saw something weird today
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 491
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From: kirksville mo
saw something weird today
This guy came out to the salvage yard I work at wanting BOTH coil packs for a 91 ranger 2.3L I told him that 2.3's only had 1 coilpack since they were 4cly. He told me his had 2 because he had 8 spark plugs I thought he was crazy, but he opened his hood and sure enough 8 plugs 2 for each plug one on each side of the head. he told me that this was an expirimental engine made for gas milage. any one else seen or herd of one of theese?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,748
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From: Connecticut
The 2.3L Multi-port Fuel Injection (MFI) Truck (Dual Plug) Ignition System (EI) consists of a crankshaft-mounted Dual hall Sensor, two 4-tower DIS coil packs, and a Ignition Control Module (ICM). The EI (Electronic Ignition) eliminates the need for a distributor by using multiple ignition coils. Each coil fires 2 spark plugs at the same time. The plugs are paired so that as one fires during the compression cycle, the other fires during the exhaust stroke. The next time the coil is fired, the plug that was on exhaust will be on compression and the one that was on compression will be on exhaust (the spark in the exhaust cylinder is wasted but little of the coil energy is lost).
Two coils are mounted together in a "coil pack". Each coil pack has two tach wires, one for each coil. Since there are two plugs per cylinder, two coil packs are required. One is called the Right Coil Pack and the other, the Left Coil Pack. The Right Coil Pack and right side spark plugs operate continuously, but the Left Coil Pack and left side spark plugs may be switched on or off by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The PCM computes the spark angle and dwell for the ignition system. The Right Coil Pack fires the right side spark plugs The Left Coil Pack fires the left side spark plugs.
Two coils are mounted together in a "coil pack". Each coil pack has two tach wires, one for each coil. Since there are two plugs per cylinder, two coil packs are required. One is called the Right Coil Pack and the other, the Left Coil Pack. The Right Coil Pack and right side spark plugs operate continuously, but the Left Coil Pack and left side spark plugs may be switched on or off by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The PCM computes the spark angle and dwell for the ignition system. The Right Coil Pack fires the right side spark plugs The Left Coil Pack fires the left side spark plugs.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,307
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From: MARYLAND
I had a 91 Ranger 4cyl that had 8 spark plugs...imagine my surprise when i changed the spark plugs for the first time. Got 4 plugs from the parts store..came home and changed them..don't know what made me look at the other side...but there was 4 more ..had to make another trip to the parts store.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,107
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From: California Desert
My 98 2.5L has the same setup. I too was disappointed to find the dual plug design, but I can't really complain about anything except the little extra time for labor. Apparently the experiment worked because they are still using this setup. I don't know if any other company has adopted this design.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 759
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From: Omaha
They first used that design on the late 80s mustang 4 cyls. I never heard of it at first till a friend of mine had a mustang with a 4cyl. I think it wierd but as far as i hear i puts out more power than a 4 cyl with just 4 plugs.
