car trouble... 97 kia sportage (mazda motor)

Hey folks,
My car has been running a little loud the last week or so.. Couldn't find an exhaust leak anywhere so was gonna take it to the garage and see if they can see what's up.... Anyway, this morning I was driving and I lost power and got a little louder. Had to limp it a half mile or so to get off the busy road. Got the hood up and the motor was shaking pretty bad. About that time, the coil pack (?? at the left frt of the motor like a distributor cap) started smoking (melting)...

I shut things down thinking it was a problem somewhere else to short it out but couldn't find anything... Had to get it home, so took back roads and took it slow (no other choice)... Got it home running on about 2 cylinders....

Got to thinking about it getting loud last week... Could it be that that coil was going bad and lost one cylinder and the raw gas was burning in the exhaust/making it louder... Then when I lost the second cylinder (spark) today it gets more raw gas in the exhaust and louder?

This is a kia but the motor is supposed to be the common 2.0 mazda motor.......

Rock auto says I need two coils and they kinda look like a distributor (with the shaft)... If I order them, new plugs, and wires, I hope I'm OK..
Any idea on replacing the coils? Is it as simple as sliding one out and the new one in? I don't have a shop manual for it.... Don't mind taking t to a garage, but if that's the only problem, I don't want to pay a hundred bucks an hour and 4 times the price on parts.

Thanks, Dave

very well could be in my opinion.I'm not sure on replacing the coils packs as to whats involved.my only experience with a mazda was a older one.it had a dist on the front of the camshaft that was bad to leak oil past the seals, and it would run like you described.I would just pull it off once every six weeks or so and spray it out with brake cleaner.and it would run good again.I did finally find one at a pull it yourself salvage (they always seemed to be the first thing to go) replaced it and never had anymore problems,with that at least.Been awhile,but it seems like a new one cost like $400 or some insane amount.

(quoted from post at 12:18:49 06/19/12) very well could be in my opinion.I'm not sure on replacing the coils packs as to whats involved.my only experience with a mazda was a older one.it had a dist on the front of the camshaft that was bad to leak oil past the seals, and it would run like you described.I would just pull it off once every six weeks or so and spray it out with brake cleaner.and it would run good again.I did finally find one at a pull it yourself salvage (they always seemed to be the first thing to go) replaced it and never had anymore problems,with that at least.Been awhile,but it seems like a new one cost like $400 or some insane amount.

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I have to retract the coil thing I guess... What I'm talking about looks like a distributor and is like what you are talking about. It is 1 piece and held on by 4 phillips head screws. It's cracked and the bottom two terminals #1 and #4 are not firing....
Maybe it wasn't melting and it was just oil running out??
Gonna look online again..

Thanks..

I guess it is the coil but not like what I found at rock auto (2 per vehicle) It is like the one in the picture... Looks like I can just get one and replace it and be back on the road???

I picked up a 91 Mazda van a year and a half ago, it was cheap and I was stuck for a vehical right at that time, needed a driver for back and forth to work. It has run great so far but I did find a good mazda forum. Maybe ask at that site and they will have an answer for you.
http://forum.mpvclub.com/index.php
Mazda Forum

(quoted from post at 00:58:06 06/20/12) I picked up a 91 Mazda van a year and a half ago, it was cheap and I was stuck for a vehical right at that time, needed a driver for back and forth to work. It has run great so far but I did find a good mazda forum. Maybe ask at that site and they will have an answer for you.
http://forum.mpvclub.com/index.php
Mazda Forum

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Thanks! The part is obviously shot (busted with stuff oozing out). New ones were 150 bucks at the store and a week to get there and 50 bucks on ebay and should be in my mailbox tomorrow or the next day. I'll install it and see what's up. Hopefully it was just age and not another problem causing it...