What are the symptoms of a bad ignition coil?
2 Answers
Ignition coil failure symptoms include: 1. Noticeable body vibration at idle; 2. When observing the exhaust pipe outlet, there's obvious intermittent exhaust gas flow with severe pipe vibration, accompanied by clear popping sounds. As gasoline engines evolve towards higher RPM, higher compression ratios, greater power, lower fuel consumption, and reduced emissions, traditional ignition systems no longer meet operational requirements. The core components of an ignition system are the ignition coil and switching device. By enhancing the ignition coil's energy output, the spark plug can generate sufficient spark energy - this constitutes the fundamental requirement for modern engine-compatible ignition systems.
With extensive driving experience, I can tell when an ignition coil fails: the engine starts shaking noticeably, especially at idle. Acceleration becomes sluggish, and even flooring the gas pedal won't provide power—climbing hills feels like an old ox pulling a cart. Fuel consumption spikes dramatically, dropping from the usual 500 km per tank to barely 400 km before running empty. Emissions also go haywire, with black smoke puffing from the exhaust pipe. Sometimes, the car suddenly stalls in the middle of the road, which is downright dangerous. The check engine light might not always come on, but if something feels off, get it inspected immediately. Delaying repairs could lead to collateral damage to spark plugs or the catalytic converter. I recommend scanning with a diagnostic tool or heading straight to a professional workshop—safety first.
