7 Signs That Your Car Has Ignition Coil Problems

　　The ignition coil is used as a part of the ignition system together with the switch battery, alternator, spark plug and distributor. Just like a reverse system of an adapter unit you might use at home (converting high voltage to low voltage), the coil boosts the 12V charge from the battery to up to 20KV to 40KV to ignite the gasoline.

　　Turn on the ignition coil and you will find two windings around the iron core, usually immersed in oil to keep the parts cool. When the coil is energized, the outer coil is full of charge and generates a magnetic field. It then turns off, collapsing the magnetic field and sending the charge to the tighter-wound internal coil, which then converts the charge into the ultra-high voltage required to generate the spark needed to ignite the fuel in the piston.

　　Signs of ignition coil problem

　　Please note the following issues. Each can give you an indication that there is a problem with your ignition coil. If there are multiple problems at the same time, then although this will help you narrow down the cause, it is also an indicator that you need to involve professionals immediately.

　　Stall and misfire

　　When the ignition coil fails or encounters a problem, it usually results in the piston not igniting or not igniting at all, because there is no charge to ignite the gasoline. If you notice strange noises, accompanied by engine adverse reactions leading to jolts or vibrations at idling speed, these may be obvious signs that the ignition coil is about to exit. In the worst case, this can cause the car to stall completely and stall when you step on the accelerator.

　　Can't start car

　　If your car has only one ignition coil, it may cause the car to fail to start. If the battery is properly charged and you only seem to hear a click when you try to turn the key or press the button, then you may be looking at the faulty ignition coil. If the spark plug does not get the required power-then the engine will not ignite normally.

　　Miles to gallons

　　If your engine does not burn fuel properly, the engine will need more fuel to complete the same job, resulting in lower fuel efficiency. In addition, when your ignition coil fails, it will also make a difference in the oxygen sensor, delivering more fuel to the engine than it actually needs. Please note that putting this unused fuel into the engine is also very detrimental to related systems and may damage the catalytic converter, which is usually very expensive to replace.

　　Check the engine light on the dashboard

　　Although checking the engine lights can alert you to many different problem situations-one of which may be a malfunction or damage to the ignition coil. In this case, you have several options. Either find a mechanic who can perform OBD-II checks, or find a scanner so you can check the code yourself. Codes P0300 to P0312 indicate misfire, which may be the result of ignition coil problems, while codes P0350 to P0362 are reserved on all systems to indicate ignition coil problems.

　　Backfire

　　As we mentioned in the fuel economy issue, a faulty ignition coil usually causes unconsumed fuel to enter the exhaust system. When this fuel comes into contact with the exhaust gas or the hot metal of the catalytic converter, it immediately ignites and explodes, causing backfire—a huge noise from the rear of the car. Regardless of whether this is caused by an ignition coil problem, you should always investigate the problem.

　　Oil spill

　　A large amount of current and charge are converted in the ignition coil, resulting in heat dissipation. When the components are operating normally, oil usually helps to eliminate this heat. However, if the coil is damaged, it may cause overheating, eventually cracking the case, and oil will start to leak out of the parts.

　　Broken spark plug

　　If you find that spark plugs are malfunctioning or worn, they will usually draw more charge from the engine than normally expected. This usually puts too much pressure on the ignition coil and can damage it over time. If there is a problem with the spark plug, it is definitely worth checking the ignition coil at the same time.