Do I have an ignition system problem?

[adamp02v6]

Hi Guys,

Couple of weeks back my number 3 cylinder started misfiring. Turns out it was a dead/faulty coil. Saturday morning I had another coil go, this time it was cylinder 1. I got another replacement from peugeot and fitted that today, but in the process of diagnosing the fault, I put the coil from cylinder 2, on to cylinder 1. Now I left that coil there, and now I'm kind of wishing I hadn't. Just been to get some petrol and another coil has gone, I just checked with the ODBII software and it's coil 1 for a second time, but as I just said, it's the coil that was on cyl2 that hadn't yet failed.

Does this sound like I have some kind of problem that's gradually killing my coils? so far I've been lucky in that it's only the front 3 on the V that have gone. I'm hoping that it's down to age/mileage (7 years / 100k) but as they keep going and now 2 on the same cylinder...I don't know.

Any thoughts?

p.s. I was looking in the dark and I could see a tiny blue flicker coming from around the bottom of the new dead coil, is that to be expected or should I be worried? Almost sounds like it's not making proper contact with the spark plug. Also the plugs were changed by peugeot less than a week ago. I'd not noticed the blue flicker from the other 2 but that's because it was day light when I looked at the other 2.


Many Thanks.

[mjb]

What engine is it?

[teamster1975]

What engine is it?

it's only the front 3 on the V that have gone

V6 at a guess

[mjb]

p.s. I was looking in the dark and I could see a tiny blue flicker coming from around the bottom of the new dead coil, is that to be expected or should I be worried? Almost sounds like it's not making proper contact with the spark plug.

That's probably it. One of mine sparking where it shouldn't be and it was due to a massive amount of oil in the well preventing the electric from making it to the plug. Best check that in case the ES9J4S suffers from it too

Also the plugs were changed by peugeot less than a week ago

There's your problem...

Check there's actually spark plugs there, that they're in the right way, they're not painted or have the electrode covered in copper slip, check there's no cotton wool padding the well.... You get the idea. Also check the right wires are plugged into the right coils

V6 at a guess

I was trying to think if anything other than the ES9J4S used pencil coils

[teamster1975]

I was trying to think if anything other than the ES9J4S used pencil coils

Eejit

[adamp02v6]

Haha. Yes, I completely agree, peugeot seem to be, on the whole complete idiots!

Not only did they charge for 6 litres of oil + 1 litre top up at a cost of £70 last service, this time they tried to charge me for 8 sparkplugs!! The lady I complained to said atleast 3 people would have seen the invoice!

Anway, I've put the dodgy coil back on the middle and it's doing the same, so I'm getting another coil today to replace it. If any of the same 3 go again, I think I'll park it on the beach at low tide and do a top gear. If they stay ok now and another one of the back 3 go, I'll replace all of those as I don't fancy taking off the inlet 3 times!!

Also, does anyone know what gasket peugeot might have charged me for inrelation to perform a full service? something to do with the inlet, I'm wondering if you need to replace the gasket that mates the inlet with the top of the engine if you take it off? It's probably made of cheese!

[Welly]

Maybe you've got an ubber-rare V8 5.0ltr 406 Saloon?

The gasket they robbed you for is a new inlet manifold gasket as this has to come off to get to the rear sparkies.

When I took my car to Peugeot after I first bought it they left me short on oil, with a small metal lever bar in the engine bay, and minus an engine cover 'clip' (which they blamed me for)

[adamp02v6]

I figured that would be the gasket, it was about £11 I think!

If I take the inlet off again to change the coils, do I need to replace that gasket again?

[mjb]

I figured that would be the gasket, it was about £11 I think!

Part 348Q0 - £6.70+VAT
For some reason it's a lot more expensive than the ES9J4's (1.77inc)

If I take the inlet off again to change the coils, do I need to replace that gasket again?

Yep. You're best off getting a couple from the stealers just in case - it's what I've done