Your ignition coil is an important electrical component that helps to convert the low-voltage current from your car battery into the spark that will ignite fuel running through your engine. When there’s something wrong with an ignition coil, you’ll notice a world of problems with your vehicle, including the inability to start your car. Learn some warning signs that your ignition coil might be going bad, and what to do to get it fixed.
1. Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil: Check Engine Light
The check engine light can switch on for a myriad of reasons, including problems with your ignition coils. Head to the dealer for an engine diagnostic when this light comes on, as you may start experiencing performance issues with your car without a prompt repair.
2. The Engine Starts Misfiring
When an engine misfires, the car feels like it’s jerking or sputtering when you’re driving normally. The car might shake or feel like it’s running roughly when you stop with a misfiring engine.
3. The Engine Won’t Start Normally
It may take a few attempts for you to get the engine started when you have a broken ignition coil. You may also notice that your engine starts, but the car feels jerky during start-up. The difficulty starting is caused by the spark plug not receiving the right voltage to create a spark and start the engine. If you drive a car that only has one ignition coil, then you may not be able to get your car started at all if this coil is broken.
4. The Engine Guzzles Gas
When you have a broken ignition coil, your engine struggles to perform at its normal capacity. To try to remedy this, it consumes more fuel. This reduces your gas mileage. When your car guzzles gas, it can lead to your spark plugs sustaining some damage, and that can cause further performance issues with the vehicle.
5. The Car Doesn’t Perform Well
There are several other performance-related issues that can crop up when you have a bad ignition coil. These are generally quite noticeable. Your car might stall, for example, or you may feel as though the vehicle can’t accelerate as quickly as it usually does. Overall, your car’s performance could be described as sluggish.
6. The Car Backfires
When your car doesn’t burn up all the fuel it attempts to use, the fuel can travel through your exhaust system and detonate. This is known as your engine backfiring. When it happens, you’ll hear a popping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. This backfiring is caused by your engine trying and failing to burn more fuel.
If you notice any of these signs it’s imperative to get the issue diagnosed and fixed quickly. Come to Auffenberg Dealer Group in Shiloh, IL to replace any faulty parts of your car. Stop by for regular maintenance, too, to try to prevent issues with the ignition coils and other parts of your car.
