how long will a coil last

[kurt v]

When a coil is NOS or a good used one and it is put on a shelve for many years can they go bad like some of the condensers ?

thanks kurt

 

[Kube]

Many NOS coils I have had did not last very long at all. In fact, many were defective out of the box.
Many years ago, I stopped attempting to use one before having George Haney modify them.

 

[corvette8n]

I bought a used coil at a swap meet for $20. and sent it to Skip for a rebuild

 

[hueyhoolihan]

IMO, because they are designed to withstand the heat of an engine bay, are made of durable materials, but primarily because they have no moving parts, they are liable to last for the life of a car. on a personal level, although i've replaced a few, i have never had any proof of one failing.

 

[tubman]

Years ago, there was an article in the V8-Times about NOS and used Ford coils. IIRC, the result was, if they weren't already bad, they soon would be if put into service.

 

[ford38v8]

"But it was in the original box in the loft at the rear of the dealership that went out of business"... Ya, sure, by golly! It must be NOS!
Defective parts were swapped out at dealerships often enough that all "NOS" parts today are suspect. Even on the assembly lines, if a part would require additional work to make it fit, there is no time available for those tasks, they get put aside, and like as not would eventually be shipped out to dealerships parts departments. "NOS", as a result, is often a word for which the best definition is "defective".

And to Huey, back in the day, Ford enthusiasts would carry a cardboard box in the trunk with several old coils, to be used when your Ford stalled at a stop sign with no spark. The engine would start right up with the cold coil, only to die again in the summer heat, again to be swapped out by another cold coil. An alternate quick fix would be to squash a half melon onto the coil to cool it down, or simply to wait a half hour with the hood up.