Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

DIY on testing OEM coils

Thread Tools
 
Rate Thread
 
Old May 25, 2008 | 11:36 PM
  #1  
turborx8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Boost 4 Life
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
DIY on testing OEM coils

I have a voltage meter and I would like to make sure my OEM coils are perfect.

Here is the procedure I found in the service manual but what settings do I set my voltage meter at?


Last edited by turborx8; May 25, 2008 at 11:41 PM.
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 11:40 PM
  #2  
Easy_E1's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,675
Likes: 5
From: Bellevue WA
I tried the "Search" function and came up with this,,

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...t=coil+testing

Doesn't mean that the coils could not be failing during high rpm operation.
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 11:41 PM
  #3  
mysql's Avatar
Doppelgänger
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,192
Likes: 1
From: Florida
it's really a crap shoot with the oem coils.

That's why I ended up just replacing them once a year.
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 12:00 AM
  #4  
xsnipersgox's Avatar
One Shot One Kill
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 2
From: Houston
u would set it on resistance, the omega looking thing. as low as possible on the range for the test on no resistance (basically testing that the lines are touching).. on the million/OL. you are testing that the 2 terminals are not touching. i doubt this will be everything for a coil, but it's really the only "test" that can be quantified.
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 12:11 AM
  #5  
turborx8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Boost 4 Life
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by xsnipersgox
u would set it on resistance, the omega looking thing. as low as possible on the range for the test on no resistance (basically testing that the lines are touching).. on the million/OL. you are testing that the 2 terminals are not touching. i doubt this will be everything for a coil, but it's really the only "test" that can be quantified.
I did that and I keep getting a reading of 1.

I switched the setting to "->+" and I got the following readings on termials A/B

Coil #1 - 507
Coil #2 - 512
Coil #3 - 504
Coil #4 - 509

I switched the setting to "->+" and I got the following readings on termials C/B

Coil #1 - 429
Coil #2 - 427
Coil #3 - 428
Coil #4 - 430

I got the following readings on termials C/A

Coil #1 - 504
Coil #2 - 509
Coil #3 - 509
Coil #4 - 506

Last edited by turborx8; May 26, 2008 at 12:24 AM.
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 12:11 AM
  #6  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Just replace it every 20K miles or so. Not that expensive. consider the gas prices now, for the price of 2 fillups u get a brand new set of coils
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 12:31 AM
  #7  
turborx8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Boost 4 Life
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by nycgps
Just replace it every 20K miles or so. Not that expensive. consider the gas prices now, for the price of 2 fillups u get a brand new set of coils
Not if you live in Canada.

The local dealerships here charge insane prices.
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 12:35 AM
  #8  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
really ? how much do they charge ?

if its really too much, u can ask around and see if someone willing to do the *shipping* work for u (me, for example)
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 12:51 AM
  #9  
Jon316G's Avatar
Grasshopper
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 50
From: Streetsboro, OH
The ">+" symbol is for testing diodes... use the symbol that looks like a "horse shoe" which is the symbol for Ohms that you will use to measure resistance.
Basically... you want the multimeter to show resistance... this will tell you that there isn't a short within the coil. Here is what I measured when I pulled my coils:
Terminals A/B measured 1.6 - 1.7K
Terminals C/B and C/A measured 2.5 - 2.6M.
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 12:57 AM
  #10  
turborx8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Boost 4 Life
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Jon316G
The ">+" symbol is for testing diodes... use the symbol that looks like a "horse shoe" which is the symbol for Ohms that you will use to measure resistance.
Basically... you want the multimeter to show resistance... this will tell you that there isn't a short within the coil. Here is what I measured when I pulled my coils:
Terminals A/B measured 1.6 - 1.7K
Terminals C/B and C/A measured 2.5 - 2.6M.
I have multiple ohm settings on my meter.

2000 K
200 K
20 K
2000
200

I set the meter to 20k and I got the following readings on terminal A/B

Coil #1 - 1.53
Coil #2 - 1.58
Coil #3 - 1.56
Coil #4 - 1.57

I can't get a reading with C/B and C/A wiht my meter set to 20k ohm. It just displays "1"

Last edited by turborx8; May 26, 2008 at 12:59 AM.
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 01:05 AM
  #11  
Jon316G's Avatar
Grasshopper
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 50
From: Streetsboro, OH
You got a 1 displayed because you were trying to measure resistance that was ~2.5M with the meter set to 20k.
You need a meter that can measure more than 2M ohms
FYI... 2000k = 2MB ohms

Last edited by Jon316G; May 26, 2008 at 01:20 AM. Reason: added info
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 01:16 AM
  #12  
turborx8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Boost 4 Life
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Jon316G
You got a 1 displayed because you were trying to measure resistance that was ~2.5M with the meter set to 20k.
You need a meter that can measure more than 2M ohms
Now I understand.

Thanks man!!
Reply
Old May 26, 2008 | 11:50 AM
  #13  
turborx8's Avatar
Thread Starter
Boost 4 Life
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by nycgps
really ? how much do they charge ?

if its really too much, u can ask around and see if someone willing to do the *shipping* work for u (me, for example)
I called two local dealerships and they both had the same price.

$101.12 each
Reply
Old May 27, 2008 | 11:34 AM
  #14  
kersh4w's Avatar
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 3
From: DC Area
http://finishlineperformance.com/sto...cat=338&page=1

$26

i dont see why they wouldnt ship to canada. PM me if they dont, i'll help you out.
Reply
Old May 27, 2008 | 12:13 PM
  #15  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
Originally Posted by turborx8
I called two local dealerships and they both had the same price.

$101.12 each
ROFL ?! 101.12 EACH in CAD ????????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

If tommy or jason cant do canadian shipment, I can freaking get it for you. pay me the cost /w shipping and thats it. u can actually buy a few more sets cuz u will need it in the future anyway.
Reply
Old May 27, 2008 | 07:43 PM
  #16  
kevinD1226's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Lowell, Mass
wow u can get the ignition solution for just a little more
Reply
Old May 27, 2008 | 08:48 PM
  #17  
Jon316G's Avatar
Grasshopper
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 50
From: Streetsboro, OH
Originally Posted by kevinD1226
wow u can get the ignition solution for just a little more
I just noticed that he (turborx8) has the MazSport Ignition Solution listed in his bio (or whatever you call that field at the bottom)
Were you just curious if the stock coils were bad?

Last edited by Jon316G; May 27, 2008 at 09:47 PM. Reason: added question
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ASH8
Series I Tech Garage
20
Sep 26, 2022 11:55 PM
RayBarron
New Member Forum
4
Oct 19, 2015 08:08 PM
PotatoCannon
New Member Forum
13
Sep 6, 2015 11:48 AM
madrotor
New Member Forum
2
Jul 26, 2015 12:06 PM
dbarber
Series I Trouble Shooting
14
Jul 25, 2015 01:34 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:55 PM.