Bought a set of "Duralast" ignition coils from Autozone six months ago. Pulled in by the sale price and assumption that a major supplier would exercise quality control, but I never learn. Duralast quite the oxymoron: neither durable nor lasting, as the first one failed this weekend. Other than the minor inconvenience of putting one of the old ones back in, the larger problem was that it was probably failing for some weeks (noticed a slightly rougher start), dumping unburned fuel on my ancient converter and creating additional sludge. Second time I have gone this route, as I had the same problem with a set of "Standard" UF 519 coils - two failed, one bad right out of the box. The best answer for those not wanting to play the Chinese generic/house brand lottery is to buy the now-OEM Ford-spec Denso product. I think that these coils, with the Ford part number 6R8312A366AA embossed at the top and either the Jag number AJ810445 or supplier number on the box, are good quality. Although the Jag list is $107.00, they can be found for $75.00 at the online Jag dealers and less from suppliers. I previously bought this replacement in a Beck-Arnley box for $50.00 (why didn't I buy the whole set!), but could not find them again recently. Interested to hear of any other good sources.

 

I have 8 of the ebay $100 total coils on my XKR for a year and a half now with no issues but with Chinese parts it DEFINITELY is a lottery.

I work on a lot of other people's cars and some parts and some cars, I'm a-ok using chinese parts (like front suspensions on GM W Bodies) and some cars it's a horrific idea (chinese parts on my A8...). On the plus side, at least the coils are easy to get to! Better that than say badly make main bearings in an engine rebuild despite being a well known brand (before outsourcing to China...).

 

Thanks to 80sRule for his upbeat perspective. I have had only minor issues with my coupe, considering it is a daily driver with 115k+ miles and reading of the much more difficult issues on the Forum (knock on wood). Maybe the answer is quality is going to stay iffier, and we will all be carrying a socket set and a spare coil in our emergency road kits.

 

I always am realistic though lol.

I carry this in my trunk: Sears.com

I also keep a multimeter, a gallon of premix coolant, a gallon of ATF (since I use the valvoline dexron mercon full syn it works for ATF and PS fluid), a gallon of oil, a funnel that works for even the transmission, a quart of brake fluid, a quart of pentosin CHF11S, both belts, a coil, OBDII scan tool, paper towels, regular towels and a tyvek jumpsuit.

The neat thing about the XK8 trunk is that with the high floor, I actually keep all of this stuff UNDER the floor cover and on top and around the space saver spare. This crap has saved my butt before. I had the creepiest tow truck driver earlier this year after I blew my oil cooler hose, I am so glad when I can avoid guys like that.

 

80sRule: Sounds like you still enjoy road trips. I am not that brave anymore. Only travel 100 miles within Southern California - up to LA, Orange, etc. from San Diego. Carry only the bare necessities - basic tools, OBD reader and some tape as a Hail Mary for the hoses - and have the numbers of all the SoCal Jag dealers and some independents in my phone!