Here are 6 Signs You Have A Bad Ignition Control (and the Replacement Cost).
An ignition coil can be described as a transformer. It is responsible for converting and supplying enough current to the sparkplug to start the engine. It is a key component of the car’s ignition system, and if it is faulty, your car will not start.
This could lead to serious engine problems.
In this article, we will look at the symptoms of a bad ignition coil and examine what preventive measures could be taken to ensure the ignition coil’s long life. First, let’s take a quick look at the signs to look for.
Bad Ignition Control Coil Symptoms
Misfiring engines are the first sign that an ignition coil has failed. This can also be accompanied by a check engine warning light. There may be other symptoms such as a stalling of the engine or increased fuel consumption.
The ignition coil plays an essential role in the engine's functioning. You may have a variety of symptoms if the coil fails.
Below is a list that explains the most frequent symptoms of an ignition coil failure.
1. Verify Engine Light
If there are any problems with your engine, the check engine light will illuminate. 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.
The ignition coil is likely to be the cause of your symptoms.
2. Engine Backfires & Misfires
In the initial stages of an ignition coil problem, engine backfiring can be seen. When there's unburned fuel inside the combustion chamber, it can backfire and flow through the exhaust tube.
It also creates black smoke from the exhaust pipes and emits a gasoline-like odor. To avoid any damage to the exhaust system, it is important to correct this issue immediately.
3. Engine Stalling
If you have a single ignition coil, firing up a distributor – Common in old cars, your car might stall while driving. You might notice your engine stalling after driving at a normal speed. Engine stalls occur when an ignition coil provides an irregular voltage to the spark plug. Your car could come to an abrupt halt if it's not fixed immediately.
A car made with multiple ignition coils will not cause stalling if one of them fails.
4. Poor Fuel Economy
A defective ignition coil can cause your engine to misfire, which could lead to more fuel consumption. It can lead to a significant increase in fuel consumption, which is why the ignition coil should be replaced.
5. Strange Engine Noise
An ignition coil that is defective does not produce enough voltage to the spark plug and the engine will work harder.
Your car may sound strange if it is running on one of its cylinders less than usual due to a defective ignition coil.
6. Car Does Not Start at All
An ignition coil that is damaged or defective can stop the engine starting. The problem may not be with your ignition coil if you start the engine and hear clicking.
If there's no sound at all, it could be that your ignition system is failing. This is especially true if the car is older and has a single coil for each cylinder.
The Ignition coils' Function
The car’s ignition system aims to generate a high voltage from the car battery and transfer this voltage to the spark plugs. The spark plug will then ignite the fuel/air mixture, and turn the engine on.
The ignition coil is basically a high voltage, a low current transformer that takes voltage from the car’s 12-volt battery and converts it to 25-30,000 volts, which are needed by the spark plug for ignition.
Location of the ignition coil
If you have separate ignition coils, the ignition coils are located on the top of the spark plugs, usually on the engine’s head.
But if you have one separate ignition coil and a distributor, it is often installed at the car’s body, near the distributor.
Prices for replacing the ignition coil
The average cost to replace an ignition coil costs between $60 and $350 depending on its model and labor expenses. A single ignition coil costs between $30-150. A single ignition coil costs between $30 to $200 in labor.
The replacement of an ignition coil is often pretty straightforward, and you can easily replace it yourself, but in some car models, the job can take an hour or two; that’s why you should expect a quite high replacement cost in some cases.
Changing the ignition coil is often easy, but if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, go to the car mechanic and let the experts do the work.
FAQs about the ignition coil
Can you replace one ignition coil?
It is possible to replace one ignition coil. However, if you have never had your ignition coils replaced, it is possible that other coils could also go bad. But, expensive ignition coils are not something most people want to replace.
When should the ignition coils need to be changed?
There are no established guidelines for when to replace ignition coils. The ignition coils are durable and can be replaced when they go bad.
Is a bad ignition code a cause for a code to be thrown?
In most cases, an ignition coil problem will result in a code. Most likely, you will find the P0300 and P030X codes. The last X is replaced by the number of the bad ignition coil.
What is the life expectancy of ignition coils?
An ignition coil should last approximately 100,000 miles. It depends on what car model you are driving. You may not need to replace coils in some models.
What if your ignition coil is bad?
It is best to not drive with an ignition coil that has failed. A bad ignition coil will cause misfires in the cylinder’s combustion chamber, and misfires can cause further problems with your engine or damage your catalytic converter.
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