Firstly, I am quite certain that the coil is roasted. There was smoke, burning smell, running on 2 cylinders, etc. My question is, was it something I did?

Over the weekend I installed rx8 injectors as I slowly creep towards turbo. After installing the injectors I updated megaquirt settings and did a little tuning run and everything was going great. This morning i went out to head into work, started it up and things were good until suddenly they weren't. Sitting in the driveway there was obvious rough idle, fuel smell, stall. Then when I opened the hood i saw smoke coming from the coil pack area, one of the coils is clearly roasted.

When installing I did not remove the wiring harness but I'm aware that the injectors and coil are on the same loom. I checked and it appears that all connectors are engaged and the grounds that may have been impacted by injector install are in place. I did notice that the bracket (is this to ensure shared ground?) between the upper intake and the fuel rail had a bolt that was still loose.

I want to try to make sure, before installing new coils, whether there was an issue with the wiring somewhere I may have overlooked, or if the infamously lousy coil just blew. The coils currently installed are a cheapo aftermarket stock replacement and about a year old.

Also, is my cat blowed up now? Anybody want to sell me some ls coils?

 

99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 Tahoe Engine Igntion Coil Ignitor Pack 5 3L | eBay

 

That looks like a good price. My mouse is hovering over the buy it now button. I still feel pretty stupid for discovering all the info about LS coils just days after I installed my cheap stock replacement last year. I'm pretty sure the failed one I put in cost more than those LS coils.

*Edit: Coils purchased... exceedingly manly spark coming soon!

 

So, I definitely messed up something. I installed an old coil pack I had in the garage, turned the key and heard a nice pop. New coil also half dead. I realize i should have checked with the meter when I had it apart but was in a rush and decided to be stupid. Does this most likely mean a short in the wiring harness?

 

Looks like this guy is having similar symptoms. A completely different vehicle but it seems a similar testing procedure may identify the fault.