Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Topic: Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz (Read 3027 times) previous topic - next topic

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

April 29, 2015, 03:31:19 PM

I've been running a MSD 8227 ignition coil on my Thunderbird for several years. I've had no problems with it but I recently got a deal on a brand new Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil. I swapped it into my Thunderbird today and it fired up and runs fine. Same as it did with the MSD coil. The new Motorcraft ignition coil is noisy however. Sitting in the car at idle with the windows up and the radio off I can hear it buzzing. I can't hear it outside the car unless I pop the hood (exhaust is loud) and lean over the coil. Then I can hear it. The MSD coil I had in the car was dead silent. Any idea why a brand new Motorcraft ignition coil would buzz? It works fine it's just loud. I'm assuming the buzzing sound is not an issue just an annoyance correct? The TFI, PIP, and spark plugs are Motorcraft with the ignition wires being MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor wires.

I should note this Motorcraft coil doesn't have the plastic cover over the metal frame that the stock coil did, if that makes a difference.

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #1 – April 30, 2015, 12:22:54 PM

I'm exchanging it for a different one. If the new one makes noise I'm going to assume that all the new Motorcraft coils buzz. It's surprising as the old stock Motorcraft coil never did and the MSD 8227 (the one entirely encapsulated in red plastic) never buzzed either. As a FYI the coil came in a box that noted it was made in Poland. At least it's not made in China :hick:.

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #2 – April 30, 2015, 03:35:10 PM

How many Pollacks does it take...... *sigh* Oh why beat the dead horse?

Could you describe the ruckus, sir? Like a transformer, or older flourescent light? That's definitely shocking if it can be heard over everything else.

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #3 – April 30, 2015, 04:10:01 PM

Quote from: ZondaC12;447590

How many Pollacks does it take...... *sigh* Oh why beat the dead horse?

Could you describe the ruckus, sir? Like a transformer, or older flourescent light? That's definitely shocking if it can be heard over everything else.

Hey I'm partially Polish

The noise it's making is similar to a transformer hum/buzz sound. Sitting in the car with the engine idling and the windows up with no radio or other accessory on I can hear it. You can't hear it standing outside the car. If I pop the hood and put my ear near the coil I can hear it hum/buzz. It's actually louder in the car. I think the vibration travels through the fender/firewall and is more noticeable inside the car since it's quieter. It has to be the Motorcraft coil as it made no noise with the MSD coil and when I put the MSD coil back the noise was gone as well. I'll report back when the new Motorcraft coil gets here Saturday. Hopefully it's silent otherwise the Motorcraft coil is going to be a spare and the MSD coil is going back in.

I've found plenty of people online complaining about the MSD 8227 coil being loud or ping out randomly, which is why after several years I decided to get a Motorcraft coil to replace it, even though it was working fine. The plan was to use the Motorcraft coil and keep the MSD coil as a backup. For now the MSD coil is better :hick:.

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #4 – May 01, 2015, 10:58:51 PM

Loose laminations in the core can cause the buzz(meaning the sealer isn't distributed throughout), exchange it...

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #5 – May 02, 2015, 04:16:09 PM

Well the new one came in today and I swapped it out. It's quieter but still buzzes slightly. The MSD coil is quite. I think I'm going to run the MSD coil and when it s out I'll put the slightly noisy/buzzy Motorcraft coil in. I'm a bit disappointed that both of the new in box Motorcraft coils buzz, even though the second coil is much quieter.

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #6 – May 02, 2015, 07:42:54 PM

I've been running the same MSD on my car for about 10 years now. Never had a problem with it....

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #7 – May 03, 2015, 01:31:47 PM

The 8227 that is completely encapsulated in red plastic? That's the one I've had for a couple years. I think I'm going to swap it back on. It's dead silent compared to the Motorcraft coil.

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #8 – May 03, 2015, 02:58:06 PM

Yup. Same one.

Motorcraft DG470 ignition coil buzz

Reply #9 – May 06, 2015, 04:01:22 PM

I found out why the first coil was so noisy. The metal frame/laminations around the coil were not securely connected to the coil itself. You can actually hold the windings and jiggle the coil back and forth. The new coil doesn't do that but still makes some noise. I sent the first Motorcraft coil back, am keeping the second one as a spare, and have the plastic encapsulated MSD 8227 back on the car. It doesn't make any noise so on the car it will stay till it fails.