Same here, I've got at least one flakey coil now after running them in batch for quite a while off the stock ECU. I really wish we could get a dwell reducer that actually works. I think I have about 10 coils in the garage now, its going to suck when I finally get around to figuring out how to test them.

Also, the car idled way smoother on the cops than it did on the factory coilpack, even on the stock ECU.

 

How are you guys holding your coils down besides that piece of aluminum with holes in it. ???
I have an extra valve cover, thinking of partially drilling thru the material and JB welding bolts heads so the bolt shaft sticks up to hold the coils.

 

I just used a piece of copper ground wire with some fuel line slipped over it that had rings to the 3 valve cover bolts. Was effective, took luck to get the proper torque on the bolts to make the valve cover not leak.

 

This is what I had but never liked it. U have to scroll down a bit
DIY Stud of the Month -- DIY Tips and Tricks

 

Ok guys... I just completed a hack that gave me plug and play for my 95M. It isn't quite the elegant solution I originally envisioned, but it let me avoid tearing into the OEM coil harness.

Somewhere in this long 85 page thread, a lone voice asked one simple question that seemed to get overlooked in the heat of the ongoing discussion. I'd honor the name of the poster, if I could only find the post again, He certainly deserves full credit for the idea. The question (paraphrased) that he asked was, "Has anyone tried using a TPS to make COPS plug and Play?"

This idea stuck in my head because I too had noticed the shape of the connection was very similar to the coil connection. So when I picked up a used set of Toyota Matrix coils, along with a full ignition harness, I also grabbed a couple of Toyota TPS modules. These are the same as the ones used on 94 and 95 NA's, but Toyota used millions of them so they were cheaper.

Once the TPS is gutted, you have 4 perfect pins for soldering. The plug will not fit the Miata coil harness plug without a bit of modification, but the 4 external pins are a perfect match. It require removal of the plastic shielding surrounding the pins in order to accomplish a good connection. I'll have to use electrical tape to secure the mating, but it works quite well from all indications.

The car fired up first try and idled smoothly. It was too late for a test drive, but that will happen once I tidy things up and tie the coils down. Plug and Play is possible, even if the fix is less attractive than the hoped for direct connector match.

Steve

 

Steve, no pics?

I the connector off a dead NB coil pack. Its not super pretty, but should give a good connection. I've not assembled it yet so no pics heh.

 

I just bought the connector from eastern beaver. I of course removed the whole stock coil harness. So to add/remove my cop setup you had to undo the connector AND unbolt a ground terminal.

 

I was under the impression the coil side 4 pin connector was not actually available anywhere, or did you buy the TPS one? Got a link? It will probably be prettier than my sodoff coilpack connector mess

 

The coil side connector is easy IIRC. But I used the 6 pin connector that connects the entire coil harness to the car (because the coil harness is a sub harness). That 4 pin coil connector is a standard connector with a mate, but I cant confirm that because I cant open the google doc with all the connectors at work. To test, if the coil pack connector plugs into the CAS then there is no mating connector available.

 

for those who said my coils stick out like nobodies buisness

update with coil hold down bar

 

That's the way I mounted my coils with the bar across the top.
I should have gotten a patent

 

dude its so simple and perfect!

 

Yeah but stupid me did not use a thick tubing like you did

 

hehe yea I wanted to make sure I wouldnt have any bending issues

 

How do you like the COPs so far ?

I'm back to stock since my MS1 decided to fry 3 of my coils

 

they are fine, seems more responsive (could be me wanted them to be lol)

I got the coils for free from a vq35, easy wiring just like toyota cops, plus it
makes me look modern

 

 

I'm curious, why not use springs to hold down the coils?

 

I don't understand ...

where would the springs go ?

U mean the bar going across with springs between the bar and the coil ?

 

err my bad i should have been more clear. Little angle bracket on the valve cover bolts with springs that go up to the pipe instead of a hard mount.

Angle bracket like this but with the right diameter holes of course.