Would you?
Would you?
I have 80k miles on my 02. I plan on doing the 100k maintenance this weekend just because the car is going on 12. Would you install new ignition coils while changing the spark plugs? As far as I know, they are functioning properly. I've seen forums where people see it as a good preventative measure, but others who say if it isn't broken, don't fix it. I figure if I'm in the engine anyway, I might as well do it. Thoughts?
I've always been firm believer of the, "if you're gonna do it, do it right" motto. But I'm the guy that pays my bills 15 days early and re-washes my car if there are streaks or missed spots after I do it the first time.
SO, yes, I would.
SO, yes, I would.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 836
From: Connecticut
If you have all that money to kill go ahead. In my opinion that is crazy. I am at 140k with one coil replaced.
You say "if im in the engine anyway" but you are like 30 mins of work in. Hell, you're not even in. You are taking the engine cover and upper intake manifold off.
Bottom line.... $400-$500 could be WAY better spent
You say "if im in the engine anyway" but you are like 30 mins of work in. Hell, you're not even in. You are taking the engine cover and upper intake manifold off.
Bottom line.... $400-$500 could be WAY better spent
Haha, we're crazy, but ish gets done! I look at it like, if you're going to clean the outside of the car, why not clean the inside?
Whenever I have tackled projects, people will say "that's overkill" or "you can just leave that, it's like new." Nope, not for me. I feel it I'm changing out something, I'm going to change out everything pertaining to it!
If you subscribe to the "as long as I'm doing something, I may as well do this other thing", go right ahead. And while you are at it, do the brakes, replace the tires, the ball joints, the springs. And don't forget the interior. I'm sure the carpet is showing a little wear, replace it before it wears through. And that goes for the seat, especially if it is leather. The leather cracks, so replace it now before any cracks show up.
That thought process is just a big gooey, stinking pile of BS. If the ignition coils are working fine, let them be. Granted, people have had problems with them. But not everybody. If the item is not a normal maintenance item, don't replace it "just because".
Some things to seriously consider are change the auto trans oil, the struts if you have bad roads, the air filter and the in-cabin air filter.
That thought process is just a big gooey, stinking pile of BS. If the ignition coils are working fine, let them be. Granted, people have had problems with them. But not everybody. If the item is not a normal maintenance item, don't replace it "just because".
Some things to seriously consider are change the auto trans oil, the struts if you have bad roads, the air filter and the in-cabin air filter.
If you have all that money to kill go ahead. In my opinion that is crazy. I am at 140k with one coil replaced.
You say "if im in the engine anyway" but you are like 30 mins of work in. Hell, you're not even in. You are taking the engine cover and upper intake manifold off.
Bottom line.... $400-$500 could be WAY better spent
You say "if im in the engine anyway" but you are like 30 mins of work in. Hell, you're not even in. You are taking the engine cover and upper intake manifold off.
Bottom line.... $400-$500 could be WAY better spent
I hear you. I'm truly on the fence. Having the money doesn't mean I want to spend it. I'm just wondering if people tend to do it as a preventative measure. I've also read if you're going to replace 1 bad coil you might as well replace them all. The advice is all over the map.
These guys have valid points. I think ultimately you have you have to consider what $500 means to you. And if you want to wait for failure to replace.
Like I said, I'm OCD about ish. All my cars have been treated the same way.
As far as the change everything that relates to one another statement, that's a bit extreme!
Like I said, I'm OCD about ish. All my cars have been treated the same way.
As far as the change everything that relates to one another statement, that's a bit extreme!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,440
From: Snakeden Branch, VA
so true. 
Definitely seems to be the only place I've ever heard that. Those guys just seem to LOVE the "If we change this, we HAVE TO change that" approach.
That being said, my car has 80k miles and I just replaced my plugs recently but they weren't needed until 100k, still have original coils save for one that was replaced due to misfire.
Looks like your question is of needs vs. wants. I put needs at #1 and anything else you just have to weight it's value vs. cost and see if you want to spend the money. If you had the vq30 it would most definitely make way more sense to replace coils since those are a known issue but even then I haven't had any problems with mine except for one. Your 5.5 already has the grey dot coils, so probably not much of a reason to change them.
Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 240
From: Johnson City, TN
Even if you are buying OEM parts, you may get a coil that will have a shorter life than any in the engine currently. Just because a part is new does not mean it will not fail, especially an electrical part.
As was posted earlier it's your money and people choose to spend it different ways so ultimately all we can do is give our opinions. Personally I would not. Changing plugs, PCV value, RVC are good preventative maintenance items because these things wear out and cause problems or performance issues. Coils work or they fail. No sense swapping out working items - again IMO. If you're doing the work yourself you know that in the future if/when one does fail it's really only a 1-1 1/2 hour job to change that coil out.