1998 Ford Escort Ignition coil

SHEZACAT

MEMBER
1998 FORD ESCORT
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
88,000 MILES

Car began making a very high-pitched, escalating whine, and would then miss very badly and die. Would not start for several minutes, then would run fine for a short while. After six months, car began missing VERY badly and was almost impossible to keep running. Service Engine Soon light came on. Limped to AutoZone. Had someone get a code. It was P0352 Ignition coil primary circuit condition-Coil number 2. How can I be certain that the coil is the real problem?

UPDATE: Plugs all have spark. Replaced coil, cleared code. Ran well for about 5 minutes, then ran VERY badly and 'Service Engine Soon' came back on. NEW CODE is P0351 Ignition coil primary circuit condition-Coil number 1. Someone please help. I'm at my wit's end.

1 Reply

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Did you check for spark at the plugs? Can you check coil primary circuits? The three wire connector, one is B+ the other two are grounds, one ground for two plug wires. On the picture the grounds are called coil drivers. You can use an led testlite between voltage terminal and ground terminal, with engine cranking, this is on the connector, primary circuits, see if there is a pulse, check both grounds.

You can also do an ohms test between the paired coil towers, 12K to 14K ohms.