Merry Christmas to you all!

If you're reading this today, then thanks for taking your holiday to respond - I appreciate it.

My mechanic is telling me that my ignition coil is going south on the 850 and has been doing so for at least a few months. He says there are "flash marks" or some kind of electrical arc on the ignition coil which is a sign that it needs replacing. I do notice the car has a hard start with a strong shudder, but it's always done that, and all 850's to my knowledge are a little shakey when starting and idling. This part is approx 160 dollars from the dealer - seems high for a part like this.

Anyone have any thoughts on this or ever replaced this part? Again - any and all comments are appreciated, I'm in the dark as usual.
--
David
1995 854 Sedan, Naturally Aspirated, 146k mi
No modifications.

Start the car and watch under the hood in darkness and see if you can see any arcs or sparks anywhere, especially near the coil. You might want to take the plastic spark plug wire cover off for this. Inspect the primary wiring to the coil to ensure it is not corroded.

Were plugs, distributor rotor, cap, and all wires verified to be perfect? Ignition coil failures can occur but are relatively rare.

Many ignition problems are much worse in moist/wet weather. If you are adventurous you could lightly mist around the coil environment with a spray bottle.

My 1995 850 has never hesitated to start nor idled roughly at start, except once when the intake air hose had cracked. I think the poor start and idle are significant and I would have this problem studied systematically.

ask him if he will guarantee the fix or take the product back.

did he do a test on the coil to see its output?

I'm not sure if he did a test on the coil, but I believe he did and said it wasn't drawing enough amps or something to that extent. He guarantees his work though, so yes to that question.
--
David
1995 854 Sedan, Naturally Aspirated, 146k mi
No modifications.

Hi!
My wife`s 95 859 had somewhat of a different problem, ie, no start. Took it the shop & my mechanic diagnosed it as an ignition coil issue($550 from dealer). Replaced it & still no start. I suggested it might be the cam position sensor but mechanic said not likely.
Guess what? It was the cam position sensor. After replacing it, the car started right up & no problems since. My wife was happy to get her car running but it was an expensive "hit", almost a grand when the dust settled! BTW, my mechanic is an indie & an honest guy but sometimes he`s not that familiar with 850 issues. Hope yours is better in this case.
Rich

" BTW, my mechanic is an indie & an honest guy but sometimes he`s not that familiar with 850 issues. "

Which is why if you aren't going to do it yourself you want a mechanic who works on your kind of vehicle all the time. Countless dollars and hours are wasted every day by mechanics learning on the job on vehicles they are not trained for or familiar with. Good guy or not, he isn't the one I would be dropping thousands of dollars with. I have found it much harder to earn money than it is to spend!

Truer words were never spoken.

Mark

ask him if he will guarantee the fix or take the product back.

did he do a test on the coil to see its output?

ask him if he will guarantee the fix or take the product back.

did he do a test on the coil to see its output?

ask him if he will guarantee the fix or take the product back.

did he do a test on the coil to see its output?

ask him if he will guarantee the fix or take the product back.

did he do a test on the coil to see its output?

ask him if he will guarantee the fix or take the product back.

did he do a test on the coil to see its output?

ask him if he will guarantee the fix or take the product back.

did he do a test on the coil to see its output?