Just bought a 3rd party tach. Having problems figuring out where to attach one of the wires. The green wire should be attached to the distributor (-) side of the ignition coil. I can’t seem to fine the coil. Is their an ignition coil that I am missing or is their another place to attach this wire to? As most will notice I am not a mechanic but I like to do ‘simple’ projects like fill fluids, change the oil… and maybe install a tach… Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks, Rick (98 f150 XL 4.2L)

 

Late model Ford's don't have coils, they have coil packs. The attached thread has info on how to attach, and the '97-98 models don't have a PATS system so it is pretty easy. Best results seem to be to hook up to the coil side of an injector.

Tach

 

I didn't think the 4.2 v6's had coil packs. Well, at least my 2001 doesn't.

 

Sorry, forgot to add that mine has a rectangular looking black box on the passenger's side valve cover with 6 leads that the sparkplug wires connect directly to. Is that a coil pack? Sorry for the confusion, but I was thinking of doing the same thing.

 

I guess what I meant was that if he was looking for a coil that looked like a beer can with a wire coming out the top he wouldn't find it. FWIW my Haynes manual for the '97-98 F150 refers to the ignition system part as a coil pack even on V-6 models.

Yeah, that's the part.

 

Thanks alot man!

 

Originally posted by flafonman
... a coil that looked like a beer can...

Coil? Beer can?? Yumm!! Are you teasing us Flafon? LOL.