rsathre

Okay guys. I'm a novice mechanic looking to change the coils in my 1990 c4. How do I remove the coil from its braket?

Thanks in advance.

abarthguy

Ignition coils or suspension coils ??

rsathre

Ignition electrical coil. Sorry

Vandit

Okay, this is kinda tricky when you're unfamiliar. It's easier the 2nd time. Basically, there's one clamp-like bracket that holds the both coils in place. You can't see the the fasteners because they're behind the bracket where the ignition modules sit. You stick a 5mm hex key through a hole between the ignition modules to get to one of the fasteners. The other fastener is ahead of the rearward ignition module, so basically immediately after the rear fusebox. You don't have to completely remove the fasteners which is good, since reinstalling them becomes a pain since you're working so blind. Just loosen both of them a bit, little by little, until you loosen them enough to be able to pull the coils out the top of the bracket.

Once the coil is out, you can unclip the protective hat, remove the ignition lead, and then there's a couple of really small nuts on the top holding the top holding the power leads to the coil.

Obviously, you have to remove the heater blower before anything else.

JasonAndreas

This might help? Hopefully somebody else has a photo showing them both removed.

Vandit

^That's a good pic.

You see that hole between the two ignition modules? That's where you stick your 5mm hex key. The 2nd hex fastener is just out of the frame to the left. You need to remove the cover to the rear fusebox (3 10mm plastic nuts) in order to get a clear line to the fastener.

FeralComprehension

In cases like this PET can be invaluable- if you look at the PET diagram you can see how the bracket works, which will help you to take it apart.

JasonAndreas

Somewhere on Rennlist I posted a lot more images, here's the image from PET.

rsathre

Thank you everyone. Here's the next question. I changed the two coils out. Connected everything together, and cranked the engine and nothing. Sounds like it does when battery is dead. Should I just jump start it?

darth

I'm confused, if the engine cranked (i.e. turned over) but didn't start, the battery is not dead. If in fact, the engine did not crank or turn over, the battery is likely discharged or there's a bad connection. It's gentler on the alternator to charge the battery with a bench charger 1st, rather than allow the alternator charge the battery.

rsathre

The engine did not crank at all.
The battery was working fine before I started my coil replacement project.

darth

What caused the battery to discharge? Why were the coils replaced?

rsathre

That is exactly my question.
The battery was fine.
I changed the coils bc I was getting some hesitation with the engine sounding like it was skipping for a second when pushed hard and warm.

When I hooked everything back up together, battery was discharged, or so I think.
I did not disconnect battery while working on the coils.

I don't know if that tid bit affects anything.

darth

Does anything power up on the car - dash lights when you turn key , radio, lights etc.?

rsathre

Yes...lights and click etc power up.