Is Your Vehicle's Ignition Coil Going Bad?

Blog

With there being so many parts of your vehicle that can break unexpectedly, one part you'll want to know more about is the ignition coil. It has the job of converting electricity from the battery to generate the spark necessary to start the combustion process. Here is what you should know to tell if the ignition coil is going bad.

Mileage

Pay attention to your vehicle's current mileage to know if the ignition coil is approaching the end of its lifespan. Most ignition coils should last approximately 100,000 miles. If your car is well past that mileage, start looking for other symptoms that the ignition coil could be the problem.

Dashboard Light

Your car will likely have a dashboard light go off that indicates there is a problem with the ignition coil. While some newer vehicles may have a specific error code saying that there is a faulty ignition coil, other vehicles may not. Instead, you'll get an error code about engine misfiring. Have a mechanic help you with reading and interpreting this code, because it can be hard to determine what the problem is on your own if you have the proper equipment to read the codes.

Rough Idling

If the ignition coils can't send the necessary voltage to the spark plug for it to work, the engine will not have the spark it needs to work properly. It can cause your vehicle to have some rough vibrations that are especially noticeable while idling. If you are noticing this rough idling while at a stop sign or red light, then consider the ignition coil being a potential reason why. 

Power Loss

The engine can lose power due to the misfiring, which will cause your acceleration speeds to decrease. This seems like your vehicle is losing power when you are trying to accelerate faster, especially when getting on the freeway. 

Gas Odor

A bad ignition coil is not going to send the voltage for the engine to create a good spark, which causes the engine to not have the power necessary to burn all the fuel. The unburned fuel can cause your vehicle to have a gas odor while you are driving. 

Still not sure if your vehicle's ignition coil is the problem? Take your vehicle in to be serviced by a local mechanic, like a service Mercedes. They'll use their knowledge to look at all the problems and determine which part needs to be repaired or replaced. 

Share

25 January 2022

cutting the cost of auto repairs

When you take your car in to a mechanic for repairs, do you have any idea what the repair you need should cost you? Do you know if the parts being used are OEM parts or aftermarket? Learning these things can help you negotiate a fair price for repairs. On my site, you will also find a few suggestions to help you save money on the parts needed to make the repairs. Sometimes, you can save money on buying salvage parts, but other times, salvage parts could end up costing you more in the long run. Learn more about saving money on auto repairs by visiting my site.