Bad Coils?

[Bearkat]

Would this sound like a symtom of a bad coil?:
Runs fine in city, casual driving, but if I'm on the highway for 15+ minutes the engine has a sound like a baseball card flapping against a bycicle wheel, and there is a loss of power, feeling "maybe" like a misfire? I changed the plugs and wires and still no help.

The only check engine light I have is for the passeger side manifold o2 sensor and some evap component. The evap code randomly goes away.

[terminaldegree]

When it happened to me, I noticed a loss of power and a definite misfire. Once it got bad enough, the SES light would start to flash, and finally it just stayed on.

It got progressively worse in my case over the course of 2-3 days with one, and only a day with the other.

Given they cost $20 each, it might be worth just throwing in some new ones...

[BobbyZ72]

Think the coils are more like 30 dollars each, if you have over 50k on them id replace them. While your at it replace the fuel filter, might not be getting enought gas, they are cheap, about 5 dollars and only a minute or two to replace.

[turban]

the coils are $20 a piece,and for the fuel filter of course it doesnt take minute or two to replace [img]graemlins/slap.gif[/img]

[BobbyZ72]

Originally posted by turban:
the coils are $20 a piece,and for the fuel filter of course it doesnt take minute or two to replace [img]graemlins/slap.gif[/img]

I can change mine in less then two mins. Over here coils are about 30 bucks. [img]graemlins/slap.gif[/img]

[Bearkat]

I'm buying some coils and a K&N air filter from someone on this board. I hope they do the trick, but I will change the fuel filter too. Why would a bad fuel filter only affect long highway driving and not city?

[BobbyZ72]

Thats like saying why would the coils only mess up after high way driving. They are firing faster, but they are the same temp, and same voltage. Im just guessing, most people never think of them, untill they stop up, Its out of sight and out of mind. Well the reason i say the fuel filter is becuase i guess we could say that during city driving you hit the gas and get off it, when you get off it, it has a few seconds to rebuild up fuel pressure. During highway driving you stay on the gas, there for the fuel pressure is slowly going down as the fuel pump cant keep up with the demand. I think your fuel filter is borderline clogged up, meaning it can still push some fuel past it, but not enough. AGAIN, IM ONLY GUESSING, IF YOU HAVE NOT REPLACED IN IT 30K ID REPLACE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. ;)

[BobbyZ72]

let us know what happens

[Bearkat]

^^^If you're so quick, do you mind me coming over to your place to let you change the new filter out on my car when I get it? I haven't done one on an f-body before.
BTW, if you want help me change out my shocks and struts too, that would be nice!

[BobbyZ72]

LOL, im not saying im fast, thats just how long it takes. Trust me, you can do. You about 100 miles from me for a total of about 200, it would not be worth the gas money. As for helping with the shocks they too are very easy, id say 15 minutes each. Front struts, if you are compressing the springs yourself, about all day. If you take them off and take them to pepboys and have them compress the springs, it makes it very easy. Just remeber to buy new upper sturt mounts. Ill help you with it if you want, i just have to find a day im off not doing anything.

[BobbyZ72]

how old are you anyways? And what year is your car.

[Bearkat]

Originally posted by BobbyZ72:
how old are you anyways? And what year is your car.

I'm about to be 23. My car is a '96 Firebird.