Is it safe to do what this guy does? (unplugging coils while engine is running)???
seems scary to me but also pretty effective (??)
seems scary to me but also pretty effective (??)
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Unplugging coils while engine is running???
- Thread starter 97tbird
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You can fry a coil because that could send the voltage very high.
I've been sparked a few times doing that. The wires need to be in perfect shape. Any leakage or breakage will have you jumping. Won't be lethal.
There are no wires - it's all COP
It's reasonably accepted practice on my V-6 to pull the wires and start it...post to post spark OK, post to ground bad coil.
Have pulled them off while running, and it will find it's way to you...and it's way less fun than back in the breaker points days.
Have pulled them off while running, and it will find it's way to you...and it's way less fun than back in the breaker points days.
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
You can fry a coil because that could send the voltage very high.
He's unplugging the primary (low voltage) side of the coil, not a problem because the coil won't be energized. Disconnecting the secondary side is a problem if the high voltage doesn't discharge through a spark plug.
You can fry a coil because that could send the voltage very high.
He's unplugging the primary (low voltage) side of the coil, not a problem because the coil won't be energized. Disconnecting the secondary side is a problem if the high voltage doesn't discharge through a spark plug.
It can kill the driver in the pcm on new fords.
I am just amazed that IF this was dangerous, that dude is extremely lucky because he did it about 5-6 times in that video alone, and probably had already done it several times before making the video, as he already knew which coil was the bad one.
AND he;s doing it on an M3 - much more complex than the regular M54 engine found on non-M3 cars I'd think...
I am VERY tempted to do this on my Bimmer, as a result of the issues described here:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...ion#Post3673143
AND he;s doing it on an M3 - much more complex than the regular M54 engine found on non-M3 cars I'd think...
I am VERY tempted to do this on my Bimmer, as a result of the issues described here:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...ion#Post3673143
OVERKILL
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With the correct software you can shut off individual cylinders so you aren't doing this FWIW.
Yeah I have no access to such...
OVERKILL: what do you think? Should I give it a try? WYDI?
OVERKILL: what do you think? Should I give it a try? WYDI?
As weird as it sounds, when you google a bit and read on BMW forums, it seems owners AND technicians do this all the time to quick-diagnoze coil pack failures, etc.
Had a P0302 (misfire on Cylinder #2) code on my son's car - 2001 Mazda Protege w/ dual coils, each one firing two cylinders. I overthought it, and figured that it couldn't be the coil because if it was, it would cause a misfire on both #2 & #3.
Swapped plug positions, but the misfire did not follow the #2 plug to #3.
Static resistance checks did not reveal a problem with the coil.
Did change out the coil, and that was it. (I guess the problem was with the insulation breaking down rather than the coil going open, or the Ohmeter would have caught it. I wish I had a Megger for such testing.)
Anyway, I don't like the idea of deliberately causing a misfire because fuel gets dumped in and exhausted raw, putting a lot of wear on the cat.
Swapped plug positions, but the misfire did not follow the #2 plug to #3.
Static resistance checks did not reveal a problem with the coil.
Did change out the coil, and that was it. (I guess the problem was with the insulation breaking down rather than the coil going open, or the Ohmeter would have caught it. I wish I had a Megger for such testing.)
Anyway, I don't like the idea of deliberately causing a misfire because fuel gets dumped in and exhausted raw, putting a lot of wear on the cat.
This is one of the nice things about the Ford IDS, you can do all of that through the scan tool and never have to open the hood, at least until they want physical tests done.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
This is one of the nice things about the Ford IDS, you can do all of that through the scan tool and never have to open the hood, at least until they want physical tests done.
Can do the same thing with a BMW just using Autoenginuity FWIW.
This is one of the nice things about the Ford IDS, you can do all of that through the scan tool and never have to open the hood, at least until they want physical tests done.
Can do the same thing with a BMW just using Autoenginuity FWIW.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Yeah I have no access to such...
OVERKILL: what do you think? Should I give it a try? WYDI?
What do you have for a scanner?
Yeah I have no access to such...
OVERKILL: what do you think? Should I give it a try? WYDI?
What do you have for a scanner?
oh it hardly deserves the title "scanner"
Just a $20 OBD-II code reader from amazon
Just a $20 OBD-II code reader from amazon
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
oh it hardly deserves the title "scanner"
Just a $20 OBD-II code reader from amazon
If you have a laptop I would humbly suggest AutoEnginuity with the packages for your vehicles. It has been an invaluable tool for me and I would wager it would serve you just as well.
I bought mine on E-bay.
oh it hardly deserves the title "scanner"
Just a $20 OBD-II code reader from amazon
If you have a laptop I would humbly suggest AutoEnginuity with the packages for your vehicles. It has been an invaluable tool for me and I would wager it would serve you just as well.
I bought mine on E-bay.
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