I need help! 1999 cobra

smburney · 10-22-2008

I recently bought a 1999 cobra with 17,000 original miles on it, now. One morning, after a previous night of normal driving, I started it and it sounded like the exhaust had a leak in it. I could hear exhaust gas coming out in rythm with the engine. I checked it out and the bolt-on exhaust had come loose from the manifold on the driver's side. Shortly after, I got trouble codes that the fifth cylinder was misfiring and the exhaust was running lean. The second was completely understandable and the first, I reasoned, might have been a problem with the EGR or something related. So, I got the exhaust all sealed b/w the manifold and pipe, but it feels like the engine is missing a cylinder. I had cleared the DTC before I sealed the exhaust back up and it is not coming on, now. Also, the exhaust sounds pretty disappointing compared to before. Please help. I am worried about my car and unsure what could cause this. I never race it or dog it or push it hard, and the previous owner hardly ever drove it.
Oh, and I checked the plugs on one side of the engine (drivers) because I figured I might as well check them all while I look at the fifth one. Also, I have GMS Coil Packs installed. Could one of them have gone bad?

dakine858 · 10-23-2008

Yeah you could have a bad coil and you can test this scenario. Swap the coil with one from a different cylinder and see if you throw a code on the cylinder you moved the coil to.

smburney · 10-23-2008

yeah, sorry. I guess I was too hasty in posting this thread. I was too stubborn to replace the coils that I spent so much money on before, but I finallly gave in and replaced just the one that was messed up. It immediately fixed the problem so I replaced the rest with the stock ones. I sure hope I can get a refund or something for those.

dakine858 · 10-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by smburney

yeah, sorry. I guess I was too hasty in posting this thread. I was too stubborn to replace the coils that I spent so much money on before, but I finallly gave in and replaced just the one that was messed up. It immediately fixed the problem so I replaced the rest with the stock ones. I sure hope I can get a refund or something for those.

You shouldn't have any trouble returning the coils but why don't you just call the manufacturer and send in the bad coils for a new set?

2oo5GT · 10-25-2008

Those GMS coils connectors or the whole pack themself is crap. I had a set on my 05 GT and a month later 2 crapped out. I'm definitely never buying GMS coils for anything else. I would def give them a call to see about returning all of them. Go with the stockers or something other than GMS. Glad your car is working smooth again.

smburney · 10-31-2008

So I contacted them and they said that they could not give me my money back, which is what I really wanted, but they are going to give me an upgraded set that are hopefully more reliable than the ones I got before. I still am nervous about putting them in but figure it is a waste not to. Maybe I could sell them or something?

dakine858 · 10-31-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by smburney

So I contacted them and they said that they could not give me my money back, which is what I really wanted, but they are going to give me an upgraded set that are hopefully more reliable than the ones I got before. I still am nervous about putting them in but figure it is a waste not to. Maybe I could sell them or something?

Yeah if you're not thrilled about using the new coils, just sell them and get a set of Accel Super Coils

yomadmike · 11-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakine858

Yeah if you're not thrilled about using the new coils, just sell them and get a set of Accel Super Coils

I've always been told to go OEM. Are Accel better than OEM? I'm at 85k miles and waiting for one to go. Also what is the typical lifespan of a coil?