How to Test a Coil Pack with a Multimeter (Step-by-Step Guide)

A coil pack takes energy from a car battery and converts it to a high voltage. This is used to create a spark that starts up the car. A general problem that people face is when a coil pack is weak or faulty; it causes problems like poor performance, low fuel economy, and engine misfires.

Therefore, the best prevention is knowing how to test the ignition coil pack with a Multimeter to avoid all problems related to the car ignition coils.

To test the coil pack with a multimeter, check the default resistance for the primary and secondary windings. Connect the negative and positive leads of the multimeter to the correct terminals to test them. By comparing the resistance to the default resistance in the vehicle manual, you can see if your ignition coil pack needs to be replaced.

I will go into more detail in the article below.

Why Test a Coil Pack?

We check the coil pack because it is an important piece of machinery in an engine and like all other parts it has the unique function of supplying power to the individual spark plugs. This causes a fire in the candle and creates heat in the cylinder.

How to test a coil pack with a multimeter

There are different vehicle models,; each has its ignition coil pack located at different parts of the vehicle, which is why the essential first step is finding the coil pack. Below is a step–by–step guide which will show you how to find a coil pack, how to test the coil pack with a Multimeter, and how to reinstall your ignition coil pack.

Finding the Coil Pack

• When looking for a coil pack, you must first find your engine’s plug position or battery.
• You will notice that wires of the same color connect the plugs; You must follow the wire.
• When you reach the end of these wires, you will see a single part where all four, six or eight wires are connected, depending on the total number of engine cylinders. The part where they meet is primarily the so-called ignition coil unit.
• If you still can't find your ignition coil pack, then your best bet is to search the internet for your specific model or car owner's manual and you should be able to check the location of your engine's coil pack.

Coil Pack Testing

• The first step when you want to test the coil pack is to remove all the initial connections from the spark plugs and the car ignition coils from the engine.
• After removing all connections, you will need to use a multimeter because the resistance of the ignition coils is a problem. You will need to set your multimeter to the 10 ohm reading section.
• The next thing you need to do is place one of the multimeter ports on the middle primary coil connector of the primary coil pack. Right away you do it; The multimeter should read less than 2 ohms. If this is true, then the result of the primary winding is good.
• You now need to measure the resistance of the secondary ignition coil assembly, which you will do by setting an ohmmeter across the 20k ohm (20,000-6,000) ohm section and placing one port on one and the other on the other. The car's ignition coil must have a reading between 30,000 ohms and XNUMX ohms.

Reinstalling the coil pack

• The first thing to do when reinstalling the coil pack is to move the ignition coil pack into the engine bay and then tighten all three or four bolts with a suitable size socket or ratchet.
• The next thing to do is reconnect the plug wire to all of the ports on the vehicle's ignition coil unit. This connection must be made based on a name or a number.
• It would be best if you connected the battery wire with the primary coil port, which is distinguishable from plug ports.
• The final step is to connect the negative port of the battery, which you have disconnected at the starting point of this process.

Necessary Things to Remember When Testing a Coil Pack

There are a few certain things that you should remember whenever you’re testing or checking the coil pack of your vehicle. They are important guidelines that can’t be avoided because they not only keep you safe but they ensure actions you take don’t cause any bodily harm to you. These necessary things are as follows:

Wire gloves

When planning to check your vehicle's coil pack, make sure you wear rubber gloves. Wearing rubber hand gloves will protect you from various potential hazards that may arise. For example, these gloves protect your hands from harmful engine and car battery chemicals. (1)

Gloves will also protect your hands from rust around various parts of the engine. The last and most important thing that rubber gloves protect you from is electric shock, which can happen because you will be working with spark plugs and batteries that can create electricity.

Make sure the engine is off

People tend to leave the engine running when working on their cars, but the truth is that when you leave the engine running, there is a huge chance of getting an electric shock from the spark plug when you are trying to check your car's coil pack. vehicle.

Spark plugs produce combustible gas that burns and also transmits electricity, so make sure the engine is off before starting any work.

You also need to make sure you work in a well ventilated area. If electrolytes come into contact with clothing or the body, immediately neutralize them with baking soda and water. (2)

Summing up

Another thing to keep in mind is to always connect all ports of the ignition coil pack to the correct wire, and a good way to do this is to label them with a number or give a specific sign to avoid all forms of error.

I would also advise you to take precautions before you get started. An exception to the necessary safety regulations may lead to an undesirable situation. You must read and follow these instructions to get the best results when testing your ignition coil pack. Double check to make sure you haven't missed a single step.

With this tutorial, you know exactly how to test a coil pack with a Multimeter, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

Check out other multimeter training guides below;

• How to test a capacitor with a multimeter
• How to check battery discharge with a multimeter
• How to check fuses with a multimeter

Recommendations

(1) harmful chemical – https://www.parents.com/health/injuries/safety/harmful-chemicals-to-avoid/

(2) a mixture of baking soda and water - https://food.ndtv.com/health/baking-soda-water-benefits-and-how-to-make-it-at-home-1839807