How to check a coil-pack with the engine running  

Thats not a test for a bad ignition coil, that's a test to locate what dead cylinder you have, once you pin point the cylinder then you test for spark, compression and fuel

That can help detect which cylinder has an issue but it doesn’t mean the coil is bad, could be low compression, coil, spark plug, injector. I’m sure the scan tool would tell you the same generic information.

You can also try the exhaust manifold, put some water on each cyl. and see if it boils instantly or not so you don't risk the coils or pcm 👍

Just use a scan too find the mis swap the coil and plug to separate cylinders see if it moves.... if it doesn't check your injector for high resistance replace whatever is bad if you gotta go past those things ur probably looking at internal engine failure of some kind

What I did to my daughters 2010 kabalt. It was a bad coil. Replaced it and it ran fine after that.

Sweet now I have cyl 1234 random multiple misfires and system to rich codes thanks for the help

You really shouldn’t do this. In some cases unplugging the coil while the engine is running can cause a voltage spike back towards the PCM and damage the coil driver inside the PCM. I’ve replaced multiple PCM’s due to customers using this technique trying to diagnose a misfire.

It just means the miss fire is on cylinder 3 it could be a bad valve, fuel injector, piston, rocker arm, push rod (not that engine) head gasket, etc.

If you have 1 bad the others are not far behind. Replace all 4, and don't use cheap aftermarkets parts, unless you are going to get rid of it.

Speed running that misfire aye

This is a really easy trick that you can do really well with any engine. Even an older vehicle that doesn't use coil packs. If an engine is running rough, simply pull each plug wire and check if there's a change. Also you may not be testing the coil pack, it could be a bad plug or spark plug wire.

Thats a 2.5 camry engine....mine has 340,000 miles and never had to change those babies yet

I think it’s better and safer for the ECM if you turn off the ignition before disconnecting those coil power supply plugs, and then start and compare the sound that way.

Did this with my spark plugs, I took out 4 spark plugs before my engine changed toned. Anyway all the money I spent was worth it once I got all 8 to spark up

If the coil is fireing. And the sound don’t change it’s more likely you have a bad valve. Or piston. One of the two Especially. If you have a leak down On compression

That narrows it down to the coil, spark plug boot, or spark plug. Just because the cylinder isn't firing doesn't mean its the coil

Did this with my corolla altis and found the bad coil... replaced it and I'm up n running just fine

At this point, all you have determined is the 3rd cylinder is the one misfiring. You haven't determined the actual reason yet. It could be the Coil pack itself, it could be a bad spark plug, it could be a bad connector or damaged wire to the coil pack. You're not done yet. :)

You're brave playing with that sort of juice

I’m just here to complain

All I can say is DON'T do it, instead of one problem causing misfire you can create another problem go to your local auto parts store and let them read the DTC and pick upplugs distrutor cap rotor button and airs and oil filter do a tune up and look at your spark plugs for each cylinder you will see the the difference on the misfiring cylinder keep your coil packs in order and swap it with the cylinder beside it and see if the problem fillos if it dont that wasn't the problem or you created another problem doing that too much for someone who doesn't have the knowledge or the Right tools for vars and the electronic making it run

Or just put a amp clamp on a fuse breakout on the coil fuse for that bank and watch the ramp to see if coil startup is present and if so if the coil is ramping properly to show good fueling

All he did was check what cylinder was misfiring. Still could have a problem with fuel, sparkplug ect. Use a scan tool for cylinder misfire then diagnose the problem correctly

That is called a cylinder contribution test. You could possibly damage the ECM doing it this way.

Doesn’t mean it’s the coil it could still be a number of things

Awesome short!

I would scan it first!. Due to the fact check engine light should have been displayed. Then replace all coils.

The way 3 came off 🎉

No sir, dont do this on any coil on plug connecter that has 3 wires or more on it, this can destroy your PCM, just change the coils around and read the misfire codes

This works well with the cummins QSK19 engine.

Or you scan it? Switch the coil that is missing with the one next to it and see if the miss switches

Went through 10 videos trying to find this simple method. Thanks man💯

Just use a scan tool, that can damage the electronics

This is a great way to catch 12 volts to the dome. They have reliefs exposing contacts on the plugs for a reason, use a multi meter. Takes 10 seconds.

What a brilliant mechanic.. now I know exactly what to do to find a bad coil

I hate to break it to you but that’s not how you test an ignition coil. You’ve definitely identified the cylinder that’s misfiring. If you stop there and call it a coil, you’re just throwing parts at it. At least swap it with one of the others and see if the misfire changed cylinders.

This engine effectively runnin on one cylinder😂

You only need a magnetic field detector. Its like a pen and glows when coils are working

Better hope your ignition wires are in good condition 🤣 a water spray check takes 2 seconds and will keep you from turning into buzz lightyear on that "drop test" 🤣 as far as "messing up" the ignition system ... Modern vehicles have coil packs like these that no longer require: Stators, caps, rotors, points etc. The only thing 1 dead cylinder will do is fill with combustible fuel and air that will get blown out the exhaust. Timing is controlled by a belt/chain/gear ...in no way can the life or death of a coil in a short term test affect that.

yk he can just switch the coil to another cylinder and see if the issue follows, if it DOES then it IS the coil

What if that cylinder was not contributing because of bad fuel injector or even bad compression?

Yes back in the day we pulled off plug wires to check it . It's an old trick from the beginning

You didn't test a bad coil there, you tested for a problem with that cylinder. Move the coil from cylinder to cylinder and see if the misfire follows, then you tested the coil and the electronics from the pcm. And just don't yank that shit at a minimum you are setting false codes to sort through.

So the only thing need to be replaced is the 2nd ignition coil or spark plug right the engine was Harlem shaking when you removed the sensor plug

Oil change with thicker oil should quiet it up

3 and 4

The resl test is put the scanner y the 4 coils checks the ohms in the primary and 2nd

What does it mean when only one stays on when unplugged like the video but all other three shutoff the engine when unplugged individually?

4 cyl gr-fe toyota engine bad coil / clogged fuel injector and time tensioner need adjustment

If the coil is defective you cant find the problem this way. leading you to believe it's not the coil when it is

Great idea

They reccomend dumping water over your engine before you do this

That's how i check spark on my 350 w/points

Одна катушка зажигания хорошая,а как он на одном цилиндре так ровно работает,и вообще как завёлся?

I just came here to leave a comment.

What do you do if it only breaks down under a load or does that rule out the plug ? Just asking

Or just check the codes like a rear technician

Not all cars stay running when a coil dies

I will tell how i know i had Spark and it Was The Coil my hand was in the wrong spot and it shock the shit outta me 🔥🖐🏽🔥 😂 change that coil problem fix Boom

Great way to fry the ECM...

It's always the black one.

Fake because the clips on the connectors didn't break off as soon as he touched them

That didn't help anyone anywhere

Now swap coils to confirm

Say I like this better as a technician for over 25 years this is the easiest simplest way to explain to someone to it they don't have the machines or testers that they need just to help you kind of diagnose all these other ones just want to show you a test of most people don't have that most basic people so for the guy in the top of the comments even though you are a polite to him I will say to him that yeah you do all that stuff but this is a starting period it wasn't a whole damn essay on how to do it this was just showing somebody something basic for the beginning so for the smartass who has to make sure he says everything he needs to say in that first comment that you reply to I would say dude calm down these are simple videos that's what they're supposed to be the old school way

I'm curious, could you still have a bad coil pack and it not throw a code??

Please don't do this, especially if you have spark coils with plug wires. That nice big coil is gonna give you a nice big, shocking hug, even though the insulation of the wire.

No no that wrong you kill the computer used a scanner 🤑

That's a video tutorial to how to screw up your ignition system! Never do like this, Instead take out each coil and start the engine. The obd 2 scanners are actually smart enough to tell you which cylinder is bad!

Yeah but it sounds like all your cylinders are firing

You can barely hear the miss with that rattle trap of an engine

Quick way to fry the ecm

What if your car turns off when doing this test?

I can drive 10mile with my Audi a4 but the moment I stop switch off ignition car start misfiring unless I have to wait until 1hour then back to normal again, I have replaced new spark plugs but this problem still coming the only think I haven't replace is ignition coils, please help

Why is the 4th coil in a position 🤔

If you are nowhere near home a d sitting in an auto zone parking lot, this is the way to do it. And most of the time it is a coil.

Will doing this on v8 ls engine shock you lol i need to try it

Good short

Lol great now I have a hide cylinder code

If you want to risk damaging your computer

I couldn't find the coils on my 6.0 ford please help

Bullshit technique. This pin points a misfiring cylinder not necessarily a failed coil pack. Many things contribute to a misfire. Anything that uses coil over plug these days will have a pcm that has probably registered faults. A basic fault code scan is more effective then doing this.

Swap 3 with 2 or 4

How old is this engine?

Sometimes a scanner

Dont do that. Go to school. Come back when you're ready. Spray contact cleaner on the headers. P.s cyl#3 wont evap your brake cleaner.

Hi what happen if the coil and spark are new and then theres a spark but everytime I pulled it out the coil from engine it wont vibrates it runs fine. Coils and spark plug are working fine but no effect everytime i pulled it the coil no vibration no crazy knocking in the engine

My car is doing the second one when I press the gas why ?

I just plug my computer in and it tells me which one, don't even need to get my hands dirty

Did this with injectors on my jeeps 2.5

As yes. RU-vid. The source of all that bad info that causes the DIY folks to bring their car to my shop because the parts cannon ran out of ammunition or they broke something expensive trying to save $100 on a $200 repair.

My car has no check engine light ironically for some reason but it has coilpacks sometimes they burn off and I do the same process. The car has 265.000km and head gasket got replaced recently no damage to the internal components

Third one not firing!

Sound like a Corolla

Couldn’t you also have a bad pigtail ?

Good bye 👋 ecm drivers now repair parts went up there's other more safer ways to test coils or cylinders

Not a ignition coil pack those are ignition coils

Number 3

It sounds like your 3rd coil pack was bad, and possibly your 4th as well.

Straight up cap, everyone knows the coil pigtails break on a 2ar