My XJ6 threw a fault code indicating a misfire in cylinder 6. and from PO notes and inspection, I believe the COP's were replaced with O'Reilley Auto parts about 5 years and 12K ago.
Now my dilemma: I have read profusely on the forums about OEM vs. Replacement coils and don't want to cover old, plowed ground. But, there is a price/value equation on a $3K car that does not allow for $400 preplacement parts when aftermarket is available for as little as $12.
I have noticed the Prenco 36-8082 as replacement for LHE 1510AB, is sold by a Jag supplier and is available for as low as $32. At this price, I can have one to replace and a couple in the trunk!
Now to my question: Anyone have any experience with this specific brand or item they can give? Or, a better low-priced replacement?

 

Hi crvols,

I have no experience with Prenco parts of any kind, but the general consensus is that the best on-plug coils available for the money are the "OEM Made in Japan" coils from SNG Barratt for $98.67 each with a three-year warranty. They also have an even less expensive option at $40.00. You might contact them for more information. The original coils were made for Lucas by the Diamond Electric Manufacturing Corp. in Japan, but their availability has been sporadic over the years. So far the members who have purchased the new Made in Japan coils seem pleased. Here's the link:

OEM Made in Japan On Plug Coil SNG Barratt

Typical disclaimers, no affiliation, etc.

Cheers,

Don

 

Oddly Don, they also have one for $257 that looks identical to the Prenco. They make no more mention of the brand or country of origin but you must suppose it is China.
Also, other than heat, I can find no explanation of why aftermarket coils that are sold by the thousands for other cars and seem to work satisfactorily, fail so often in the X300?

 

I've had experience with Eurospare-branded coils that also look like the alleged OEM part (LHE1510AB) at SNG Barratt; after a year in the car (coincidentaly right outside the warranty period), the engine would start to randomly stall, and I replaced them with the made in Japan ones and have not had trouble since. Heat is as good a reason as any to cause problems with electrical components; these cars are also very picky about which spark plugs go into them (always copper, always OEM-spec Champion), so whatever the cause, sticking with proven parts is a good way to go.

 

Well, since they are so easy to replace ....even by the roadside....I guess there's an argument for buying several $12-$40 cheapies and taking your chances. However....

While $250-$400 each is too much for most anyone to bear, $90 eachfor the true Diamond OEM coil seems to be a sensible alternative between the extremes

You've probably already read this but, if not, you might quickly peruse for any mention of Prenco. I think they're one of the troublesome brands....but my memory of the subject is getting foggy. Now that I'm back into the V12 scene my X300 experiences are fading from memory a bit

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...0-coils-93966/

Cheers
DD

 

crvols,

You can find all the posts in which Prenco has been mentioned by using the Advanced Search function under the Search tab above. Enter Prenco in the search term field, and near the bottom of the search window select Search Posts instead of Threads. Click search for the results.

One approach you might consider is to purchase one Made in Japan coil to replace the faulty one in your cylinder 6, and purchase one of the cheap coils to keep in the trunk as an emergency spare.

Cheers,

Don

 

I installed Prenco coils in my XK8 in March of 2014 - still going strong no issues and have done over 45000 miles since install

 

Not quite sure of the brand coils I installed in my X300 6 months ago,but they were Ebay cheapies that i paid around $50 for a 6pk. They've been running great so far. I'm wondering if climate may have something to due with coil failure. I need to pick up another 6 soon for my XJS 4.0 so I may just get twelve and have three extras per car at that price.

 

I have done the suggested search before I posted and found only a couple of relevant references to Premco. I also suspect that people that have bad experiences post them and those that have good experiences don't? There must be thousands of these things running around in Jags like "Sklimii's" and "95 Leaper" that no one writes about or cares what kind of coil is in their car.

 

When I click on the Search tab above, then click on Advanced Search, the Advanced Search page opens. In the Keywords field I enter Prenco.

At the lower left of the search window where it says "Show Results as" I select Posts.

When I then click Search Now I get 27 posts containing the word Prenco, including 9 from this thread (yours). Some of the other posts include both positive and negative reviews of the Prenco coils. In one of the early posts walt_00XKRConv mentions that Prenco is a shortening of Progress & Engineering Inc., that the coils are manufactured in China, and that the one he purchased worked well in his car.

In another thread, Spikepaga reports that the Prenco coils fail quickly, and Doug agrees. Doug also suspects the Beck Arnley coils are made by Prenco because they are marked PEC or similar.

In another thread, dpena reports that replacing all of his coils with Prenco 36-8082 coils resolved a rough idle and occasional CEL. Doug asked how long ago the coils had been installed and dpena said 2 years ago. He then acknowledged that the idle had again become slightly rough and that one of the Prenco coils had begun giving a "lightning show" when viewed in the dark.

Then there is the thread that begins March 26, 2014, in which sklimii reported Restricted Performance and codes for misfires in 5 of 6 cylinders about one week after installing Prenco coils and Bosch Iridium plugs. There's no resolution posted in the thread, but Steve, I assume from your post in this thread that you tracked that problem to something other than the coils?

In another thread, jaxley11 struggled with poor running and had replaced the ECM and also one coil with a Prenco, but ultimately resolved the problem with a new ICM.

That's it for the "Prenco" search. Given Doug's suspicion that Prenco may make the Beck Arnley coils, I searched Beck Arnley in the X300 forum and Posts and came up with 41 posts in the X300 forum related to Beck Arnley coils. I only read one post in which Doug complains that all six of the Beck Arnley coils he purchased have failed within 18 months, and in another post he again states that the BA coils are marked PEC.

On a hunch, I just googled Progress Engineering Corporation and the first hit is PRENCO, which stands for Progress and Engineering Corporation Ltd., based in Canada. Their website has an interesting company history.

Cheers,

Don

 

Don - yeah my issue cleared when I finally replaced the fuel filter - prenco coils have been in use since

 

Thanks Don, I evidently did not do something right when I searched. It seems to be a mixed bag on the Penco's. There is also a brand "QYL" being sold extensively that gets good reviews on Amazon. I am going to check them further but, it seems the conclusion is that anything made in China is a coin flip on how long they will last. The new Japanese manufactured ones start at around $100 and the third option is used OEM at $20 to $30. $300+ for Jaguar OEM is not an option. It is usually easy for me to sort out the right path in a situation but this one is confusing. Going to pull the #6 coil and plug today and do a visual inspection and go from there.
Thanks for all the help, the forum is invaluable.

 

That's the one you should go for, IMO, from SNG Barratt, as Don linked in post #2.

It IS the OEM coil, from Diamond Manufacturing....but without the Lucas sticker applied.

Cheers
DD

 

I originally got a misfire code in my #6 cylinder that started my search for COP's. Since the brief period of misfiring (1 minute) it has not reoccurred. I decided to start the process by replacing my NGK's with Champions and while doing that found the $4 plug hole full of oil. I have ordered a new gasket and seal set and will change them out soon. My question is: Does it make sense to exchange the COP from the #6 cylinder to another and wait to see if the problem reoccurs in the same unit? Seems logical and cant think of a downside.

 

Yes, it makes perfect sense to exchange the #6 coil with one on another cylinder and if the misfire code recurs and has moved to the new cylinder you'll know the coil is probably at fault.

Hopefully the new gasket and seal set will do the trick and you won't discover that the magnesium cam cover has eroded. For details see this thread compiled by aholbro1:

Definitive Magnesium Cam Cover Thread

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks again Don, I had seen the Cam Cover thread but, didn't think it applied to me. The PO replaced the gasket and plug seals in 2012 but, only about 14,000 miles ago. Will check them out and review the posts when the new gaskets and seals arrive.
Does the fun ever end with these cars? :-0)

 

Wouldn't be surprised to find your #4 Plug well deformed. For whatever reason, #'s 3&4 seem to be prone to corrosive deformation. There's a lot going on right there, with the oil fill port and several stiffening webs....I suppose that is part of it.

 

I changed plugs and cleared the #4 well of oil. Checked again after a few miles and don't see any large amount of oil so I am guessing that it filled over some period of time. (probably since they were changed in 2012 and 14K miles ago) Since no other seals are leaking can I safely remove the cover and just replace thee #4 seal then reinstall the cover? Would save money over replacing everything.

 

Personally, I would consider that a false economy, since the seals only last several years at best and you're going to all the trouble to remove the cam cover anyway, why not replace them all now and not have to worry about it for awhile? Have you shopped around? The last time I checked, options were available at very low prices from our forum sponsors SNG Barratt, Jagbits, Coventry West, etc.

Cheers,

Don

 

Yes, I agree and give the same advice to people all the time. I originally ordered all of the parts from Euro Port Parts at excellent prices but, they do not seem to be a real business based on lack of customer service or response to my inquires. I will have to resource everything and start over with a complete gasket set.. I did order the Japanese COP from SNG Barrett and will be installing it this afternoon.