1999 S70 GLT Ignition Coils

[ericmci]

Hi

I am doing a tune up on my S70 GLT - filters- plugs -etc
And I am wondering if i should replace my ignition coils while I am at it.
About 4 years ago one coil went bad and was replaced but I believe the rest are original at 164k.
The car idles perfectly and no codes are thrown but might it just be a good idea or do you subscribe to the theory of only replacing when they go bad?

Thanks for the wisdom!

[abscate]

It depends on your tolerance to failure.

I have six cars with coil in plug ignition , two if them get the proactive 120k coil replacement.

Four of them get coils replaced on failure. I keep a cheap code reader in these cars.

I did have a coil fail at 100k on one of these and had to do a roadside recently.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91347&hilit=1999+coil+failure

[scot850]

I would leave alone if they work fine. If you want piece of mind you could do the following checks on the coils:

1) Remove the rubber boots and check them carefully for any splits which can lead to shorting.
2) Look around the coil casing at the top of the 'stalk' part. Look for cracks in the coil material. I still have to try to find a material I can fill the cracks with that can stand the temperature and environment. I have several coils that were working fine but replaced with new and kept the old for back-ups/emergency.
3) When re-fitting make sure the face of the coil around the bolt hole is clean as well as that on the head it bolts to as this is the ground.

Finally. I bought what was sold to me as Volvo OE coils from a now defunct parts supplier. 2/5 were bad. One arrived damaged and another was DOA.

Neil.

[erikv11]

It depends on your tolerance to failure.

I have six cars with coil in plug ignition , two if them get the proactive 120k coil replacement.

Four of them get coils replaced on failure. I keep a cheap code reader in these cars.

I did have a coil fail at 100k on one of these and had to do a roadside recently.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91347&hilit=1999+coil+failure

My S60 came to me with fairly new cheap, no-name coils. PO thought they were doing a "tune-up" before sale sigh. What interval might you give those? I suppose I could wait until one fails then replace them all.

[abscate]

I think that’s what I would do for the Run to fail model

It might be easier to sell a set of working five no name coils , though

[cn90]

This is what I do for my cars...

- Get 1-2 used Volvo coils from junk yard or ebay for $10/each. Mark them with Sharpie so you know which is which.

- Install these parts and run for a week to be sure they work. If any issues, return them.

- Or you can buy new from Volvo or FCPEuro.

- Reinstall the original coils. Keep the 1-2 used (or new) coils in the trunk as spare. The tool kit that came with car has 10-mm wrench, but a basic metric socket set is better.

- Get the $15 OBD Maxi Autel reader, and keep it in the trunk.

[abscate]

Then there is M-RTF...Modified Run to Fail

Run until one coil goes. Replace with new.
Now replace the other four with new, and use the four used for pure RTF cars.

[erikv11]

The R coils are not $10 and/or usually improperly labeled on eBay and hard to find in junkyards. I know I could get a spare as a backup but I'm not really stressed about one failing, just contemplating if/when to replace them. They are sitting at 40k now.

So to be specific: for proactive replacement, what mileage interval might you give to no-name coils?

Realistically the ones I have are only desirable to R owners as RTF backups/replacements, perhaps I could sell off four of them as such and keep one.

[abscate]

I didn't know P2 R have different coils than P2, so I think I would run them

[RickHaleParker]

I am wondering if i should replace my ignition coils while I am at it.

Replace when needed. As you already know a bad coil will not leave you stranded.