I have an '88 TII with Bosch HEC715 igniters. This week, I discovered that the negative battery terminal was laying across the spade connector on the trigger side of the coil. It shorted out and blew the 30amp fuse that feeds the + side of all four coils
my question: would that have damaged the coil that was shorted? If so, how do I test it?

Getting the car started again, it idles very slow - 500 or less - it almost dies when you press the accelerator and the exhaust suddenly smells terribly rich.

Ideas, anyone?

- k -

 

Idle problems are usually not associated with the trailing coil. That doesn't mean it isn't toasted, though.

The quick and dirty test is to get a $3 spark tester from Harbor Freight, and test with it inserted between the coil output and the high tension leads for each of the four wires. If it lights up, you have spark there. If not, that one is likely dead.

Verify that you actually have 12v coming to the coils from the car's harness. It would be a shame to throw away a good coil just because you burnt up something that feeds it.

I think i have seen a thread in the archives on how to build your own coil/igniter tester. It should come up in a search.