help! ignition problems

[KenInKenmore]

I have a 1990 3.1L coupe. I had a sticky thermostat in it (i've since replaced it) which caused it to periodicly to heat up... every once in a while I would turn the car off and come back to it like ten minutes later and it either wouldn't start or it would but you could tell it was missing on 2 or 3 cylinders. If it did that and I let it sit for an hour or so it would start and run just fine.. I have a feeling the problem lies somewhere between the alternator and the coil packs... the reason I'm looking at the coils is that I changed the plus a week ago and two of the plugs that ran off the same coil pack were more fouled than the rest.....

some one please tell me if I"m just alittle off base, please

[richtazz]

Sounds like you're on the right track. The coil packs/ignition module are mounted down low on the front of the engine, under the exhaust manifold and above the starter. They're a pain to get to, but not impossible. Make sure you disconnect the battery, so if you accidentally touch the starter solenoid, you don't arc weld your wrench to the car. Either the coil pack(s) or the module could be the issue, so have the module tested at Auto Zone or Advance before replacing it. The coils can only be bench tested for resistance, which isn't real accurate. If the coils are original and still have the cylinder numbers on them, it'll be easy to tell if both cylinders with bad plugs were on the same coil.