How Do I Know If My Ignition Coil Is Faulty?

　　A smooth ride is what you expect from a car, and when everything is in order, you receive it. It's no surprise that you take it for granted until things suddenly start to go wrong. Then your vehicle no longer runs smoothly but instead has issues such as jerks and stalls. You can't ignore areas of concern because you have to be the ignition coil.

　　What does the ignition coil do?

　　Every part of the car has its role. The ignition coil can be thought of as part of the relay system that takes current from the battery engine ignition coil and sends it to the spark plugs. These in turn create the sparks that ignite the gasoline used in the car. When something goes wrong with the ignition coil, this steady flow of power is severely disrupted.

　　Detecting Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil

　　There are some pretty obvious signs that your ignition coil isn't working properly. The first indicator is counterproductive. United fuel passes through the exhaust system and can cause very serious damage to the exhaust system. Thick black smoke comes out of the exhaust, and if you can smell gasoline, you have a problem that requires attention.

　　Take clues from spark plug problems

　　A spark plug problem can be the main clue to a problem with the ignition coil. The spark plugs will rely on the ignition coil to get the necessary charge, and car startup problems could suggest a problem around the ignition coil. Stalling is another difficulty because the spark plugs don't work properly. A real crisis can happen if you have to stop your car and it simply shuts down. While this isn't a problem with the distributor ignition coils or the main component electrical system, the ignition coil still isn't producing what it needs. You are stuck.

　　Other clues to ignition coil problems

　　Two other clues aren't huge compared to the ones already mentioned but are still pretty serious. A sputtering or shaking motion of a car is a sign of a misfired engine. This is a symptom of the ignition coil starting to fail. Your car's fuel consumption can also be a problem. But fuel economy can also be the result of other issues that are completely unrelated to the ignition coil.

　　Check if the ignition coil is shorted

　　You can check the ignition coil yourself for problems, but be careful. You will be dealing with electricity and need not only eye protection but also proper insulation. You will conduct one of the ignition coils with a 10 megohm impedance ohmmeter. The device is connected to the primary terminal of the coil to read ohms (a well-functioning ignition coil will register from 0.4 to 2 ohms). If you don't notice the resistance, then you have a shorted coil. Higher than normal resistance may reduce the secondary voltage output. This information can guide you on the next steps to take.

　　Let the Auto Center do the work

　　To be on the safe side, unless you are an experienced mechanic and familiar with electrical systems, you should leave the repairs to a reputable auto repair center. There is a fee involved, but you transfer the risk to a trained individual. Also, you can accidentally damage the spark plug while using the ignition coil. This error can cost you even more. It's not worth it at all unless you know exactly what you're doing.

　　Don't underestimate the ignition coil

　　A car's electrical system operates efficiently when all components are working as expected. It seems a little odd that something as small as an ignition coil would cause the kind of problems it does. However, this is a very important part of the whole process. Power must reach the spark plug to properly ignite the fuel. A faulty ignition coil can negatively affect your exhaust system, which you don't want to have. Except for the annoyance of tempering and stagnation. You don't want your car to stop suddenly or fuel economy to suffer from parts that need to be replaced. If you see a warning sign, don't hesitate to ask a professional to pay attention to the ignition coil.