Coil pack has no spark for cylinders one and four

1988 BUICK REGAL
120,000 MILES
Avatar
STW
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Coil pack for #1 and # 4 has no spark. Replaced it, still no spark to plugs. Tested prongs at mount tabs and found 12 volts on one, none on the other, but so do the other 2 sets of prongs for the other 2 coil packs.
New plugs (.045) and wires, and the coil pack. Runs on 4 now instead of three...long story..
Bottom line, where do these coil packs derive their power pulse? Why only those 2 cylinders? I put the "bad" one on another mount and it worked fine, did the same for the new one, it works as well, on any other set of cylinders....No spark at all for the pack at #1 and #4, first one on pass. side. Help!!
I'll gladly donate a tidy sum for the cause and repairs necessary..
Jan 19, 2013 at 9:54 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
ASEMASTER6371
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 52,796 POSTS
i would suspect the module underneath the coil pack. replace it and the wires as well as they most likely caused the failure.

yes, 12 volts on 1 side but the module toggles the ground to fire the coils.

Roy
Jan 19, 2013 at 10:09 PM
Avatar
STW
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Roy, so you feel that item can cause only 2 cylinders to be dead?
Others have mentioned crank triggers and sensors, but I "assumed" if those were bad, none would fire...
Is my assumption on track?
Thanks, Steve
Jan 19, 2013 at 11:03 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
ASEMASTER6371
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 52,796 POSTS
your assumption is dead on.

Roy
Jan 20, 2013 at 1:37 AM
Avatar
STW
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Kewl, I'm ordering one tonight. $109.00 from Napa and on hand....
any special warnings for removing that? I see TINY phillips screw heads, with a mirror......
I did the entire job yesterday by braille....
Where's the donation link?
Jan 20, 2013 at 1:41 AM
Avatar
ASEMASTER6371
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 52,796 POSTS
remove the 6 screws for the coils, remove the connector and it should come up

the donation link was on your original posting.

Roy
Jan 20, 2013 at 1:54 AM
Avatar
MIKE QUEENAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Okay, so I have the same issue that you had but you never posted a follow up if the ignition module fixed your problem.
May 16, 2020 at 10:35 AM
Avatar
ASEMASTER6371
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 52,796 POSTS
The ignition module is the failure. that is what controls the coils.

Roy
May 16, 2020 at 10:55 AM