A few weeks ago, I noticed my engine would "stumble" in drive when waiting at a stop light. It would do this a few times, but no check engine light came on.
Eventually, I connected my scan tool and found out cylinder 5 had 20 misfires.
I changed all sparkplugs 20K miles ago with OEM Double Platinum ones. So I figured an ignition coil is probably on its way out. My car has 120K miles on it. I bought a used coil in case I misdiagnosed it.
When I got the part, I began to replace it. When I removed the original ignition coil, I saw what appeared to be carbon tracking inside the boot. It was a thin white line along the inside of the boot.
Now in this case I would have changed the spark plug, But I didn't have a new plug or spark plug socket with me. So instead, I put a liberal amount of di-electric grease inside the new ignition coil boot, and put the new coil in.
It's been a few hundred miles and I don't have the stumble anymore.
Should I go back and change the spark plug? It's a PITA to access it. I know if the carbon residue is still on the plug, it could eventually start tracking again. But maybe with enough Di Electric grease, that won't happen. I did buy the new spark plug just in case.
Eventually, I connected my scan tool and found out cylinder 5 had 20 misfires.
I changed all sparkplugs 20K miles ago with OEM Double Platinum ones. So I figured an ignition coil is probably on its way out. My car has 120K miles on it. I bought a used coil in case I misdiagnosed it.
When I got the part, I began to replace it. When I removed the original ignition coil, I saw what appeared to be carbon tracking inside the boot. It was a thin white line along the inside of the boot.
Now in this case I would have changed the spark plug, But I didn't have a new plug or spark plug socket with me. So instead, I put a liberal amount of di-electric grease inside the new ignition coil boot, and put the new coil in.
It's been a few hundred miles and I don't have the stumble anymore.
Should I go back and change the spark plug? It's a PITA to access it. I know if the carbon residue is still on the plug, it could eventually start tracking again. But maybe with enough Di Electric grease, that won't happen. I did buy the new spark plug just in case.
