What happens if your ignition coils are going bad? Do you have a rough idle?

 

An ignition coil which is starting to go bad will usually become more pronounced with a higher engine load. Meaning it will start to miss as you hit the gas - though an idle miss is possible. However, if you're driving a 99 I find it hard to believe (unless you have hundreds of thousands of miles on it), and especially not more than one. More likely you need plugs, or have dirty injectors.

 

I had a coil go in my '99 between 40k and 45k miles. Just one of those things. Nissan charges almost $90, Courtesy is under $50. There are six coils obviously and the front three are slightly different than the rear three. If the coil is bad the check engine light should come on. Check the vB code reference.

 

I am having the same problem, I got the code 0201. While driving, when I accelerate it doesn't want to go, it jerks alot. So I took out the front 3 ignition coils to see if it was bad, looked fine to me. Put it back in and reset the ECU and so far the car has been riding smoothly. How can you tell if the ignition coil is bad with the naked eye? I didn't get a change to take a look at the rear 3 coils but if I get the jerky riding again and the light goes on, I will. And what are other causes of this problem if its not the ignition coils??
Thanks...

 

To my knowledge you can't tell with the naked eye but the Haynes manual explains how to check them with an Ohm meter. Good luck.

 

If you are holding the coil in front of you with the spark plug side down and the wiring connector socket facing you the terminals are 3,2,1. Check for resistance with an ohmmeter between terminals 2 and 1. If you have zero ohms, the coil is bad. If you have any kind of resistance, it's testing ok.

However, I've had coils test ok and still not work under a load so that's not a conclusive test. If you have a skip all the time I would try to isolate the skip to a specific cylinder by process of elimination. Unplugging coil packs while the engine is running will make it skip even worse - until you come across the coil which isn't working. Then there will be no change. Then I would take that coil and swap it with the one next to it and do it again. That way you can determine if it is indeed the coil, or some other component such as a spark plug or injector.

 

i was having misfire and nissan wanted to replace all the coils for $800! only one or more was bad but they don't know which one. anyone replaced their coil and which one did you replace?

 

$800? Are you kidding me. Don't tell me you paid $800
I also was having a misfire, took the front coils out, put it back in and now the car is back to normal.

 

You can't diagnose your coil by which one someone else has replaced. FYI there are a total of 6 coils with 3 being one type of style and 3 being another. You know you have a V6 and the 3 coils closest to the front of the car are slightly different in shaped when compared to the 3 coils closest to the firewall. Get the manual or go to another dealership or shop. Good luck and hold on to your $800. If you were to decide to get all new coils that is a very easy install. Especially if you have the manual I keep prescribing

 

i would never pay the dealer any money for a job i can do myself. i took it to the dealer because i couldn't find the problem. i am aware there are 2 different coils and have both part numbers. i just don't know which 3 to try first, the right or left bank. i figured i'd try the right bank since it's easier to get at.