looking for an ignition coil replacement guide, suggestions?

[cvandiv]

my car has all the trademark symptoms that are usually attributed to a hairline crack in the ignition coil. i am planning on replacing it, but first i'd figure i'd ask if there was a guide around here (or somewhere on the internets) to doing this since it seems to be such a common problem. i have the haynes book, but i was looking for something a little more specific. also, is it easier to get at from under the car? any other advice?

thanks!

[Mike Gerber]

There are Toyota factory service manuals stickied at the top of the General Camry Discussion forum, that are available for free downloading. There should be a generation 2 manual there.

The distributor is easy to reach from the top. It is best to remove the distributor from the car when replacing the coil.

Mike

[cvandiv]

i'm having a terrible time getting the distributor cap off. i removed the two bolts (4-cyl) but it seems to be stuck at the bottom, suggestions? i don't want to break anything

[cvandiv]

Originally Posted by cvandiv

i'm having a terrible time getting the distributor cap off. i removed the two bolts (4-cyl) but it seems to be stuck at the bottom, suggestions? i don't want to break anything

lol i forgot that there were three bolts!




new problem, how the hell do i get the old coil off of the distributor assembly? i see/feel the screws, but how do i get at them?

[scribby]

You need to unbolt it from the engine, and take the whole thing out. Also you will need a timing gun or you can mark the currnet position of the distributer before taking it out.

[cvandiv]

Originally Posted by scribby

You need to unbolt it from the engine, and take the whole thing out. Also you will need a timing gun or you can mark the currnet position of the distributer before taking it out.

so far i have removed the distributor cap and the dust guard. now i have the ignition coil screwed in with 4 screws, all of which i have been unable to unscrew because they're on the bottom of the old coil, which is obstructed by hoses which have fused onto the engine/metal over the 19 years of this car's life. am i gonig to have to cut off and replace these hoses or can i remove it some other way?

[Doctor J]

The whole distributor assembly must be pulled off the engine to change the coil

[cvandiv]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

The whole distributor assembly must be pulled off the engine to change the coil

you're right! the job was a whole lot easier after i figured that out

[3eepowerhunter]

guys i dropped in cuase i thought one of you may know but is there a way to put an external coil on our camry's?

[scribby]

Yeah I was actually wondering the same thing, I would only do it if it worked out cheaper than a normal stock coil.

[marc780]

My friend, i have changed many a coil but never seen a bad one yet. Why? Cause nobody knew what else to try! Get it tested first. Or at least post what the car is doing.

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by 3eepowerhunter

guys i dropped in cuase i thought one of you may know but is there a way to put an external coil on our camry's?

Originally Posted by scribby

Yeah I was actually wondering the same thing, I would only do it if it worked out cheaper than a normal stock coil.

You can use a external coil, but the distributor cap has to be modified. Theres 2 spring loaded contacts inside the dist. cap. You remove one of those contacts and drill a hole through the dist. cap where the contact was.

Then you mount a post to the outside of the dist. cap. The post is for a wire that connects between the dist. cap and coil.

The wires going to the stock coil need to be removed, extended, and hooked up to the new coil.


Coil wire and post:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku


Use whatever coil you want. I used a msd blaster ss.

[kauz]

My friend, i have changed many a coil but never seen a bad one yet. Why? Cause nobody knew what else to try! Get it tested first. Or at least post what the car is doing. Yesterday 11:18 PM

I'm curious too to know what the symptoms are because my 89 Camry also acts up when it rains until it's totally warmed up. Also last time I washed the engine at the carwash it took me two hours before I was able to get it running again. I've been told that it is the distributor.

Also, where do you buy the coil from? Toyota wants over $100 for just the coil. I can get a reman dist for about $150. Any suggestions?

[Mike Gerber]

I got a Borg Warner coil some years ago for a generation 2 Camry 3SFE engine at Pep Boys. It was around $40 back then. I would guess it's around $60 now.

Mike

[dhillis]

I just put a new coil in my camry. $33 from Autozone and 30 minutes later she's running good again. Although I think my torque converter is smoked, which is another story.

Dan