What happens when you have a bad ignition coil?
A bad ignition coil, even though we do not think much about it when our car won’t start, have performance issues or show a low fuel economy, is one of the major factors that directly affect the engine performance.
Where is the ignition coil on a car?
Locate the ignition coil. The location will differ depending on the vehicle model, but it should be nearer to the wires connecting to the spark plugs. A simple search on the internet with your vehicle model number will help you locate it correctly. Gently pull the wire connecting to one of the spark plugs.
How much voltage does an ignition coil need?
As mentioned earlier, the ignition coil amplifies 12V current thousands of times to provide the required voltage to ignite the fuel. Most of the cars use 12V battery, and the voltage required to ignite the fuel is between 20,000V to 40,000V.
What makes an ignition coil a compact transformer?
This is the reason the ignition coil is also known as a compact transformer. The ignition coil has two windings wrapped around an iron core. Normally, the coils are within a housing filled with oil to act as a refrigerant. The primary winding is the one with the low-tension current and is the outer coil.
A bad ignition coil, even though we do not think much about it when our car won’t start, have performance issues or show a low fuel economy, is one of the major factors that directly affect the engine performance.
Can a bad ignition coil cause a check engine light to flash?
As the ignition coil has a direct effect on the engine’s functioning, the check engine light starts to flash if there is a problem with the coil. If you have noticed any of the symptoms below and the check engine light, the problem is most likely with the ignition coil. Engine backfiring is noticed in the early stages of an ignition coil failure.
What is the misfire code on ignition coils?
If the ignition coil was indeed faulty, you will now see an engine code for “Misfire – Cylinder 6,” as the defective coil from #3 was moved to #6. Your next step is to pull the #6 coil you just moved and replace.
Where can I test the ignition coils in my car?
It’s easy enough to test your vehicle’s ignition coils yourself with a few tools from your local AutoZone. Even if you get a normal reading, ruling them out as the problem can help you narrow the issue with the ignition system.