Faulty Ignition Coil
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New Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
From: Irving, TX
Faulty Ignition Coil
Had a loss of power in my fit with a flashing yellow check engine light a month ago. Pep boys checked it and said I had a faulty ignition coil. I paid for a tune up and to change the ignition coil. Now a month later I have the same problem again. When I checked it at Autozone they said cylinder number 3 was misfiring. My FIT is an 09 with 170K miles. Does anyone know if this is a common problem with FITs of this age? Does anyone know if it could be something else? Just out of curiosity, could anyone do something to a car to make a cylinder misfire? Thanks in advance for any help.
Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 277
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Had a loss of power in my fit with a flashing yellow check engine light a month ago. Pep boys checked it and said I had a faulty ignition coil. I paid for a tune up and to change the ignition coil. Now a month later I have the same problem again. When I checked it at Autozone they said cylinder number 3 was misfiring. My FIT is an 09 with 170K miles. Does anyone know if this is a common problem with FITs of this age? Does anyone know if it could be something else? Just out of curiosity, could anyone do something to a car to make a cylinder misfire? Thanks in advance for any help.
Also torque all those spark plugs. To at least 16 ft-lbs. Some people suggest higher. A loose plug can cause that problem.
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 783
From: Harrisburg, PA
The Honda dealer was going to 'ding' me a second time on an ignition coil when the whole time it was loose spark plugs. Personally, I've never heard of the coils going bad.
BTW, after realizing I got screwed by the dealer, I tightened all of my spark plugs (took several times and eventually used some blue threadlocker) and have continued to use (last +30,000 miles on '11 Sport AT ~85k total on it) the original ignition coils, including the one the dealer said was bad.
Always check your spark plugs first before replacing a ignition coil when you have a misfire code.
BTW, after realizing I got screwed by the dealer, I tightened all of my spark plugs (took several times and eventually used some blue threadlocker) and have continued to use (last +30,000 miles on '11 Sport AT ~85k total on it) the original ignition coils, including the one the dealer said was bad.
Always check your spark plugs first before replacing a ignition coil when you have a misfire code.
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,120
From: Tuscaloosa
The Honda dealer was going to 'ding' me a second time on an ignition coil when the whole time it was loose spark plugs. Personally, I've never heard of the coils going bad.
BTW, after realizing I got screwed by the dealer, I tightened all of my spark plugs (took several times and eventually used some blue threadlocker) and have continued to use (last +30,000 miles on '11 Sport AT ~85k total on it) the original ignition coils, including the one the dealer said was bad.
Always check your spark plugs first before replacing a ignition coil when you have a misfire code.
BTW, after realizing I got screwed by the dealer, I tightened all of my spark plugs (took several times and eventually used some blue threadlocker) and have continued to use (last +30,000 miles on '11 Sport AT ~85k total on it) the original ignition coils, including the one the dealer said was bad.
Always check your spark plugs first before replacing a ignition coil when you have a misfire code.
Good news you got it sorted. Mine were snug after 89k this January when I did mine, guess I'm lucky. I've seen the average life of a coil here at around 160k, so I replaced all of mine at 89 when I had the car apart for a valve lash adjust. I really didn't want to take it all apart again for a coil.
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 783
From: Harrisburg, PA
If you're good with your left hand, you can reach in behind the engine and unsnap the wiring harness for #1 cylinder and use a 10mm socket / wrench to undo the coil pack and remove. I could have all four out in less than 20 mins. I would also do the spark plugs that way but that adds more time. Have to work your way across (#1, #2, etc) so there's room to bring the coil pack out to the left.
When the Honda dealer did that first coil pack on #2 cylinder, they were done in 30 mins, so not sure who is really doing it the right way.
Yes, the first time, I took off the wiper blades, cowling, HVAC airbox components, and properly torqued each spark plug, but #2 and #3 came loose again. So, I just started reaching in with my left hand / arm and doing it. And again, the last time I touch the spark plugs, I used blue threadlocker, and they have stayed tight (assumption since no misfire codes anymore).
I'm going to wait until I actually have a coil pack problem before changing a coil pack. I'm never too far from home, so no big deal limping home if it happens.
We have a '09 CIVIC and the coils and plugs are on the front of the engine with easy access. In a way, I sort of cheated. Everything on the FIT is the same on the CIVIC just hidden.
When the Honda dealer did that first coil pack on #2 cylinder, they were done in 30 mins, so not sure who is really doing it the right way.
Yes, the first time, I took off the wiper blades, cowling, HVAC airbox components, and properly torqued each spark plug, but #2 and #3 came loose again. So, I just started reaching in with my left hand / arm and doing it. And again, the last time I touch the spark plugs, I used blue threadlocker, and they have stayed tight (assumption since no misfire codes anymore).
I'm going to wait until I actually have a coil pack problem before changing a coil pack. I'm never too far from home, so no big deal limping home if it happens.
We have a '09 CIVIC and the coils and plugs are on the front of the engine with easy access. In a way, I sort of cheated. Everything on the FIT is the same on the CIVIC just hidden.
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,120
From: Tuscaloosa
If you're good with your left hand, you can reach in behind the engine and unsnap the wiring harness for #1 cylinder and use a 10mm socket / wrench to undo the coil pack and remove. I could have all four out in less than 20 mins. I would also do the spark plugs that way but that adds more time. Have to work your way across (#1, #2, etc) so there's room to bring the coil pack out to the left.
When the Honda dealer did that first coil pack on #2 cylinder, they were done in 30 mins, so not sure who is really doing it the right way.
Yes, the first time, I took off the wiper blades, cowling, HVAC airbox components, and properly torqued each spark plug, but #2 and #3 came loose again. So, I just started reaching in with my left hand / arm and doing it. And again, the last time I touch the spark plugs, I used blue threadlocker, and they have stayed tight (assumption since no misfire codes anymore).
I'm going to wait until I actually have a coil pack problem before changing a coil pack. I'm never too far from home, so no big deal limping home if it happens.
We have a '09 CIVIC and the coils and plugs are on the front of the engine with easy access. In a way, I sort of cheated. Everything on the FIT is the same on the CIVIC just hidden.
When the Honda dealer did that first coil pack on #2 cylinder, they were done in 30 mins, so not sure who is really doing it the right way.
Yes, the first time, I took off the wiper blades, cowling, HVAC airbox components, and properly torqued each spark plug, but #2 and #3 came loose again. So, I just started reaching in with my left hand / arm and doing it. And again, the last time I touch the spark plugs, I used blue threadlocker, and they have stayed tight (assumption since no misfire codes anymore).
I'm going to wait until I actually have a coil pack problem before changing a coil pack. I'm never too far from home, so no big deal limping home if it happens.
We have a '09 CIVIC and the coils and plugs are on the front of the engine with easy access. In a way, I sort of cheated. Everything on the FIT is the same on the CIVIC just hidden.
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 783
From: Harrisburg, PA
Yes, then you're stuck with doing the 'Full Monty'. I wasn't bragging either but got extremely pissed off at the time. I employed the 'reach-around' after I did the full removal / torque everything and the plugs came loose again. That's when I added a dab of Permatex paste (blue) on each plug and it's held together for many miles.
Years later, I heard from a Honda tech I ran into later and he said the loose plugs was a known problem and some guys would change coil packs all day long ($160 ea plus $50 labor plus $50 diagnosis) an never fix the loose plug so the customer would get misfire code again and bring it back. Maybe they were more lazy than criminal.
Years later, I heard from a Honda tech I ran into later and he said the loose plugs was a known problem and some guys would change coil packs all day long ($160 ea plus $50 labor plus $50 diagnosis) an never fix the loose plug so the customer would get misfire code again and bring it back. Maybe they were more lazy than criminal.
Thread Starter
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New Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 3
From: Irving, TX
My inability to fix the acceleration problem with my fit and the check engine light have caused me to sell my FIT. It is a sad day indeed. I owned it for 12+ years and put 177K miles on it. Yesterday was the death of my FIT ownership.
Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 277
From: Pittsburgh, PA
That sucks. What all did you end up doing and what car did you buy?
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