'97+ F150 Ignition Coil Reliability/Replacement
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
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'97+ F150 Ignition Coil Reliability/Replacement
For the 2nd time now in a year my '98 F150 4.6L has developed a random misfire. The first time the dealer, under warranty, replaced a plug, a wire, and an ignition pack. This time it is a misfire on 3 cyls all attached to the same ignition pack (cyl 2,7,8). OBD-II codes P0302, P0307, P0308 - gets real when humidity is high!
This time I am considering replacing the coil myself with a pair of Accel 140018 Ignition coil packs. Has anyone else ventured into this area with any feedback? I ask, as my local speed shop has never sold one, and has never had anyone ask for one.
I question the reliability of the ignition coil packs as the first failure occured around 20K KM (12k miles) and the 2nd failure occured about 10k KM (6K miles) later. I believe that there must be something causing these failures so I plan to replace all plugs, wires, and the two ignition packs.
This time I am considering replacing the coil myself with a pair of Accel 140018 Ignition coil packs. Has anyone else ventured into this area with any feedback? I ask, as my local speed shop has never sold one, and has never had anyone ask for one.
I question the reliability of the ignition coil packs as the first failure occured around 20K KM (12k miles) and the 2nd failure occured about 10k KM (6K miles) later. I believe that there must be something causing these failures so I plan to replace all plugs, wires, and the two ignition packs.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 137
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From: Ocala, Florida
10mm bolt, remove the connector by pressing the button on the button of the connector near the wire. Make sure to add conductive lube to the inside of the coil pack, you shouldn't have to remove the fuel rails, I did it without removing them.
-Kelly
-Kelly
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,678
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From: Northern Kentucky
I'm running the Accel coil packs right now. They've been on there for around 7-8000 miles. My stock ones were not bad as far as I know I just wanted to see if they would help me out any in the performance department. While it seems like throttle response did pick up a slight hair it's nothing amazing. I paid like # 55 a coild for the Accel tower type coil packs part# 140018 from Jegs, I also picked up the Accel Spiral Coil superstock wires for around $76 from them.
MSD now makes the same coil pack and I do know someone on here has them, not sure on the name. I do know they are a little bit more pricey. MSD usually makes really good stuff.
With the stock ignition system all ready pumping out like 38,000 volts, your not going to improve on it very much. The Accel coil packs are only able to jump that up to 42,000. Where as almost all your older V8's adding Accel parts and coils usually almost doubles the output.
MSD now makes the same coil pack and I do know someone on here has them, not sure on the name. I do know they are a little bit more pricey. MSD usually makes really good stuff.
With the stock ignition system all ready pumping out like 38,000 volts, your not going to improve on it very much. The Accel coil packs are only able to jump that up to 42,000. Where as almost all your older V8's adding Accel parts and coils usually almost doubles the output.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 975
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From: W. Van., BC, Canada
I think the older vehicles like the air cooled VW Beetles even with Bosch "blue" coils were 10-15kvolts. So 38kV is seriously plenty.
When my OE coils fail I'm getting Accel coils too. No probs yet though. I'm still looking for a good set of performance wires. Nobody seems to make anything anywhere near as good as the Mustang boys can buy.
One has to wonder though if an even higher voltage coil than OE will toast your ignition wires faster? (insulator breakdown)
I used a spark plug wire on a homemade ozone generator a couple years ago and the transformer had an 8kV secondary coil running 60hz AC. From what I remember the plug wire I used (standard carbon centre cheapy) didn't last more than 6 months or so before it arced to the metal. High voltage is "hair-raising" stuff, especially @ high currents.
I jumped at least a foot off the ground when I was playing around with some dubious spark plug wires on my bro's 92' VW Jetta (while it was running)... eeeouch! Won't be doin that again anytime soon.
When my OE coils fail I'm getting Accel coils too. No probs yet though. I'm still looking for a good set of performance wires. Nobody seems to make anything anywhere near as good as the Mustang boys can buy.
One has to wonder though if an even higher voltage coil than OE will toast your ignition wires faster? (insulator breakdown)
I used a spark plug wire on a homemade ozone generator a couple years ago and the transformer had an 8kV secondary coil running 60hz AC. From what I remember the plug wire I used (standard carbon centre cheapy) didn't last more than 6 months or so before it arced to the metal. High voltage is "hair-raising" stuff, especially @ high currents.
I jumped at least a foot off the ground when I was playing around with some dubious spark plug wires on my bro's 92' VW Jetta (while it was running)... eeeouch! Won't be doin that again anytime soon.