What are the reasons for the symptoms of a faulty car ignition coil?
3 Answers
The reasons for the symptoms of a faulty car ignition coil are: 1. A short circuit in the spark plug directly causes an increase in current in the ignition coil, leading to a short circuit; 2. Excessive carbon buildup on the spark plug increases the load on the ignition coil, causing it to fail after prolonged overload operation; 3. A broken high-voltage wire prevents the high voltage generated by the ignition coil from being released, and the accumulated voltage discharges to the ground, causing a fault; 4. High power supply voltage results in excessive current in the primary circuit, causing the ignition coil to rupture; 5. A short circuit in the high-voltage wire to the ground increases the current in the ignition coil, leading to a short circuit; 6. Poor performance of the igniter integrated circuit.
When my car's ignition coil failed last time, the engine shook like a sieve, especially noticeable during acceleration with obvious power loss. It sometimes even stalled and had difficulty starting. The main cause was aging and insulation breakdown of the ignition coil, leading to internal short circuits and insufficient spark. High-temperature environments, like prolonged driving or parking under the sun, accelerate this aging process, and oxidation of wiring harness connectors also increases failure rates. During inspection, I found that a single faulty coil could cause misfires in multiple cylinders, affecting emissions and causing a significant rise in fuel consumption. I even had to get a catalytic converter cleaning because of this. Regularly replacing spark plugs is crucial as they can get damaged along with it, extending the overall system's lifespan. Don't wait until the problem becomes severe to fix it—a professional shop can diagnose and fix it with a simple test.
I've experienced ignition coil failure before. While driving, the car suddenly started shaking violently, had poor acceleration, and almost stalled. Fortunately, I pulled over immediately. The causes are mostly internal coil burnout or poor external cable contact. I've noticed older cars are more prone to this issue because high engine compartment temperatures make plastic components brittle, leading to leaks and short circuits. If left unaddressed, it may cause more serious problems like catalytic converter clogging, increasing repair costs. During every maintenance session, I ask technicians to inspect the ignition system to ensure safety. I recommend car owners learn basic diagnostics, such as using a multimeter to measure resistance - it saves both money and hassle.
