1 dott 8

my second coil went over the weekend. is it a bad thing that it really doesn't effect me anymore? why doesn't audi use spark plug wires?

Tgr_Clw

Congrats.

danderson

Years ago, cars had a single coil, connected with a wire to a distributor, connected with more wires to each spark plug. But with the single coil, that coil had to recharge and fire once per plug every two crankshaft revolutions. Plus, if the coil failed, or if the coil-wire failed, you got NO spark at all.

Then they went to individual coils per plug (or sometimes one coil per two plugs). Each coil had more time to charge and gave a much stronger spark. You still had wires going from each coil to each plug. But, wires sometimes fail (and in the least they're a maintenance item). So, going to an individual coil attached to each spark-plug eliminates a point of failure. It's also cheaper, requires less maintenance, etc.

It's a good thing ... except when a manufacturer can't seem to design/build a coil that won't fail...

diagnosticator1

coilpack failures with the Audi and VW parts, is pushing the minimum costs for components, and not allowing enough margin for safety factors that can accommodate the unexpected deviations in the operating conditions often experienced in use.
The various part number versions introduced over a short time period, are attempts to redefine the minimum cost vs adequate quality match point for the coilpack.
FWiW, the 'R' version of the part, AFAIK, has not been reported to have failed, in service. (So far.)

1 dott 8

thanks for the info. it makes sense when you put it that way.

lawong

Give it 2 years.. we'll have failures. The same thing was said about the J. Then the N... Next the R

diagnosticator1

almost as soon as it was readily available. Actually, I never heard of any "N" parts failing.

Tgr_Clw

Just wondering. Although I think I've read some posts regarding some "N" coil failures.

diagnosticator1

there was no post with reports about N fails on AW or AZ, AFAIK. Why the R so soon? I don't know, maybe Audi got a better price on an equivalent spec elsewhere?

Tgr_Clw

I guess that might be it.