Chevrolet Repair: Coils dying on 2002 Trail Blazer., chevrolet service, trail blazer

Question
QUESTION: 2002 Trail Blazer with a 4200 Vortex engine. I have had to replace 3 coils in the last 2 weeks. The service department at the Chevrolet service department said that it was unusual for this to happen, but they did not know what else to check. Have you seen this before? Is there something else that I might need to check?

ANSWER: Heya,

 3 of the same coil in two weeks? Wow, that's a strange one. There isn't much I can tell you other than ask what happens to the coil. Does the primary coil go open? Does it arc out the side?  Ar you sure it isn't an intermittent ignition coil driver problem that happens to cool down and start when you replace the coil. When it quits. How are you checking the coil?

Wayne

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Its accually 3 differant coils. On the vortex engine each spark plug has its on coil. I have changed 3 of the six in this two week period. The coils have not gone out while driving, they usualy show up the next day when I go out and start it. I also thought that they may be getting hot and breaking down. The car has 72000 miles on it. Could the coils just be getting old

Answer
Hey,

  Coil on plug systems typically only drop a coil now and again but I have seen 2 go at once, 4 over a couple of months and only 1 in its entire life.  An engines ambient component temperature would have to get sooooo hot you would see the temp on the gauge.  I would chock it up to wear and tear because the coils are driven by low amperage by the computer.  There is no way the computer is damaging them.  Nissans for instance recommend replacement of all coils when one fails.  For the cost I would just replace them as they go.

Wayne