Turbo BP4W randomly stops firing cyl 1 & 4
 

So I recently bought a turbo NB that came with an FM kit ad Voodoo box. Honestly, the car ran like absolute crap when I first got it, didn't have good spark plugs, and questionable previous ownership but it was all pretty much "there"

I bought a MS2pnp and set the initial settings including the base timing and getting the idle right, AFRs are pretty good and are around 11 under boost and I still need a tune and larger injectors. While I'm waiting on a laptop battery (of course it goes bad now!) the car randomly decided to sound like a subaru and refused to idle. I initially assumed a vacuum leak but didn't find anything, I changed my plugs and wires (NGK blues, BKR7E plugs) and the problem was lessened, cyl 1 and 4 were soaking wet. but the problem still persists. It seems that when i remove spark plug wire 2, run the car, 1 ad 4 begin firing again and I can plug in 2 and the car is back to normal and drives normally. As far as I understand it, the coilpacks on these cars are awful and I'm wondering if I should switch to a COP kit. Any suggestions?

Attached is a datalog after it

Swap the two coil packs and see if the spark issue moves with it. If so, you just need a new one. In the old days you had to buy the whole damn setup. I think you can just buy one now.

If the coil pack is indeed bad and you're on a budget, the easiest solution is to just get a new one or one off of a running parts car. Key is to get proof that it works: a video of it running, reputable dealer, seeing it in person, etc. COP is not a bad upgrade if you can spare it, but it's not necessary.

If you want to go COPs, it's pretty cheap to DIY it. I just replaced mine a couple months ago, and I think it only cost me $50-$60 for some junkyard toyota COPs and some new connectors. I guess you still run the risk of them not being good, but I just grabbed a few extras just in case.

Just figured I'd update this thread, OEM coilpack was bad so I replaced it with a new unit. Haven't had an issue since.