Every vehicle has at least one ignition coil. Some vehicles have multiple. However, even one faulty coil can make your car act strangely, making driving more difficult. Excessive engine vibrations, damaged spark plugs, moisture, and exposure to high temperatures can all make these coils fail. If you notice the signs that one of your coils is faulty, then visit your Mazda dealer to get the problem fixed ASAP. Here are seven of the most common signs you might have a faulty ignition coil.
1. The Check Engine Light Is On
The check engine light comes on when there’s any kind of problem under the hood. So, it’ll switch on if your ignition coil begins to fail. The light may illuminate even before your car starts, showing signs that there’s something wrong, and it warrants an immediate trip to your local dealership.
2. The Engine Misfires
When a coil is failing, it can make one of your cylinders fire incorrectly. This makes your engine misfire when you accelerate, idle, or abruptly stop the car. Misfiring can cause problems with other parts of your engine, shortening its lifespan and lowering your fuel economy. Even if your car only misfires once, visit the dealer to have the engine thoroughly examined.
3. The Engine Is Difficult to Start
Because your coils play an important role in starting and powering the car, it may be hard to get the vehicle started when one of the coils is faulty. The engine might only take a little longer than usual to turn over, but it’s still something you should never ignore.
4. The Engine Won’t Start at All
If your car only has a single coil, then the vehicle may not start when this coil begins to fail. The car definitely won’t start if the coil has failed completely.
5. The Car Feels Less Powerful
If your car seems less powerful than usual, then it may be because of a defective coil. Sluggish acceleration may not stop your car from working altogether, but it’s definitely a problem you should investigate ASAP.
6. The Car Jerks
If your car begins jerking during acceleration, then it’s a tell-tale sign that something is wrong. The problem may be simple, such as a faulty coil, but it still warrants a trip to the dealer.
7. The Car Backfires
Engines backfire because cars try to use more fuel than usual when there’s something wrong under the hood. The car won’t always burn up all of this fuel, so it travels through the exhaust system unburned and then detonates. You’ll know this has happened if you hear a loud popping sound coming from your exhaust.
Visit Auffenberg Mazda of O’Fallon in Shiloh, IL if your car has any of the problems above. We also provide regular maintenance to try to prevent issues with your coils and other parts of your car.
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