If you’re facing a problem with your Ford F-150, you should check all of the coil packs. A bad coil pack can cause a lot of different problems in your vehicle. So you need to always know which one is facing the problem.
Few signs can help you determine whether you need to change any coil pack or not. So, I come with an in-depth article about how you can know which coil pack is bad and some common causes of the problem.
What causes a coil pack to go bad?
A coil pack is a collection of spark plug wires and coils. Those work together to distribute electricity from the car battery. There are a variety of reasons which cause a coil pack to go bad.
The most common causes include:
- Heat causing wire insulation to deteriorate – Over time, heat exposure will degrade the rubber coating around each wire resulting in a short circuit.
- Arcing – This is when electricity jumps from one wire to another, causing your spark plugs to misfire and putting increased strain on the rest of the system components.
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How to tell which coil pack is bad f150?
Sometimes it’s hard to determine which coil pack is bad. You can’t really find out which coil pack is going bad until you check resistance by applying a dynamic load to your ford f150 coil.
Follow the following easy way to know which coil pack is bad in your ford f150. The process is actually fairly simple and straightforward and will not take you very long to complete.
Step 1: First, You need to disassemble the negative battery cable with a wrench from the battery. Then, You need to isolate the battery cable.
Step 2: Now, Find out the coil on your Ford engine. For this, open the front hoods. You’ll notice the coil is similar to a black cylinder with a center wire that looks like a spark plug wire. Also, It will be attached with nuts and wires along with two side posts.
Step 3: Now, Apart the large wire from the middle of the coil. For this, Pull it straight out of the coil. Also, Remove all attached wires, nuts from the side terminals.
Step 4: Now, Take an ohmmeter to ensure which coil is working properly and which is not. Place the test leads on each side of your Ford’s terminals and what reading you get. This is known as primary resistance, and it should be from .4 to 2 ohms.
Step 5: Now, move the test leads from the negative post to the center terminal ( Where you removed the large wire). And, Don’t move the other lead from the positive post of the coil. Now, Take the resistance reading on the ohmmeter.
If the coil pack is good, you’ll get a reading from 6000 to 15000 ohms for the ford f150.
Step 6: If the reading is outside of the range, that means the coil pack is bad, and you need to replace it.
How long do f150 coil packs last?
There are many factors that affect how long the f150 coil pack will last. These include the size and type of engine you have. In addition, the climate where you live and your driving habits also affect it.
The typical lifespan of a coil pack in an F-150 range is between 40,000 and 100,000 miles. However, Some coils will last only 5,000 miles.
Ford F150 coils have a recommended replacement interval of 100,000 miles or more depending on the year model, but many mechanics recommend that you replace the coil pack every 60,000 to 80,000 miles to save on maintenance costs.
What does a bad ignition coil sound like in f150?
It is common for an engine to make unusual sounds and noises when one or more of its components malfunction. A car’s ignition coil is no exception.
A faulty ignition coil will cause your F-150 to make high-pitched coughing, whining noise when it fails, and the engine may misfire as well. If your coil is bad, it will fail again after a short time of driving.
How many ignition coils are in a ford f150?
Generally, Modern cars usually have one ignition coil for every spark plug. So, If you have a six-cylinder engine, there is a strong possibility that your vehicle has six coils. However, there have also been some exceptions.
The number of ignition coils of your ford f150 varies according to your vehicle year. For example, there are 3 coils in a 2001 Ford f150 and 4 coils in a 2006 model.
How much is a coil pack for a ford f150?
The average price ranges of a ford f150 coil pack is above $50 to $200, depending on the year of your car. Also, You need to spend around $38 to $47 as a labour charge.
In my opinion, High Performance Ignition Coil 8 Pack For Ford F-150 is the best choice for you to get a long time service on road.
Final Words
If you have experienced a misfire, then you need to check your ford f150 coil packs. It’ll be difficult to know which one is bad without proper knowledge.
So, In the above sections, I provided you with an in-depth guide on telling which coil pack is bad in f150. I hope the article helps you.
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Thomas is a retired motor mechanic, father, and grandfather. He writes from his 20+ years in the automotive industry to help you find and solve anything related to car repairs, maintenance, and care.