use your services, can also do a bit of a mystery shopper job for you aswell