Question on Ignition Coil Test

[mike48]

Hi Guys,I just wanted to kno wif anyone can give me input on this.When I drive long and fast 60 to 80 on the expressway or if I have to go up steep hills my engine loses power and and I have been getting bad gas milage also.I did the coil test with the thing yo uput on the end of the coil to replace the spark plug and I got an orange spark.The Haynes manual said that it needs to be a bright strong blue white spark,and that anything less is considered to be replaced as it is faulty.According to this my coils are bad and need replacing what is your thought on this?I think I should replace them but at the cost I woul dlike to get a few opinions from you guys.It also is not burning all the gas due to smell and soot on tail pipeThanks in advance,Mike

[Herb]

I don't have a definite answer about testing coils, however I have found a reasonable deal on replacements athttp://www.onlinewholesaleparts.com/index.html

[shaeet]

check the coil boots for a crack. If there is any arcing between the cylinder head & boot that can cause a poor spark or that cylinder not to fire at all. If oil has gotten in there from a leaky gasket in the past, it could deteriorate the boot to the point where this could happen. Its worth checking at least..look for a small pinhole burn mark on the boots of your coils.