Acura Ignition Coil Replacement | DIY Guide

Changing the ignition coil on Acura vehicles is not as difficult as you may think. The four-cylinder Acura engine is very easy to work on, and you can change the ignition coils yourself in less than an hour.  The 3.5L V6 Acura engine requires slightly more time.

Symptoms

The most common symptom that you have a bad ignition coil is Acura check engine light coming on and engine misfire.

• Check Engine Light On
• Engine Shakes
• Engine Misfiring
• Rough Idle
• Loss of power
• The car will not start or dies at idle.

What you will need

• Acura Ignition Coil
• Mechanic Toolset Metric
• Screwdrivers

Procedure

1. Park the ACURA on level ground. To avoid getting burned, allow the engine to cool down before replacing the ignition coils.
2. Pull the hood release located under the dashboard (driver's side). Open the hood.  
3. Disconnect the negative battery terminal. The cable you need to disconnect is the black cable with the (-) symbol next to it. The battery post that will be disconnected will either have the minus (-) symbol or the words NEG, NEGATIVE printed. The positive (RED) cable can remain connected.
   
4. Remove the engine cover. In most ACURA, the engine cover can be removed simply by pulling it up. If you see bolts on top of the engine cover, remove them. 
5. Unplug the electrical connector from the ignition coil. Press the small tab, then pull. Repeat this step for all coils.
6. Remove the 10mm bolts that secure the ignition coil in place.
7. Remove ignition coil from the engine block. It may be difficult to pull out the coil. If that is the case, try twisting the coil as you pull it out.
8. Install new ignition coils on your ACURA engine. It is recommended to apply dielectric grease to the boot whenever possible. 
9. Reinstall the engine cover. Connect the negative terminal and start the car.

This guide includes instructions on how to change Acura ignition coils on models such as the

• MDX
• NSX
• RDX
• RL RLX
• RSX
• SLX
• TL TLX
• ZDX
• CDX
• CL
• VSX
• EL
• LX
• Integra
• Legend

To change all Acura coils at the local Acura dealer or auto repair shop costs anywhere from $400-$600. Doing this job yourself typically costs about $100-$150, in some cases even less.

While you can change just the defective coil, it is recommended to change all coils at once. If you are on a tight budget, you can replace only the bad coil but keep in mind that another coil may fail a few months down the road.