On Thu, 26 Oct 1995 LCGMD@aol.com wrote:
> Hello Group - Can an ignition coil go bad slowly, or does it just give up the
> ghost in an instant one day? If slowly, can the coil be the cause of
> intermitent misses? What improvement can be expected from a super coil?
> Better spark/power? And finally, have those non-purists that have gone to
> electronic ignition seen a marked improvement in performance? Thanks
Yes, they CAN go bad slowly. Happened years ago to me with a Mk.3
Spitfire. As it (the coil) warmed to a certain point, apparently the
internal windings "separated" and caused the engine to stop. Once the
coil cooled down (~10 min.), it worked fine again -- for a while, until the
cycle repeated itself.
You've guessed correctly on "super" coils, although you probably
shouldn't expect miraculous gains.
The only even pseudo-electronic ignition I ever had on an originally
points-equipped distributor nearly burned down the car. I have no other
experience with them. (In fairness, it was a "CD" booster type thingie,
not an electronic replacement or retrofit, and its lasting benefit was
the four holes left in the fenderwell of my Volvo 144 where the unit was
mounted until I trashed it!)
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* Andrew Mace e-mail: amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
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