Parts for your 2008 Toyota Land cruiser-Ignition coils

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser ignition coils

Ignition coils are relevant to the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser if it’s the petrol V8 variant, they’re not used on the diesel. Technical references confirm this split: Toyota’s 200 Series Repair Manual (Toyota Technical Information System, “Ignition System” for 2UZ‑FE/3UR‑FE) specifies coil‑on‑plug ignition on petrol engines, while the diesel 1VD‑FTV section (“Glow Plug System”) shows there’s no spark ignition at all. DENSO’s coil‑on‑plug technical literature also outlines how modern Toyota petrol V8s use one coil per cylinder.

For petrol models (market‑dependent 2UZ‑FE 4.7‑litre or 3UR‑FE 5.7‑litre), the Land Cruiser runs a coil‑on‑plug setup: eight individual coils, each sitting over a spark plug. Their job is to step battery voltage up and create a strong spark right at the plug, giving better burn, cleaner emissions and solid reliability—ideal for long Kiwi and Aussie road trips or corrugated tracks.

Coils aren’t a scheduled service item, but they do wear with heat and age. Practical signs a coil’s on the way out include:

• Rough idle, lack of grunt under load or towing, and a flashing check engine light
• Poor fuel economy and a raw fuel smell from the exhaust
• Fault codes like P0300–P0308 or coil circuit codes (P0351–P0358)

Smart servicing for a 2008 petrol Land Cruiser is to check coil boots when replacing spark plugs (typically around 120,000 km depending on the schedule in the owner’s handbook). If a boot is cracked or oil‑soaked from a cam cover leak, replace the boot and fix the leak so the new coil doesn’t get cooked. When diagnosing a misfire, a swap test (moving the suspect coil to another cylinder) can confirm a faulty unit before buying parts. Use quality OEM‑equivalent coils, keep water out of the plug wells (no pressure‑washing under the bonnet) and apply a light smear of dielectric grease inside the boots on reassembly. Many owners replace just the failed coil, on higher‑kilometre tourers it’s common to carry a spare in the kit for remote travel.

For diesel 1VD‑FTV models popular in Australia and New Zealand, ignition coils simply aren’t fitted. Diesels use compression ignition with glow plugs to aid cold starts, so any “misfire” feel is more likely related to injectors, fuel supply, or EGR—not coils.

Popular questions

How many ignition coils does a 2008 Land Cruiser have?
Petrol V8 models have eight coil‑on‑plug units—one per cylinder. Diesel 1VD‑FTV models don’t use ignition coils at all, as they rely on compression ignition and glow plugs.

What are the symptoms of a failing coil on a 2008 Land Cruiser?
Expect a rough idle, hesitation under load, higher fuel use and a check engine light. A scan may show P030X misfire codes or P035X coil circuit faults. It often shows up first while towing or climbing hills.

Do coils need replacing when doing spark plugs?
Not by default. Coils are replaced as needed. During a spark plug service, inspect boots for cracking, tracking marks or oil. If the engine has high kilometres or is used for remote touring, carrying a spare coil is handy insurance.