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http://www.pocketrocket.ca/vr6_coilpack.html 5/17/2007
THE POCKET ROCKET - For Volkswagen Enthusiasts Page 2 of 4
metal base with a plastic top the spark plug wire. Try to
(insulates the metallic parts so the remember or draw the location of
current is not immediately the sparks.
grounded).
(C) If you cannot pull over, or if
The coil pack is located on the right you want to check later after the
side of the engine (look from the weather gets a bit nicer you can
front) under the plastic manifold easily simulate rain. Get a plant
covers. Just follow the pretty spark spray bottle/mister and fill with
plug wires to the end and they attach clean water. Start up the engine
to the coil pack. and give the coil pack area a good
misting with the bottle. It may take
It seems that the VR6 coil packs (at a few sprays to get the pack nice
least pre 98's) just suck. I am not and wet. This should start the light
sure if the plastic is not formulated show again. Try to remember
properly, if the molding is not where the crack(s) is or make a
performed properly or if the design sketch.
does not distribute stress/heat well
but by listening to the problems You now know you have the
people on this list have had, the coil dreaded cracked coil pack. But have
pack is NOT a quality part. Either no fear, there are options...
that or it is designed obsolescence,
keeping the dealer stocked with
easy, $500 repairs every 30,000
miles.
(1) Take car to dealer, tell them the Drive a different car to Home
coil pack is bad. They will respond Depot, Lowe's, etc. and get a
"that's nice but we will have to package of high strength, high
confirm" ($56.49). They will then call temperature epoxy. I *think* the
back several hours later saying "you brand I used was "Poxy-Weld"? It is
have a bad coil pack" (duh) and that the classic twin tube syringe, silver
for just $350 in parts and $100 in in color with a cardboard packaging
labour we can put on a new one. So display that unfolded to give
pony up $500. product information. It is made to
repair metal, plastic, etc. with
(2) Lucky for you, there are higher operating temperatures. It
engineers out here who just can't has Kevlar flakes to add strength. I
stand it when a biased party tells me think the one I used was rated to
that an inferior part needs to be 250 or 350 degrees. It was like
replaced with the same inferior part. $3.49 for the tube.
So like all good men, especially
engineers, I start to tinker. Leading In order to make the repair you will
to a "fix" that has worked for 11,000 need:
miles so far - The $3.49 Epoxy
Solution. *torx wrenches or driver
*allen (hex) wrenches or driver
*damp rag
*hair dryer
*epoxy
*12 hours (1 hour working, 11
hours waiting)
STEP 1. STEP 2.
Coil pack removal. This is very easy. Unplug the wire harness attached
First remove the plastic manifold to the top of the coil pack and move
covers. This requires torx head it out of the way. If I remember
wrenches/driver. IMPORTANT. right it has pinch clips on the side
Before trying to loosen the screws, to unlock the harness. Unplug the
bang the top of the wrench/driver spark plug wires. Make a diagram
with a hammer while the of which plug number goes where.
wrench/driver is on the screw.
http://www.pocketrocket.ca/vr6_coilpack.html 5/17/2007
THE POCKET ROCKET - For Volkswagen Enthusiasts Page 3 of 4
STEP 3. STEP 4.
The coil pack is held to the engine Take coil pack inside. Ignore the
block by four, long allen (hex) "you are not a mechanic" insults
screws. I found a hex driver with an coming from the living room (be
articulated joint made the removal the ball Danny). Take off plastic
easier. A socket wrench should also cover on the top of the pack (just
work. Unscrew and remove the pack. pop over the small clips). Wash off
It is a bit heavier than you might the coil pack with a damp cloth. If it
think so be careful when removing is really dirty, a bit of Dawn can
the last two screws. work wonders. Just make sure to
wipe off the soap well. You will now
want to dry the pack WELL with the
hair dryer. I was probably a bit anal
about it but I sat in front of the TV
for like 20 minutes just drying the
pack. Since there is no real way to
tell if all the water is out of the
cracks, I was conservative.
STEP 5. STEP 6.
You are now ready for the epoxy. Mix Set coil pack in a warm place to dry
a healthy amount is a small overnight. I did this in December so
disposable container. I used a by a radiator worked well. Just
popsicle stick to mix and spread. don't put outside since it makes the
Start applying a liberal coat of epoxy. curing take a lot longer.
The first time I did it, I only covered Reinstall the next morning. I
the places I had seen sparks. Of actually did this before work one
course about two weeks after the day and it took all of about 10
first fix, a new crack or one I had not minutes. Put plastic cover back on
seen developed so I did it again. This pack. Install pack with four hex
time I covered the entire plastic bolts and reattach the wire harness.
portion of the coil pack. Concentrate Plug in spark plug wires in SAME
on the area between each terminal LOCATIONS. Install plastic
and the edge of the pack. No manifold covers (I put some grease
problem since. So either coat the on the aluminium screws before
cracked areas or just do the whole installing to prevent locking).
thing. I would recommend the whole
thing. The epoxy tends to get a bit
sticky so it may work best doing two
batching.
STEP 7.
http://www.pocketrocket.ca/vr6_coilpack.html 5/17/2007
THE POCKET ROCKET - For Volkswagen Enthusiasts Page 4 of 4
http://www.pocketrocket.ca/vr6_coilpack.html 5/17/2007