Ignition coil puller comparison

[R826583]

I see now. That makes a lot more sense at to why I was seeing similar DOT4 brake fluids being marked with ‘ESP’ suffixes.

[R826583]

It arrived! I am very happy with this product from BGS:

IMG_1543.jpeg (2.47 MiB) Viewed 4054 times

[2226]

Ooohhh.... shiney... I must have it!

[R826583]

[RUM4MO]

It is indeed very good looking, maybe too good to use!

I was really really upset about the look and so finish on the one that I bought, a Laser Tools branded product that looked nothing like the item shown in a picture in their catalogue, the one that was sent out looked like someone knocked it up in a shed - which probably means that it was made in a crude workhouse in China a lot cheaper than their original source of this item.

Though it works well enough and will never end up showing any scratches that it gets when thrown back into its drawer in my tool storage system, so maybe I've now got over that initial upset, well almost got over it!

[ciclo]

The brand of my puller is 'Auto tools'... Made in China.

It looks decent and works as it should, I have no complaints.
Let's say I'm a conformist, taking into account that in many cases the coils can be removed by hand.

[2226]

Yes, they can be removed by hand ... until the day the can't. So good to have that tool around when you need it.
I still need to get one of these tools when there's spare cash. Will just Aliexpress it.

[RUM4MO]

When the time came for me to replace the spark plugs in my wife's 2002 VW Polo 1.4 16V BBY, there did not seem to be too many "coil removers" aimed at DIYers, so I used common sense and used 2 medium sized flat bladed screwdrivers and bits of wood to act as fulcrums - that worked very - but stop me buying a kit of VAG Coil Pullers a year later.
Note the coils on these earlier engines had a very slim top electronics box and fitted down to the cylinder head and was surrounded by a cable management plastic cage, so quite challenging when compared with these newer engines.

Yes these newer coils do have much more accessible top electronics boxes, so with a bit of common sense they should be easier to grab hold of with your hands and ease up and out of the plugs, but why bother risking it.

Edit:- talking about conforming, I've even bought a proper tool to remove and fit plastic sump plugs into plastic sumps, okay you can use a suitable screwdriver - but maybe that is just the way that people that reuse and reuse and reuse these plastic sump plugs operate.

[2226]

Having done this job now I still think a pair of cable ties under the coil head then looped over a screwdriver will get the job done.

The tool I really want for these is something to remove the electrical connectors without imparting a sense of dread when they make that unnerving "click" sound that sounds like plastic breaking. A flathead screwdriver did the job, but it just didn't feel safe at all.

This tool will hopefully be in my toolbox next year:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben-pa ... 916sch01a/

[RUM4MO]

Having done this job now I still think a pair of cable ties under the coil head then looped over a screwdriver will get the job done.

The tool I really want for these is something to remove the electrical connectors without imparting a sense of dread when they make that unnerving "click" sound that sounds like plastic breaking. A flathead screwdriver did the job, but it just didn't feel safe at all.

This tool will hopefully be in my toolbox next year:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben-pa ... 916sch01a/

I have had that tool for helping disconnecting VW Group types of connectors, while I found it useful with older cars, newer cars, including 2015 VW Polo tend to have "easier to live with" latching connectors. I did try to use that tool when replacing the spark plugs on my older daughter's 2019 SEAT Leon Cupra 290PS with the EA888 engine, but found that it was not able to offer any assistance, so I just reverted to - first of all force the connector parts together, doing that kind of unloads the pressure on the latch, then while holding them together, apply a bit of pressure on the latching mechanism, then remove the force on the two parts of the assembly and ease the connector with the flying leads out and away from the coil, annoyingly, cylinder 1 was chosen to be the first one to disconnect and it put up quite a struggle, so I moved onto the other 3 and all of them unlatched and so the connectors separated - then with that experience with that particular version of VW Group connector, I just used a lot more force on the cylinder 1 connectors and they came apart without any damage.

There might still be some VW Group connectors that that tools is needed to be used with, but not as many as in the past 20 years. I'll still try to use it before changing to using a screwdriver for a few cars or years yet!

[2226]

Ok that's a bit weird because in the photos those seem to be the exact connectors on the coils, etc.

Yes, pushing them in a bit and then levering with nail or screwdriver does the job. Still make a unnerving click though.

[ciclo]

I also have the tool for removing connectors, but with a flat handle (not round), I think I used it a couple of times to check its operation and on a connector that was difficult to access... is a very effective tool for large connectors.
Currently, most VW connectors are easily removed by hand if one knows the release mechanisms... using connector cleaning sprays also helps.

BTW, makes me angry to see on YT and other places how people mistreat plastic connectors with all kinds of metal instruments🗡, there is no point in trying to solve a problem by adding another one by destroying the connector.

[R826583]

I’ve almost got around to doing the job Give it a few more days hopefully.

I am thinking that the connectors will come off mosty without a fight. I have a plastic spudger to use on the binding mechanism. I can’t believe that a specific tool exists to remove the connectors LOL. I agree on not using metal tools on plastic!

I’ll report back as to how it goes.

[RUM4MO]

I've not got a problem with using a metal tool with plastic connectors - they work well, including a small or medium flat blade screwdriver, if used sensibly.

Trying to do this job with a plastic tool like a spudger might be tricky as there could be no enough space to get it into the most useful position - due to it being thicker than a metal/steel flat screwdriver.

[2226]

I’ve almost got around to doing the job Give it a few more days hopefully.

I am thinking that the connectors will come off mosty without a fight. I have a plastic spudger to use on the binding mechanism. I can’t believe that a specific tool exists to remove the connectors LOL. I agree on not using metal tools on plastic!

I’ll report back as to how it goes.

There is a tool for everything.
And I'm learning I need more weird and special tools that ever before for this car.

I miss my mk1. 10mm, 13mm, 15mm, 17mm, flat head and philips screwdriver ... +hammer and bag of cable ties. Best toolbox ever.
Oh, and a friend with a 90s Honda so that you can re-use the bumper bolt to bolt the fuel pump back on the mk1 when that decided to fall off.