-
An ignition coil manages the voltage sent to the engine's spark plugs during start-up. The component is in effect a signal booster, amplifying a 12-volt starter charge into as much as 40,000 volts according to AA1 Car. When this component fails it can cause performance problems for the vehicle's engine, including diminished acceleration. A bad ignition coil should be replaced immediately to avoid being stranded on the side of the road.
Engine Misfire
-
Faulty ignition coils affect every engine cylinder causing it to misfire badly, according to automotive repair website AA1 Car. This condition occurs most often during acceleration when the engine is under load. Misfires may jump from cylinder to cylinder causing stall outs and all but cripple engine operation. In engines with a distributor-less ignition system, a single faulty ignition coil may only cause misfiring of one or two engine cylinders. These systems are easier to diagnose than distributor-based ignition systems.
Check Engine Light and Rough Running
-
Your vehicle may experience rough running conditions such as sluggish engine performance caused by a faulty ignition coil. This is commonly referred to as a lack of "get up and go." The engine may not misfire but instead seem as though it requires more gas to get up to speed. According to AA1 Car, vehicles using engines made after 1996 have on-board computer systems which detect fault codes triggered by failing ignition coils. This may cause the computer to illuminate your vehicle's yellow "check engine" light located on your dashboard.
No-Start Condition and Engine Damage
-
A faulty ignition coil significantly affects the voltage traveling to the engine. As a result, your engine may not have significant power to complete the ignition process resulting in a no-start condition. Repeated starting attempts could cause damage to the vehicle's spark plugs as these components receive a charge each time the ignition coil attempts to boost the voltage signal from the starter.
No comments:
Post a Comment