Symptoms of a Faulty or Defective Ignition Coil
Ignition coils are electronic engine management components that are part of the vehicle's ignition system. The ignition coil works like an induction coil which converts the vehicle's 12 volts into the thousands that are needed to jump the spark plug gap and ignite the engine's air-fuel mixture. Some ignition systems use a coil to provide the spark for all cylinders, but most new models use an individual coil for each cylinder. Since the ignition coil is the element responsible for generating the engine spark, any problem with it can quickly lead to engine performance problems. Usually, a faulty ignition coil will produce some symptoms that alert the driver to a potential problem.
1. Engine misfires, sudden idling, and loss of power:
One of the most common symptoms associated with a faulty ignition coil is engine performance issues. Since ignition coils are one of the most vital components of the ignition system, a problem can compromise the sparks, which can quickly lead to performance problems. Faulty coils can lead to misfires, irregular idling, loss of power and acceleration, and reduced fuel consumption. In some cases, performance issues can even cause the vehicle to stall.
2. Check that the engine light comes on:
Another symptom of a potential problem with the vehicle's ignition coils is an illuminated check engine light. Faulty coils can cause engine performance issues, especially misfire, which will trigger the computer and trigger the engine light check. The engine check light will also be activated if the computer detects a problem with the ignition coil or circuit, such as when a coil is burnt out or short-circuited. A lit Check Engine indicator light can be caused by a wide variety of issues, so the computer (scanned for trouble codes) is highly recommended.
3. The car does not start:
A faulty ignition coil can also result in a non-starting condition. For vehicles that use a single ignition coil as the spark source for all cylinders, a faulty coil will affect the operation of the entire engine. If the coil fails completely, the motor will not produce a spark, which will cause no spark, no start. Problems with ignition coils are generally easy to spot as they produce symptoms that will be very visible to the driver. If you suspect that the ignition coils in your vehicle are having a problem, have the vehicle inspected by a professional Vermin-Club technician to determine if the coils need replacing.
