6 Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil

If one of your engine’s ignition coils malfunctions, you’ll experience the following issues with your car. It’s never wise to drive far with a faltering coil, as the resulting misfiring can soon lead to more serious faults. Have a trusted technician at your local CDJR dealership inspect and replace your bad coils without delay.

Your Engine Starts Misfiring

Each coil takes electricity from the battery and magnifies it significantly, delivering enough voltage to the spark plugs to ignite the fuel and power the engine’s combustion process. If one of your engine’s coils fails, the corresponding spark plug will misfire, causing your car to cough and sputter, especially when you slow down at traffic lights. 

You Lose Engine Power

With one or more spark plugs misfiring due to coil failure, your engine’s overall power will diminish. You’ll find it harder to accelerate in key moments, such as when coming out of a corner, overtaking, or crossing an intersection. 

You’re Stopping More for Gas

A faulty coil will cause your engine to burn fuel less efficiently. This means your gas mileage will plummet, and you’ll find yourself stopping at the gas station more frequently. 

Your Car Starts Backfiring

When bad coils cause misfiring, an excess of unburned fuel often builds up inside the combustion chambers. This excess fuel can start to leak back toward the exhaust system, igniting as it escapes the cylinder. When this happens, you may hear loud backfiring. 

You See Smoke in the Exhaust 

Fuel isn’t supposed to leak into a car’s exhaust system; it can cause damage as it does, particularly if it reaches the catalytic converter. If a malfunctioning coil results in such a problem in your car, you may see smoke issuing from the tailpipe behind you. 

Your Car Struggles To Start

When you start your car in the morning, the spark plugs need a reliable surge of electricity to get the engine turning over. If any of your coils fail to deliver this voltage, your engine might struggle to start. 

Your CDJR Dealer Can Diagnose the Underlying Cause of Your Faulty Coil

Bad coils can result from a variety of factors, including moisture seeping in from a valve cover leak, an incorrect gap with the spark plug, excessive strain from an unbalanced fuel-air ratio, excessive vibrations, or carbon deposits. An experienced technician at your local dealership can inspect your car’s coils, repair or replace them as required, and also diagnose and repair the underlying problem. 

Visit Bergstrom Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI to have your malfunctioning coils repaired or replaced. We’ve been faithfully serving the local community’s drivers with high-quality vehicles, deals, financing options, and customer care since 1982. 

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