Coil question?

[searaybob]

Hi ,,,

I recently bought a new coil. Wires were new already. It says to be used with external resistor but I don't see one.. 1988 4.3 merc V6 .The last coil had thunderbolt 4 on it. I have electronic ign. I did the homework and even called to make sure I was getting right coil. They said yes. Anyway, the neck is longer so now I need a new coil wire....... Sierra 18-5438 coil. so now I look and get slight voltage leakage through boot after cleaning very well. What the heyllll. Any suggestions.... on external resistor ? and leakage.. I think I'd kiss a dogs rear if I could get through this headache.....

 

[ziggy]

Re: Coil question?

Any suggestions....

ya didn't say who ya talked to to confirm ya got the right coil. was it yer local merc dealer? they'd probably id yer proper coil via s/n. once ya find the proper oem coil. then ya might be able to turn it into a seirra number or whoever number ya want. as for the external resister. mine is much older, but is a resistor wire. ya can't tell it from any other wire, short of lookin at a wiring diagram to see which one it is.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Coil question?

If you have electronic ignition, normally no resistor is needed. A resistor or resistor wire is only used to keep the points from burning up on straight 12volts.

P.S. I don't know what you mean by voltage leaking through the boot? is it arcing? please explain? If so there's too much resistance at the Dist. cap for some reason?

 

[searaybob]

Re: Coil question?

Ni, It wasn't my local merc dealer. It is very hard to deal with them as one of the guys there is a very miserable person and always has something to say. After I spend a grand and go back and ask about them leaving exhaust rubber off if it would do damage. He decides to get very defensive. It is really a bummer as the mechanic there is the coolest guy but his boss is mad at the world. It used to arc. I bought new wires and coil. I got shocked recently and was thinking coil boot might be a little dirty. Upon further inspection I noticed a tiny hole in boot over coil. Now I need a new wire as the new coil has a longer top nipple than the last and needs a straight boot instead of a 90 degreee boot. Now I need to find an new wire with a straight boot that fits right....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Coil question?

Check your plug gap while you are at it. If the gap is too wide, the spark will try to find the path of least resistance which might be at the top of the coil. Thi is also very hard on the coil too.