Low Power Mystery (Ignition Coil Service)
November 7, 2021
It's no fun when your vehicle just doesn't run the way it used to. You may notice (especially in cold weather) the engine won't start easily or when it does start, it doesn't run smoothly. It may not have much power at all. You also may have had to stop at the gas station more often, a sign your fuel economy isn't what it used to be.
There could be a few different things that cause those symptoms, but one culprit could be a bad ignition coil. The coil takes the voltage from your battery and multiplies it before that power is sent over to a spark plug. That allows the plug to fire off a good jolt of electricity that ignites the fuel in your cylinder and powers the engine.
There's usually one ignition coil for each cylinder (or sometimes for a pair of cylinders). If only one of them is not pushing out enough electricity, it can cause big trouble with your engine performance. Other signs of a bad ignition coil include engine backfire, an oil leak and your Check Engine light coming on. When that light comes on and you have some of those other signs, you need to have your repair facility check things out fairly soon because you may be damaging your engine and wind up with a far more expensive repair.
A technician will check for a computer code to pinpoint which cylinder is having the problem. Using other diagnostics, the technician can rule out other components that might be causing the engine to misfire. Ignition coils usually last 100,000 miles/160,000 km, but other engine conditions can cause them to fail before then.
Your service advisor may suggest getting all your coils replaced even though only one is malfunctioning. That's probably a good idea in a higher mileage vehicle since the other coils may be close to failure, too. It's also wise to do that if your vehicle's coils are located in a hard-to-reach spot so you likely won't have to spend the money for that labor again when another one fails.
Charlie's Fast Lube Anna
1215 East Vienna St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
618-833-4999
http://www.charliesfastlubeanna.com
Need Service?
More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Anna
Straight Ahead (Wheel Alignment)
December 15, 2024
If every road was straight and smooth, we wouldn't have to worry much about wheel alignment. But they're not, so we do. Hitting potholes or driving on rough pavement can knock your vehicle out of alignment and you'll notice it in one of several ways. Your steering wheel may not be centered when ... More
Positive Crankcase Ventilation ? PCV Valve Service at Charlie's Fast Lube Anna
December 8, 2024
Hello Anna! Did you know that the first federally-mandated emissions control device was introduced in the 1960's? The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve, or PCV valve, has been installed in Illinois vehicles since 1964 and represents the first legislation by the United States government to regu... More
The Neglected Windshield (Windshield Care)
December 1, 2024
You look at it every day, yet you don't really see it. We're talking about your vehicle's windshield, and if you're not seeing it at all, that's probably a good sign. The fact is that unless our windshields get fogged up, hazy or cracked, we don't pay all that much attention to them. Consideri... More