Page 1 of 3

what does a coil do when it starts breaking down?

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:11 am
by flyinhillbilly
my car has started blubbering and not reving past about 5k and i've been all over everthing else on the car. the coil i have is a new this year msd hvc2, so i've been hesitant to change it, but it's looking like i need to give it a whirl. before i dump another $140 on a coil i was just looking for some affirmation that this may actually be the problem.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:47 pm
by Outlaw Nick
My experience with coils has been that they either work or they don't. I have never had one that performed poorly before they quit completely.

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 1:02 am
by Lippy
Need more info, what did you check flyin? Does it do it in low too?

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 2:33 am
by flyinhillbilly
it does it in every gear, i mean this sucker just won't rev out. i did run a new best friday night though. 10.97@123 running like crap.

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:00 pm
by Nor'Easter
bad coils do two things(separately)

won't fire..

leak oil

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:32 pm
by Rapid Randy Baker
The two coil problems I have experienced with the Mallory coils:

A couple of years ago the car would sound fine in the pits and burnout. It would leave soft, not rev very good, and then fall really flat after the shift. It just hated the load, and each gear it was worse.

2-weeks ago, the coil seemed ok 1st run, although it blubbered just before the shift at the top of low. Then no fire for the 2nd round. No other warning just quit.

For what it is worth,

Rapid

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:51 am
by Eric David Bru
MSD should be able to give you some numbers to check out with your multi-tester...

If all else fails, send it back to them and them test it.

Parts have a mysterious reputation of returning to MSD bad, being returned to the racer as GOOD, with no apparent changes or charges...

I tend to think of this as a 'free' warranty when/if this happens.

EDB

PS It's worth a try.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:47 am
by Bob Kraemer
Worn out valve springs maybe if it wont rev as for the blubbering could be a bad power valve in the carb.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:03 pm
by Lippy
I'm with Bill and everyone, send the coil back and get it replaced or checked . Coil will do weird stuff. Remember how the old point condensers were!!

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:10 pm
by jim sanders
years ago i had an ACCEL coil go bad.. motor would start and run, rev etc untill a load .. then break up... borrowed another one and with no other changes pulled every gear... so anything is possible.. on latemodel stuff it seems the coil(s) don't outlast the plugs anymore :?