7 Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil

Have your car’s engine started to lose its energy? Is it coughing and muttering all of a sudden, and slouching along like a sickly invalid? If it is, you may have a faulty ignition coil. The following seven symptoms should prompt you to visit your nearest Chevy dealer at once to have your bad coil repaired or replaced. 

Check Engine Dashboard Light

Modern Chevrolet vehicles have over a hundred sensor modules designed to pick up any kind of trouble, so the first thing you’ll notice when an ignition coil falters will often be the check engine light springing to life on your dashboard. This light might point to a variety of possible problems. You’ll probably need a technician to determine if an ignition coil or something else is malfunctioning. 

Coughing, Sputtering Sounds

When ignition coils fail to send sufficient electricity to the spark plugs, those spark plugs start misfiring. That means the cylinder won’t be burning fuel properly. Instead of a smooth and steady engine rumble, you’ll hear it coughing and sputtering as if it’s struggling to stay alive. 

Shaking and Juddering

With a bad coil, your misfiring engine will also shake and vibrate strangely. These symptoms will often be worse first thing in the morning and whenever you drive slowly or pause in idle. 

Sudden Stalling 

If an ignition coil has given up the ghost entirely, you may find yourself suddenly stalling while pausing at traffic lights. Needless to say, this can be very inconvenient, especially if your engine struggles to start up again. 

Struggling to Start

Without fully functioning ignition coils, an engine may struggle to start, especially first thing in the morning when a strong surge of electrical voltage is required. Because of this, if it’s taking you several tries to get your engine going, consider having your ignition coils checked. 

Reduced Accelerative Power

An engine with one failing cylinder also has lessened power. This will be most obvious when you’re trying to gain a quick burst of speed and your car fails to accelerate as it should. 

Poor Gas Mileage

Even though a bad ignition coil can’t deliver the ignition sparks as rapidly as it should, the cylinder’s fuel injector will keep injecting the same amount of fuel. This results in plummeting fuel efficiency. 

How Frequently To Replace Coils at Your Chevy Dealer

Ignition coils tend to last around 100,000 miles of driving, although this distance can vary depending on coil quality and driving conditions. Anything that puts the engine under more strain may cause your coils to wear out sooner. 

Visit Bacon Chevrolet today to have your car’s ignition coils inspected and repaired or replaced. For over 50 years, the Billy Bacon family has been looking after the drivers of East Texas with great vehicles and great customer service. 

Tags: Decreased fuel efficiency, Difficulty starting the engine, Engine misfire, Ignition coil failure, Ignition system problems, Rough idle, Signs of faulty ignition coil
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