Any suggestions on cleaning Coil Posts?

[chinch33]

My 93 SL2 (208,000 miles) has been missing recently, and it seems it is due to the coil posts. I changed my plug wires recently and noticed one of the posts in particular had a good deal of white substance on it, kind of fuzzy. Any suggestions on cleaning them properly? Also does dialectic grease help with the actual connection with the plug wires, or does it just reduce corrosion?

[cazzylee]

Did they growl at you? >_>

Use a wire brush to scrap the fuzz off. I wouldn't really bother coating them with anything.

[Luke]

Actually, I've used 0000 emery cloth; it's a very fine sandpaper, for want of a better word to use... One can pick up a sheet at any hardware store.

[BarnOwl]

Wire brush, fine sand paper, steel wool, whatever will get it off. I do use dielectric grease on mine though.

[tenn734]

i believe dielectric grease only prevents corrosion, but does nothing in terms of improving conductance ...so a thin layer is good.

[JerryHughes]

My 97 SL had the same whitish coating on one of my terminals. I gently sanded it off with fine paper then coated it with d. grease. Working great for over 21K so far! Car starts so quickly, I nearly don't have to turn the key!

Jerry

[Sky King]

All good suggestions. I use ScotchBrite. You can get it at most auto parts stores. Also the dielectric grease is to help keep moisture out and thus reduce the chances of corrosion so I use it on my plugs and coils.

One other thing you may want to check is the mount surface of the coil packs. Take the two bolts out that hold them down and clean the surfaces of the bell housing and the bottom the coils and use a bit of the dielectric grease, just a small thin film, there also.

[jamur87]

Yesterday my dealer told me that my ignition coil was corroded and suggested replacing them. After reading about cleaning the posts I was wondering if there is a point of no return when it comes to cleaning the posts? Is it possible for there to be too much corroision present? My car is a 99sl2 with 118k miles on it and I live in the northeast where we get moderate amount of snow and the roades are salted. I have never done anything with the coils except change the spark plug wires.

[BarnOwl]

I'd say that when the post rots through and falls off, it might have outlived it's useful life, but if you can clean it up, I don't see any reason for it not to work.

[jamur87]

Yeah i doubt they are about to fall off. I'll try cleaning the posts first with a wire brush. This may be a stupud question but do i need to disconnect my battery to clean the posts?

[dansl2]

Safer, but not necessary, unless you have your ignition on. I've always disconnected the battery when I work on any electronic items-just in case.

[Sky King]

Originally Posted by jamur87

Yeah i doubt they are about to fall off. I'll try cleaning the posts first with a wire brush. This may be a stupud question but do i need to disconnect my battery to clean the posts?

First, no you don't have to disconnect the battery. The ignition system is not powered if the key is off. Next I was advised by the service department at a Saturn dealership that the corrosion is a result of a metalurgy issue. You can clean them, which I have done several times, but eventually the corrosion gets inside the coil pack and you can't clean that. Also after several episodes of corrosion, the posts will eventually get too small for the plug wires to get a good grip on.

Ultimately, I would continue to clean the corrosion from both the posts and the base as long as it works. But eventually you will have to replace the coil packs.