Can I drive 50 miles with a fauly coil pack - quick answer?

[Police State]

one of our cars has a faulty coil pack (4 cyl), and the engine is running rough. The quick question is can it be driven 50 miles with a lumpy engine, or am I asking for more trouble?

[Defcon5]

Should be fine if you take it steady - try cleaning the connections, may improve it a bit

[Police State]

Defcon5 said:

Should be fine if you take it steady - try cleaning the connections, may improve it a bit

thanks for the quick reply.

[powerstroke]

Police State said:

one of our cars has a faulty coil pack (4 cyl), and the engine is running rough. The quick question is can it be driven 50 miles with a lumpy engine, or am I asking for more trouble?

Not a great idea as unburnt fuel might cause the cat to overheat and melt .....

[stevieturbo]

Depends entirely on the car.

If it has a catalytic converter which virtually all do these days, then yes you are asking for more trouble.

Dumping raw fuel into the car is a surefire way to kill it.

[Deva Link]

I would say that's way too far to run the car on 3cyls.

If you absolutely have to do it then unplug the injector for that cyl.

[Police State]

powerstroke said:

Not a great idea as unburnt fuel might cause the cat to overheat and melt .....

hmm, that's interesting and crucial to know as it has only just had a new replaement cat fitted.

[Defcon5]

Is it definately the coil pack? What car is it?

[TheEnd]

A lot of cars are smart enough to switch off fuel injection to a cylinder if there is no ignition.

[C. Grimsley]

TheEnd said:

A lot of cars are smart enough to switch off fuel injection to a cylinder if there is no ignition.

Echo this, the car will record a misfire on which ever cyl and kill the suppliy to the fuel injector, it will be slow but ok.


Carl

[stevieturbo]

C. Grimsley said:

Echo this, the car will record a misfire on which ever cyl and kill the suppliy to the fuel injector, it will be slow but ok.


Carl

No, the car may detect a missfire and shut down the injector. But you dont know what car, and you dont know for sure that it will.

If it doesnt and it fks his new cat...it's an expensive replacement.

[powerstroke]

stevieturbo said:

C. Grimsley said:

Echo this, the car will record a misfire on which ever cyl and kill the suppliy to the fuel injector, it will be slow but ok.


Carl

No, the car may detect a missfire and shut down the injector. But you dont know what car, and you dont know for sure that it will.

If it doesnt and it fks his new cat...it's an expensive replacement.

Yes ditto this and the OP has already fitted a new cat!! maybe a misfire or EM problem caused the old one to go tits up, they rarely just fail often its mecanical damage from say grounding on a speed hump
or oil or unburnt fuel overheats them....

Edited by powerstroke on Thursday 10th May 07:27

[Mr2Mike]

Even with the injector unplugged on the faulty cylinder the high oxygen content in the exhaust will likely cause the ECU to overfuel the working cylinders to try to get correct exhaust oxygen levels.