So I was changing the spark plugs on my Sequoia today and came across a questionable ignition coil. It's brown like its been cooked in an oven or something, and it looks nothing like the other ignition coils in the engine (color-wise)

Should I replace this ignition coil? And, if so, is this something I can myself?

Here's the ignition coil sitting next to it's neighbor:



And here is the hole the ignition coil came out of:

 

Do you have red colored dirt in your area? It almost looks like it was not seated firmly and some of the dirt snuck down the tube. Also, the dirt around the rim of that hole supports the idea that it may just be dirt staining.
Was that plug tight so no gases were getting past it?

 

Thanks for such a quick reply! We don't have a lot of red dirt around here, but the previous owner may have driven in an area that had some red dirt (dirt roads, etc).

The plug was seized tight when I went to change it (as were the other plugs in the engine), so I doubt that any gas squeaked past.

 

It looks like red dirt on the valve cover and manifold is why I asked.

If it was not giving any problems, I'd clean the rim of the hole with a bit of brake cleaner on a rag. Wipe the dirt off the coil, put a bit of dielectric grease on the inside of the open end and a little dielectric grease around rim and reinstall it.

Check the air cleaner, it may be dirty too.

 

Thanks again for such a quick reply!! I'll follow your instructions and keep on truckin.

I'm glad I found this forum.

 

Welcome! Lots of good advice and folks around this forum.