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No Spark on Cyl 1 + 4

kitcho

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Messages
578
Location
canada
Hi guys

Okay, my car wouldn't start today so I pulled the spark plugs one at a time to check for spark. Only cyls 2 and 3 have spark at the end of the plug wire.

This leads me to believe that one coil on my coilpack is bad. However, before I go buy another coilpack, are there any other possibilities that would suddenly cause no spark on those two cylinders?

btw: I have a jdm galant, so usdm coilpacks are not plug and play and I will have to source one from here most likely
 

gtluke

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Joined
Sep 16, 2001
Messages
4,210
Location
dirty jersey
The coils are the same, just the bracket is different.
The other thing that could cause this is the cam angle sensor. I've personally never seen it kill only one coil but I have seen a broken wire on the CAS kill one coil. Usually when they die it kills both.
 

kitcho

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Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Messages
578
Location
canada
^ Really?

Interesting.

I read on another forum that it depends on the year for the coil pack? I had a usdm one (wasn't sure of the year) and the coils were completely different than what I had and wouldnt swap into my JDM bracket. Should 91+ usdm coils work?

Thanks
 
Last edited:

gtluke

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Sep 16, 2001
Messages
4,210
Location
dirty jersey
I believe there is a difference between the 88-90 and 91-93 coils. I had a JDM coil and I used to use it for testing, it had the same plugs but a screwed up bracket for the cyclone intake.
 

kitcho

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Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Messages
578
Location
canada
does anyone have a pic of a normal usdm 91-93 coilpack for reference?

edit: and im guessing that buying from an auto wrecker is probably a better idea than a coilpack from a parts store?
 
Last edited:

92GVR4num65

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Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
161
Location
Sioux City, IA
Hey, i JUST had this problem....was drivin fine one day, went to "punch it", suddenly felt like a tractor. found cyl 1 & 4 no spark. Replaced PTU, still did it, replaced coil, boom shes her old self again...I got the USDM one off ebay for like 50. Oreilys and autozone sold new coils for around $118 A PIECE!!....anywho i have an extra PTU, if u need ill part w it...I have my old crappy coil pack too ill post pics of tomorrow mornin when i get off work so you can compare...idk if the coils are interchangable....like if you can piece together 2 coils for the number 2&3 cyls to make a good coil pack (i dont c why not) if you can ill part w my pack too if you want...lemme know. (When i say part with i mean some REASONABLE compensation would be appreciated) I had a DSM buddy also suggest CAS...however i swapped the one off my Talon so that helped a bit...
 

belize1334

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Joined
Nov 18, 2003
Messages
3,316
Location
Bozeman, MT
Yeah it's either the Power-Transistor(igniter) or the CoilPack. It COULD also be wiring but that seams unlikely. The simplest thing is to just get another CoilPack and see if that fixes it. The other thing you could do is swap the ground-straps on the two coils and then switch the spark plug wires. What that'll do is swap which coil is firing which cylinder pair. If it's still 1/4 that are dead then it's gotta be the igniter. If it becomes 2/3 that are now dead then it's gotta be the coil.

On a final note... our ignition system fires the two cylinders in series... That is the current travels down one wire, across the plug, through the head, back across the other plug and back along the other wire. That being said, if one plug stops firing due to a melted plug or a shorted wire it will make the other stop firing too even if that plug/wire is perfect.
 

boostedinaz

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Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
4,085
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
If it's dropping 2 cylinders like it is most likely the CAS or CAS wiring. I just went though this on another car a few weeks ago. We found out that one of the wires for the CAS was somehow broken in the harness.

It is always a good idea to check all the other components as well like the ignitor, coils, ECU, etc... but I would start with the CAS.
 

92GVR4num65

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
161
Location
Sioux City, IA
heres the pics

The plug


The USDM coil pack itself....(The good used one i got off ebay)
 

kitcho

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2006
Messages
578
Location
canada
My issue has been resolved.

Went to a wrecker, he had a coil pack which was apparently from a 96 accent (???) but it matched mine exactly, minus the harness and bracket. Swapped out the harness and bracket, put it all together, and she started up like a champ.

thanks for all the replies
 
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