we have been looking for a new shop to entrust our cars with. My wife took her 89 civic wagovan in because it was runng rough. The shop said it found leaking spark plug tube seals. they recommended tube seals, valve cover gskts, fuel filter and air filter. We okd that. Later we were told that we need a new coil because of an idling problem. What are the symptoms of a bad coil. currently we are experiencing fluctuating idle [between 1200 and 1700 rpms] and a stumble on acceleration. I don't think the coil will fix what i am feeling. Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

How old are the spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor? If they are old, start by replacing them.

A malfunctioning coil could also cause engine misfiring and rough running. Thus, a flaky coil might lead to poor acceleration, but the high surging idle is more likely the result of an intake air/vacuum leak or a problem in the idle control system.

Do you have a fuel-injected or carbureted engine? For the former, pull the front passenger carpet back and check whether the LED of the ECU is blinking any trouble codes.

 

Are you trying to say that your current shop is not trustworthy?...

 

It is always healthy and wise to question your mechanic's decisions. A good mechanic will be happy to provide clear understandable explanations for his decisions.