How To Test BMW Motorcycle Ignition Coils

[@שלומיקהלני-ש5ב]

Thank you very much, you helped me a lot.. I have a 2014 s1000rr and with the help of this test I found out exactly what was wrong.. Hello from Israel

[@tinderboxarts]

Awesome--I'm glad it was helpful!

[@joepasquarello1273]

Good tip on the removal tool.

[@oldmoto3542]

A dynamic test of the secondary side of the coils is the best way.

[@tinderboxarts]

As I discussed in the video, though, the secondary side of these particular coils cannot be tested with a meter. You are referring to a test to see if the secondary side produces a spark, but that has limited utility. The quality or consistency of that spark if it is there can't be determined by eye. You can only determine if there is a spark at all.

[@oldmoto3542]

@@tinderboxarts You would use a oscilloscope with an inductive pick up to read the secondary side voltage.

[@tinderboxarts]

Ha! Yeah, well, not too many home mechanics or even dealer mechanics have a scope, never mind the specs to compare. Back in the 80s when I was trained, most automotive shops had a Sun or Snap-on automotive scope which could be used to compare scope patterns. I recall in school trying to memorize scope patterns for the tests. The reason those scopes fell out of favor and eventually disappeared is because the huge variety of ignition component brands and types eventually made it impossible to know what was a good pattern and what was bad pattern. The manufacturers certainly weren't publishing the info. Just knowing the peak voltage under a given condition is also no guarantee of good or bad, without additional comparison specs. I haven't seen an operating scope in an automotive or motorcycle shop in decades.

[@oldmoto3542]

I understand what you are trying to say the average person is not going to have an oscilloscope in there toolbox, I agree. I have been a mechanic for 25 years and the most accurate way to know if those coils are good or any pencil type coil is to measure dynamically on the secondary side most coils read anywhere above 8k Volts and knowing how to read the scope is important as well. Coil saturation can be seen when using a scope as well. 👍

[@benpaynter8348]

Hi mate thank you very much for the videos. I’m a newbie at using a multimeter and at the moment I’m having starting issues and spark firing issues on a Harley I have…. I’m trying to work out how to test my ignition coil (4 pin Delphi)….. but I am suspecting that this a wiring issue from my handle bar install……… what could I do to test the wires if I can’t easily get to the other end of the wire?

[@tinderboxarts]

Well, if you want to test a particular wire for continuity to make sure it isn't broken under the insulation, you do need to get to both sides. There are a number of probe types which may help, though. A "piercing probe" is a device which connects to your meter and has a tiny spring-loaded needle on the business end to cleanly pierce wire insulation to get to the copper wire underneath. A shade-tree mechanic version of this is just to take a sewing needle to pierce the insulation and then use an alligator clip on the needle. There are "back probes" for your meter which have various designs to slide into harness connectors without taking the connectors apart. They let you test while the bikes is running, even. There are spark plug testers which you MAY be able to insert between the coil and the spark plug (if the physical circumstances allow) and see if there is a spark or not. All that aside, if you've done some recent work and disturbed other wiring than you intended, you may well be able to see a problem with a close visual inspection and some patience. If you find a pinched or bent wire you can test that section rather than the whole thing. Ultimately, though, you'll probably have to take things apart.

[@PatDuggan-d8z]

Out of curiosity did you try reversing the meter leads when checking the secondaries?

[@tinderboxarts]

When measuring resistance the polarity generally doesn't matter unless you have certain electronic circuitry, such as a diode, which only flow one way. But if such circuitry existed for the secondary side of this coil, the measurement really wouldn't be useful anyway since the reading might be skewed by the circuit.

[@douglasdickson6986]

Plug removal tool are great

[@leuvenlife]

Thanks

[@SamBassComedy]

They make a spark plug tester tool. You don't need to ground your plugs.

[@tinderboxarts]

They do, although I was discussing "shade tree" techniques that you might use without access to a well equipped shop. Functionally there's really no difference between grounding a plug or using an inline spark checker. However, I think you may have trouble using a typical checker with a recessed plug like the RT.

[@sirgalah561]

Which is the primary amd which is the secondary coil? The inner or the outer coil??? I have an 06 F650GS twinspark, I crashed it last year and destroyed the speedo.. I've fitted a Vapourtech speedo, but can't get the tacho working.. I've would the wires from the vapour speedo round the outer coil and not getting any signal for the tacho.. Any ideas what I could do?

[@BMWer]

There is a diode inside.

[@tinderboxarts]

Yes, I think something like that is the case.