In case your vehicle is facing a hard time when starting, then this could be a sign of ignition coil failure. The ignition coil functions by taking power from the generator and passing it to the spark plugs. This in turn ignites the fuel and enables your vehicle to run. Before we proceed, it is important to know what an ignition coil is. The ignition coil is an electronic engine management component that is a part of the car’s ignition system. In addition, it works similar to an induction coil that changes the car’s volts into the many that are needed to jump the spark plug gap and then ignite the engine’s air-fuel combination. To know if your ignition coil has an issue, read the ignition coil problems symptoms below.
Check engine light comes on
If you notice that the check engine light comes on, you should check immediately what the problem is. A check engine light comes on if there is an engine performance issue. In this case, a faulty ignition coil will make the check engine light illuminate. The best way to find out if the ignition coil has a problem when the check engine light comes on is to carry out a diagnostic test by use of a scanner. Visit a mechanic to find out.
Car declines to start
When the ignition coil has a problem, it may decline to start. In case you have a car that utilizes a single ignition coil as the source of spark for every cylinder, a bad ignition coil will affect the functioning of the whole engine. As a matter of fact, when the coil fails totally, the engine will be left without spark which will definitely lead to a no-start state.
Fuel economy
Another common sign of a bad ignition coil is fuel economy. When the coil is fine, the fuel used per mileage can be calculated and consumed the right way. But when it is not functioning well, the fuel economy will not be planned as a lot of fuel is utilized. So, if you notice that your car is having less mileage than it was before, then this could imply that the ignition coil failure has occurred.
Car stalling
If the car stalls, this may be another sign of a bad ignition coil. This takes place as a result of the irregular sparks sent to the spark plugs by the faulty ignition coil. The car may shut off totally when stopped leaving you with the difficulty of restarting it.
Backfiring
When the ignition failure is in its early phases, it can cause backfiring. This takes place when the unused fuel inside the combustion cylinders of the engine leaves via the exhaust pipe. If this situation is unattended to, it can lead to costly repairs. To know if your car is backfiring, you can take note of smoke being emitted by your exhaust pipe. If it’s black smoke, then this is an ignition coil failure.
Engine rough idling and poor power
Lastly, idling, poor power and jerking are other signs that one can detect and know if their ignition coil is bad. Check out for these signs and take your car to a professional mechanic for a quick repair and simple maintenance.
Conclusion
Ignition coil issues can be easily detected by the driver. This is because they are easy to notice as long as the driver or car owner knows them. With this article, you can now easily know if your car has a poor ignition coil. If you notice one of these signs, you should visit an expert mechanic right away to rectify the issue.