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usroute66
Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2012
Posts: 72
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 Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 10:02 am Post subject: Hot coil |
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Engine started and ran well. After about a five mile drive, lifted the lid and felt the coil. It was too hot to touch for more than a couple of seconds.
I felt the coil because while diagnosing why the reverse lights were not working, I happened to touch the coil and it was hot. This is without having run the engine but with the power 'on'. Did run several grounding tests. Fixed the reverse lights problem but am concerned about the hot coil.
Would like to know if this sounds like a bad coil or not, or something else? |
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runamoc 
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006
Posts: 5601
Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: Hot coil |
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if the key switch is 'on', the points are closed, and the engine is not running power will be applied to the coil the whole time. It will get hot when this happens. If you had been 'lucky' and the points where open when you did the diagnosing it wouldn't have gotten hot.
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2507
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Hot coil |
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| usroute66 wrote: |
| ...I happened to touch the coil and it was hot. |
Not unusual...ignition coils run hot...almost too hot to touch. They shouldn't get hot enough to burn you though.
120°F is considered normal, but up to 200°F is not uncommon.They heat up quickly too...a byproduct of pumping 12V up to 30KV in a small sealed can.
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2022 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Hot coil |
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| runamoc wrote: |
| if the key switch is 'on', the points are closed, and the engine is not running power will be applied to the coil the whole time. It will get hot when this happens. If you had been 'lucky' and the points where open when you did the diagnosing it wouldn't have gotten hot. |
Exactly.
With the points closed there is a DC current with running through the coil. Of course it will get hot.
Nicholas
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usroute66
Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2012
Posts: 72
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2022 11:07 am Post subject: Re: Hot coil |
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Many thanks to all who replied, I appreciate the input.
All replies said basically the same thing: the coil gets hot (very warm).
Also touched base with two local experts: their view was identical.
So, I tested it this morning after driving about 15 minutes. The infrared thermometer read 160 degrees. That appears to fit right in with what all are saying: the coil gets hot (at least very warm). So, I will move on to the next task.
Thanks again,
Chief |
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