MajorCommonElectrical

Nissan Skyline: RB26DETT Ignition Coilpack Failure (GT-R)

RB26DETT Ignition Coilpack Failure (GT-R) is a common electrical fault on the Nissan Skyline on the 1998–2002 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 41 documented faults on the Nissan Skyline.

Vehicle: Nissan Skyline
Engine: RB26-DETT
Years: 1998–2002
Fuel: petrol
System: Electrical

This page covers the Nissan Skyline as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Skyline faults41 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Ignition coil yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The R34 GT-R RB26DETT uses six individual coilpacks sitting directly on the spark plugs in a coil-on-plug configuration. The coilpacks are heat-sensitive and degrade with age, causing misfires under boost and at high RPM. Modified R34 GT-Rs running elevated power output dramatically accelerate coilpack failure due to higher cylinder pressures. The factory coilpacks are no longer available from Nissan Japan and are a known consumable on any late-model RB26 engine. Coilpack failure under boost causes severe misfires that can hydrolock a cylinder if unburnt fuel washes past the rings.

What you would notice

Misfires under load or at high RPM
Check Engine Light with cylinder-specific misfire codes (P0301–P0306)
Rough running that clears at idle but returns under boost
Popping or banging from exhaust under acceleration
Stutter or flat spot in specific RPM band

How to check it

Where to look. Six individual coilpacks seated directly on the spark plugs through the cam cover, three per bank

Pull each coilpack and inspect the base boot for cracking or carbon tracking (black marks indicating arcing).
Swap suspect coilpacks between cylinders to see if the misfire follows the coilpack.
Check spark plug condition under each coilpack — black, oil-fouled, or eroded plugs indicate a long-standing misfire.
Scan for cylinder-specific misfire codes.

Parts involved: Ignition coil.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the coilpacks been replaced, and when?”
“Are there any misfire codes stored in the ECU?”
“What power level is the engine running, and have coilpacks been upgraded accordingly?”

Now check the Nissan Skyline you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Skyline buyer questions

Is rb26dett ignition coilpack failure (gt-r) serious on a Nissan Skyline?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Skyline. The R34 GT-R RB26DETT uses six individual coilpacks sitting directly on the spark plugs in a coil-on-plug configuration. The coilpacks are heat-sensitive and degrade with age, causing misfires under boost and at high RPM. Modified R34 GT-Rs running elevated power output dramatically accelerate coilpack failure due to higher cylinder pressures. The factory coilpacks are no longer available from Nissan Japan and are a known consumable on any late-model RB26 engine. Coilpack failure under boost causes severe misfires that can hydrolock a cylinder if unburnt fuel washes past the rings.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Skyline?

$500 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan Skyline years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1998–2002 Nissan Skyline. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Pull each coilpack and inspect the base boot for cracking or carbon tracking (black marks indicating arcing). Swap suspect coilpacks between cylinders to see if the misfire follows the coilpack. Check spark plug condition under each coilpack — black, oil-fouled, or eroded plugs indicate a long-standing misfire. Scan for cylinder-specific misfire codes. Look here: Six individual coilpacks seated directly on the spark plugs through the cam cover, three per bank