Welp, I think I screwed myself

[smokinstang65]

Decided to do plugs and coil packs since I was getting a stumble at 45MPH and she didn't feel like she was pulling like she used to. I got 7 of 8 plugs out easy enough and just couldn't get the 8th one to crack free. Night came around and I gave up on it. Figured I'd throw the new coil pack on it and deal with it another day after formulating a plan.

SO, replaced HT15 sparkplugs WITH another set of HT15 sparkplugs
Replaced a smattering of Ford, OEM and non name coil packs with Granatellie Street Heat coil packs on all 8.

Took her out for a test drive, initial rough idle. I'd heard Granatelli's can cause that, got her on the road, no power, sluggish to shift and seems like it won't shift to passing gear (ie at 1,000RPM I stomp on it and it shifts to a gear but only like 2-2500RPM) then it started backfiring. It was weird, it felt like every x number of rotations everything would fire right and she'd lurch like she had power but then fall right back on her face. Check engine light came on too. Considering I live in the great state of Hawaii where they just passed state law that prevents the loaning of tools from auto shops, I can't borrow a code reader.

Plan is to pull the plugs out, inspect, reinstall, check each of the new coil packs, reinstall and if it still running like crap, see if I got some crappy coil packs by unplugging them one by one.

Anyone got any good ideas on what I might have done? I'm really hoping I was just retarded and didn't get a coil pack on the plug good.

 

[stamp11127]

I would read the codes before doing anything else. Look at it from a logical viewpoint. The pcm is monitoring all the sensors and comparing them to the programmed values it is supposed to see. When a sensor is not within spec, it logs a code.

If anyone plans on doing any type of repair on today's engine they need to have a basic code reader as one of the tools in their tool box.

The coils you purchased don't have a decent history on Summit Racing's website. They are having too many failures for me.

 

[smokinstang65]

That's what I get for reading Jeg's comments on them LOL. I knew I should have passed on them, I'd read some poor reviews but then I'd read some newer reviews stating they were good, they performed well, and I just hoped the company had remedied their poorly ways. Jegs might be getting somecoil packs sent back.

 

[stamp11127]

I used to buy parts for the school system when i worked for them. Never had a bad oem part from Ford. On electrical parts I try to stay OEM if possible - cost being the big factor. I'll pay extra but if I'm getting ***** they had better buy dinner also.

 

[FordandPolaris]

I am running accel super coils without issue so far. I distinctly remember another member having real issues with his granatelli coils too about 6 months ago. One thing you might try is resetting the PCM. Also what did you gap the plugs to?


Sent from the Pocket Computer

 

[smokinstang65]

I am running accel super coils without issue so far. I distinctly remember another member having real issues with his granatelli coils too about 6 months ago. One thing you might try is resetting the PCM. Also what did you gap the plugs to?


Sent from the Pocket Computer

Yup yup, I tried a hard reset of the PCM, unplugged the battery, flipped on the lights and let it go dry. It didn't fix it. I ended up pulling ALL of the Granatelli's out and putting the old ones, mind you some have 137k miles, back in and VOILA, she purrs like a kitten and pulls when you gun it. SO, I decided to have a little experiment. I pulled one out and swapped in a granatelli, went for a test drive, less power, slightly rough idle. Swap that out for a different Granatelli, seems to pull more but still not quite there, then the check engine light comes on and she starts idling rough. I do the same thing for two more different ones from the set and get backfiring and misfiring. I figured at that point 50% fail rate = 100% refund. I contacted Summit Racing (I was wrong above, I ordered them from Summit) and they said send them back for a refund.

TLDR: Granatellis makes the ********* coil packs known to man. Avoid them to avoid smashing your head against a wall trying to find out why your beloved Expy doesn't run right.

 

[smokinstang65]

I used to buy parts for the school system when i worked for them. Never had a bad oem part from Ford. On electrical parts I try to stay OEM if possible - cost being the big factor. I'll pay extra but if I'm getting ***** they had better buy dinner also.

Soon as the refund gets processed from Summit. I'm ordering OEM. Never again will I make that mistake. This is my first foray into ignition systems on a car built past 1970. I learned a very important lesson in the area of coil packs.

 

[Erich Zeppelin]

Same thing happened to me with the Granetelli coils, I will burn my Expedition to slag before ever installing Granetelli's.

 

[smokinstang65]

Same thing happened to me with the Granetelli coils, I will burn my Expedition to slag before ever installing Granetelli's.

How is this company still in business? Their Street Heat model is supposed to produce more voltage than stock coils yet here I have direct evidence that they are NOT doing that. It doesn't matter what voltage a coil is, once the voltage is reached to break down the air insulation between the electrodes, you will get a spark. Its an equation that involves distance and the resistivity of the "insulator", in this case air, so its constant in a spark plug. That means that all you have to do is meet the minimum voltage for spark formation and voila, you have a spark. These Granatellis are supposed to have MORE voltage than stock yet they suck complete ass. Granatelli is the biggest load of crap I've ever experienced in car parts. I'd drive my Expedition off a pier in Pearl Harbor before I ever stick another Granatelli component in ANY of my vehicles.

Once again, let me state, Summit Racing was VERY receptive to my concerns and asked me to send them back for a refund so I can't speak poorly of them beyond their decision to carry a ****** brand to begin with.

 

[bedrck46]

Smokinstang65
Thanks for the post Hopefully it helps others to avoid the problems you encountered with those coils. And shame you had to learn the hard way.

May I suggest that when you do install the new OEM coils that you coat the wire in the boot with dielectric grease

And if you do drive it off the pier in Pearl Harbor use H pier its long and you can get a good run LOL

 

[smokinstang65]

Smokinstang65
Thanks for the post Hopefully it helps others to avoid the problems you encountered with those coils. And shame you had to learn the hard way.

May I suggest that when you do install the new OEM coils that you coat the wire in the boot with dielectric grease

And if you do drive it off the pier in Pearl Harbor use H pier its long and you can get a good run LOL

I spit my bear out at that last remark. It won't be the H pier though. I'm a submariner so it'll be right of an S pier! I really do hope this post guides folks away from Granatelli though. Stick to OEM or a proven manufacturer like ACCEL. I took a gamble and I lost but at least I'm getting my money back on the deal.

 

[stamp11127]

For an interesting read google granatelli. Long story short scumbag and china knockoffs from the reports.

 

[FordandPolaris]

I think if I had the money I would have still done oem coils. The accels were cheaper but the truck just doesn't have the go power it used to. That could be more related to a tired motor too though.

 

[bedrck46]

the one thing about reading reviews on any suppliers web site is they are going to show many more good reviews than they will show of the bad reviews