What would cause the ignition coils to repeatedly fail in a 1996 Pontiac Gr Am 2.4?

Answer 1

Replacement coils must always be the same basic type as the original and have the same primary resistance as the original. Using the wrong coil may damage other ignition components or cause the new coil to fail. Your engine is experiencing repeated coil failures, and it may be that the coil may be working too hard. The underlying cause is usually high secondary resistance (bad spark plug wire or spark plugs), or in some cases, a lean fuel condition (dirty injectors, vacuum leak or leaky EGR valve). Future coil problems can often be avoided by cleaning the connectors and terminals when the new coil is installed. Corrosion can cause intermittent operation and loss of continuity, which may contribute to component failure. Applying dielectric grease to these connections can help prevent corrosion and assure a good connection. The spark plug wires also should be replaced following a coil failure to assure a good hot spark. New plugs also should be installed if the original plugs are fouled or are at or near their service limit (45,000 miles for conventional plugs, 100,000 miles for long-life plugs). Hope this helps you.