Most Mazda coils are located on the fender well (rear wheel drive cars) or
the front engine compartment panel (front wheel drive cars) to keep them away
from engine heat. On some 1986–89 models, the ignition coil is bolted
to the air cleaner assembly.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable and make sure the ignition switch
is OFF.
- Remove the protective boot from the top of the coil, if necessary, by sliding
it back on the coil-to-distributor wire.
- Carefully pull the high tension wire out of the coil, twisting it gently
as near as possible to the tower to get it started.
- Note the routing and colors of the primary wires, then remove the nuts and
lockwashers, retaining all parts for installation. Clean the primary terminals
with fine grit sandpaper, if necessary, to ensure a clean connection. Then,
loosen the through-bolt or bolts which clamp the coil in place and slide the
coil out of its mount.
To install:
- Install the new coil in exact reverse order, making sure the primary (+
and -) connections are clean and tight. Ensure also that the coil-to-distributor
wire is fully seated in the tower and that the protective boot is fully installed
on the outside of the tower.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable.
- Disconnect the negative (-) coil terminal couplers.
- Loosen the nuts on the positive (+) terminals and remove the wires.
- Label, then remove, the wires from the leading and trailing coils.
- Remove the three bracket bolts and coil assembly.
To install:
- Position the new coil assembly onto its mounting and attach it with the
three bracket bolts.
- Connect the wires to the leading and trailing coils.
- Place the wires on the positive (+) coil terminals and install the terminal
post nuts.
- Connect the negative (-) terminal couplers.
- Connect the negative battery cable.
NOTE: The 1986–89 RX-7 leading and trailing ignition
coils each have a built-in igniter.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable.
- Label the wires for identification.
- Loosen the nuts and disconnect the primary wires from the coil/igniter.
- Disconnect the 2-prong connector.
- Remove the bracket bolts and coil/igniter assembly.
- Installation is the reverse of removal.
- Disconnect the negative battery cable.
- Label the wires for identification.
- Loosen the nuts and disconnect the (B) and (L) primary wires from the coil/igniter.
- Disconnect the 2 and 4-prong connectors.
- Remove the bracket bolts and coil assembly.
- Installation is the reverse of removal.
