6 Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil

Reduced Acceleration

When a bad ignition coil stops the spark plug from firing properly, that cylinder will falter, and the entire engine will lose power. This will make it harder to accelerate when attempting to overtake another vehicle, accelerate out of a turn, or quickly cross a busy intersection. 

Misfiring Spark Plugs

As one or more spark plugs start misfiring, the engine will cough and shudder alarmingly. Misfiring usually becomes most noticeable when you’re resting idle at traffic lights or driving at high speeds on the highway. As misfiring can cause damage to various car parts, it’s important to address it right away. 

Slow Starts and Stalls

The engine’s cylinders require a powerful surge of electricity to get started from cold in the morning. If one or more coils fail to deliver this voltage, your car will struggle to start. It might also suddenly stall while out on the road.

Plummeting Gas Mileage

Your fuel economy will immediately suffer when you have a faulty coil.  Even though the spark plug no longer has sufficient voltage to ignite the fuel inside the combustion chamber, fuel is still being injected into the chamber at the usual rate, leading to wastage and other more harmful engine problems. 

Black Exhaust Smoke

The excess fuel that collects inside a misfiring cylinder can start to seep back into the exhaust system. Therein, this fuel can partially ignite, causing black smoke to emerge from the tailpipe. Fuel inside the exhaust pipes can also seriously damage the catalytic converter.

Check Engine Light

The check engine light will typically appear on the dashboard in response to a faulty coil. This light may not specify the cause of the problem but a trusted technician will soon figure it out. 

Have Your Coils Inspected at Your CDJR Dealer

If your engine is demonstrating the above signs of trouble, have your coils checked by one of our experienced technicians. We can promptly ascertain the root issue and clean, repair, or replace bad coils, as required. 

Visit Auffenberg Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Shiloh, IL, today to have your coil issues resolved. We’re a locally trusted dealership offering a broad range of new and used vehicles, competitive deals, comprehensive maintenance services, and attentive customer care. 

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