Good coil gone bad...

I hate to see that.

My Jeep hasn't seen a lot of use but twice in the last couple of years I've had a coil go bad. The first was the one that came with it so I don't know if it was original or how old it was. I replaced it with a mallory that I bought new for my antique truck before changing it to hei. It went bad and I replaced it over the weekend with one from a V8 powered boat.

The question is: Can there be something wrong in the electrical system that can damage a coil?..or am I just having bad luck with them?

thanks.

 

I believe you need to use a coil that has a resistor built in.

 

Points ignition will typically have a resistor inline with the power to the coil, or a coil that has resistance built in to it. Either approach works fine.

If you use a coil that says "use with external resistor" or some such, you need a resistor.

Coils are usually quite reliable (though every Jeeper should carry a spare coil - BTDT). The hot rod coils try to squeeze more voltage out of the same package, and thus are less reliable than your generic oil-can coil (so called because it's shaped like an old-fashioned oil can, and they are usually oil filled).

If it were mine, and I were going to run the factory points ignition, I'd run a ordinary brand-name replacement coil, like a Standard or Delco. If it's a 6 volt system, I think it's a different coil than a 12V coil. And you need to run a ballast resistor, unless the coil is specifically made for use without a resistor.

<edit> Yes, you need a 6V coil. Standard UC14 or UC14X will work. Should be about $30. They also offer a UC14T cheapy for $14 - I'd avoid. All 6V coils.

 

Thanks guys. The coil does say "use with est. resistor", but it worked so I didn't think much of it. It is a 12 volt system and I don't know if there is a resistor somewhere in the system. I haven't seen one.

As far as points go, is there an electronic kit for an original distributor?

 

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