Overheating coil?

[dallaswreckerdude]

Well had a new problem, went out for a drive and wasn't far from the house got up to a light and it died tried to restart smelled something burning got out opened the hood to find the coil wire on fire where it connects on the coil and it had started the plastic on the looms behind it to flaming I got the fire out but wonder if the coil overheated and started this fire? Any ideas?

[98TC-Cartier]

More likely no one brought the car in for the recall/TSB/whatever to cover the plastic with non flammable tape. Pretty common problem.
A large harness sits really close the the exhaust manifold back there, and if it isn't properly tapes and secured, that's what happens.

[pro-five-oh]

Bad wire or insulation, like mentioned above.

[dallaswreckerdude]

Well I tore it down and it was the coil as far as I can tell there is no other damage other than replacing the coil and coil wire but it was burning into the fuel lines right behind the coil they are hard now and will need to be replaced went to my local Ford dealer this morning only to be told the lines are discontinued in 2002 and cost $215.00 for the pair the parts man also said they were "continental" only, but Taurus and Sable use the same set up does anyone have any ideas where to get another set of lines they run from connectors on the subframe up to the fuel rail connected by quick connectors. One is a pressure line and the other is a return correct?

[98TC-Cartier]

What year is your Conti?

[dallaswreckerdude]

Its a 1991 with a build date of 2/91 I think don't remember right off hand

[98TC-Cartier]

I'vee got a 90/91 Taurus sitting in the back yard, it's being stripped for parts. The fuel lines come up on the right side along the strut tower. The same setup is on our 88 Conti.

Maybe you should snag a set off a Taurus and see if they will fit.

Where is your coil mounted? On the two I have it is on the drivers side at the end of the rear cylinder head.

[dallaswreckerdude]

the coil on the 3.8 is mounted on the passenger side of the engine at the back close to the strut tower and the distributor, the rubber fuel lines are less than 6" away from there. Has anyone known of the coil behaving this way? Not sure if it is the original, when I got this car and I did the tune up on it, it still had the original rotor and distributor cap they were worn out. Right now I have a battery cut off installed to keep the power shut off to the car when its not running. I've talked to a shop not far from me I'm thinking of having the engine replaced as I want to keep driving this car. Besides the engine I'm getting rid of the air ride its too expensive to maintain and I hate the floaty ride it gives, while I have the engine out will have the shop inspect the wiring harness that runs along the firewall and make sure there isn't any problem there. Meanwhile I have another 91 in my garage that is a parts car is an Executive Series white exterior with a dark blue interior, engine fire got this one but still have from the hood back as good parts.