GetSideways

Hey guys. So I bought a 2004 rx8 a couple months ago. I'm replacing coils plugs and wires. One of the coils was melted, and also its connector has melted a little but too. This causes them to be sort of stuck together. Like two lovers in a passionate embrace, unwilling to let go. Lol. Anyway I bought a new connector also, but I'm not sure how I should go about replacing it. I have already cut the bad connector off leaving a little of the wiring sticking out the back so I will know which order the new one goes on. So my issue is, I dont think I have enough room to work with, since it's the connector/coil closest to the firewall, by intake manifold. The air intake is removed. The New connector came with butt connectors but a co worker recommended that I solder the wires instead of crimping them? I was wondering if there is a way to remove the entire wiring harness and then I can have as much room as I need..

Steve Dallas

That's a hell of s simile to use on a car forum! Nearly stopped reading right there.

This has been, and will continue to be, debated forever, but the generally accepted way to connect wires under the hood is with splice connectors and heat shrink. Solder joints turn "cold" and can break with repeated heating and cooling cycles plus vibration.

jakejm79

Unless the wiring itself was damaged why not just remove the pins from the plastic connector and put them in the new connector (after removing the pins from that). - But it sounds a little late for that now.

GetSideways

Actually the old connector and pins was partially melted together. I cut the old connector off, and spliced the wires together using butt connectors. The wire strippers/crimpers I have are tiny and therefore dont have much crimping power... I'm not confident in the splicing. My car wont start... could this be why? It turns over and according to a friend of mine it has spark... either flooded or the shitty splicing is likely the problem I'm assuming

jakejm79

Even if one coil connection was bad, 3 others should be enough to get it to cough and splutter, is it not attempting to start at all. Very likely many failed attempts to start it could have flooded it.

GetSideways

Here's a pic of the old connector and coil... it's pretty bad lol.