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Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 01:57 PM
  #1  
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

I relocated my ignition coil, so it wouldn't be directly over the valve cover and exhaust manifold. It's against the firewall, it's the MSD blaster coil 8226 and I used the included aluminum brackets to attach it. After doing all that, it's making a whining/spark noise, equal to rpms. It's not loud, but annoying, almost like it comes from the speakers or inside the dash and the coil barely makes noise as I need to put my ear against it to hear it. Did I do something wrong? The car runs fine. I was checking the spark plugs first, and then decided to move the coil so it doesn't get too hot. Runs better because i regapped the plugs and cleaned them.

My stereo is messed up, its buffer amp goes out all the time and I end up listening to every station in the area at once...could it be picking up the coil? I turn the stereo off and it still makes the noise. No wires under the hood are touching, I rerouted all of them, none are exposed, ground is all good.

It's my daily driver and I do close to 120 miles a day. I don't want it to die on me.

Last edited by d00012; Feb 17, 2010 at 02:30 PM.
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 02:43 PM
  #2  
t-top havoc's Avatar
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From: Mid West
Car: '87 Camaro
Engine: '92 Carb'd 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: factory stock
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

Do you use a " noise suppressor " that somehow gets wired to either the coil, alternator, or radio?
Sorry IDK about it. Another member had the whining noise that went along with RPMs, but IDK the thread or suggestions...
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 02:47 PM
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

I just read that wondering if that was it...I have no idea if there is a suppressor, I doubt there is. But why do it after I relocated the coil? It's not arcing anywhere. Or could the proximity of it to the speaker be causing it? It could possibly have been doing it before, I just never noticed it until now, my friend has said she's heard a noise before, but I couldn't hear anything at the time.
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:28 PM
  #4  
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS/1989 Vert RS
Engine: 355/350
Transmission: T-5/T-5
Axle/Gears: BW9bolt3.45posi/3.23 Posi
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

coils generate a LOT of volts often creating EMI (Electronic Magnetetic Interference). I bet that it's messing with your radio.

Happens to my friends tweeters in his crap Tiburon. :P

90% this is your problem. Try moving the ignition coil.
Also listen for it in your speakers and/or turn the radio off.
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:35 PM
  #5  
d00012's Avatar
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

48,000 volts...being a transformer/inductor and having that much interference, low impedence speakers it all makes sense...so do I get that suppressor or do I need something else? Radio shack, right?
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:36 PM
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From: Winchester, VA
Car: 1991 Camaro RS/1989 Vert RS
Engine: 355/350
Transmission: T-5/T-5
Axle/Gears: BW9bolt3.45posi/3.23 Posi
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

Honestly I would try moving it, it's cheaper and easy to do. I don't know all that much about suppressors... BUT I have 2 coils in my parts bin that has rubber things on them. Maybe that's what you need?
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:39 PM
  #7  
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

Rubber things?...I might just move it. But the heat from the exhaust manifold and valve cover is scary...

Does it with the radio OFF.
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:45 PM
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From: Winchester, VA
Car: 1991 Camaro RS/1989 Vert RS
Engine: 355/350
Transmission: T-5/T-5
Axle/Gears: BW9bolt3.45posi/3.23 Posi
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

Originally Posted by d00012
Rubber things?...I might just move it. But the heat from the exhaust manifold and valve cover is scary...

Does it with the radio OFF.
I would try relocating it. Do you hear it through your speakers or the engine bay?
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:48 PM
  #9  
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

The speakers, only the passenger side front speaker...near where the coil now is. The only way I can hear it on the outside is if I put my ear against the coil.
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:55 PM
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From: Mid West
Car: '87 Camaro
Engine: '92 Carb'd 350
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: factory stock
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

You got Bass B*lls!! Not good to be puttin body parts on an external coil!!
That s**t will throw ya across the room!!

Good luck-- sux not being able to enjoy the ride!
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:58 PM
  #11  
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

Haha! Yeah, going through schooling for aviation electronics, knowing how powerful 48k volts and 220 mA is, it was a bit scary to put my ear against it, but knowing I was grounded, the coil is grounded, no shorts, i took the plunge, stupid, but eh.

The car runs perfectly, just the annoying noise from the speaker. I'll move it back tomorrow. I have plenty of spare fuses, just incase some blow.
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 11:13 PM
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From: Chilliwack BC
Car: White 1987 IROC-Z
Engine: 305 TPI LB9, 215 HP
Transmission: Borg-Warner T5 NWC
Axle/Gears: Borg-Warner 7.75 with 3.27 ratio
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

Originally Posted by d00012
Haha! Yeah, going through schooling for aviation electronics, knowing how powerful 48k volts and 220 mA is, it was a bit scary to put my ear against it, but knowing I was grounded, the coil is grounded, no shorts, i took the plunge, stupid, but eh.

The car runs perfectly, just the annoying noise from the speaker. I'll move it back tomorrow. I have plenty of spare fuses, just incase some blow.
Hello d00012!!

The speaker will "pick up" the stray voltage from the ignition coil, and you will hear it come from the speaker, as if it's turned on!! Like you said you're going to do, just move the ignition coil, the sound should go away!! Moving the ignition coil 2 inches further away from the speaker, could do the trick!!



If you had "shielded speakers", you might not have to move the igintion coil, if it was a concern!!
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 01:37 PM
  #13  
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Relocated ignition coil, now a weird spark noise

The only concern is damage from the interference, but the antenna and stereo are already messed up (buffer amp shorts out occasionally; all stations at once). Given it's only attached with aluminum brackets, it's not that much of a concern, just an annoyance factor. Going to move it back, but try and raise it up a little at the original location.
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 02:19 PM
  #14  
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Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
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Foil The Coil

Originally Posted by d00012
Going to move it back, but try and raise it up a little at the original location.
If you still pick up the sound of the coil in the speaker after the move you can install an RF trap on the speaker.


Happy Racing!


If People Drove Any Slower They’d Be Going Backwards

When you see fog or “running” lights on in good weather beware. Low performance driver ahead.

How bout those nitwits too scared to drive without headlights in the daytime and the nitwits that need headlights for a little rain

.
.

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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 03:29 PM
  #15  
d00012's Avatar
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Foil The Coil

I actually found a spot that's plastic and attached it to there, EXACTLY 2 inches away from the previous spot (thanks Dan61!). Sound is gone. It was resonating through the brackets, onto the firewall and picked up by the speakers and disrupting the antenna. I should have known better. Lesson learned.

For those of you planning to do this in the future...and have speakers with no RF shielding, do NOT attach the coil with metal brackets to the firewall. Or just get that trap for the speakers, as stated above. Be wary regardless, it's a large amount of current coming out of that coil, could end up damaging other important components (or your body) inside the car. Take it from someone that has worked with current that can kill faster than the brain can process it (unfortunately, I spaced on this one )

Last edited by d00012; Feb 18, 2010 at 03:38 PM.
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Old Feb 19, 2010 | 12:41 AM
  #16  
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From: Chilliwack BC
Car: White 1987 IROC-Z
Engine: 305 TPI LB9, 215 HP
Transmission: Borg-Warner T5 NWC
Axle/Gears: Borg-Warner 7.75 with 3.27 ratio
Re: Foil The Coil

Originally Posted by d00012
I actually found a spot that's plastic and attached it to there, EXACTLY 2 inches away from the previous spot (thanks Dan61!). Sound is gone. It was resonating through the brackets, onto the firewall and picked up by the speakers and disrupting the antenna. I should have known better. Lesson learned.

For those of you planning to do this in the future...and have speakers with no RF shielding, do NOT attach the coil with metal brackets to the firewall. Or just get that trap for the speakers, as stated above. Be wary regardless, it's a large amount of current coming out of that coil, could end up damaging other important components (or your body) inside the car. Take it from someone that has worked with current that can kill faster than the brain can process it (unfortunately, I spaced on this one )
Hello d00012!!

Thanks for letting me know that it worked!! It feels good to actually have done some good for someone!!

JTNKTZ first suggested moving the coil, in post #4, thirdgen owners think alike!!


Last edited by 87IROC-DAN61; Feb 19, 2010 at 12:45 AM.
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Old Feb 19, 2010 | 01:16 AM
  #17  
d00012's Avatar
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From: Everett, Washington
Car: 2006 GTO
Engine: LS2
Transmission: M6
Axle/Gears: 3.46 LSD
Re: Foil The Coil

He did mention moving it, but I didn't think 2 inches would make that much of a difference, mostly it's because it's mounted to plastic and not "grounded" to the firewall. Won't be there for long, I'm getting ready for a 3.4 swap. Was just moving it to keep the coil alive longer. Heat is the number 1 killer for electronics. And being inches away from the manifolds...baaaad.
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