In a vehicle’s ignition system, a coil pack consists of a number of ignition coils. New and modern cars come with coil packs instead of distributors, since coil packs are more reliable. A coil pack is electronically controlled by the car’s computer and is regulated by it. You may encounter several bad coil pack symptoms, and you should be aware of them since they could lead to more severe engine performance issues. By converting the 12-volt battery output to 45,000 volts, the coil pack is responsible for storing energy. Then send it to the spark plug cables to start the ignition process.
What are the bad coil pack symptoms?
At least four ignition coils are usually located in an engine, one for every engine cylinder. An ignition coil is essential to the combustion process since the spark plug would not receive the necessary voltage without it. To ignite the air and gas mixture in the combustion chamber, spark plugs need highly high voltages. The coil pack is critical to launching the engine, so if you’re experiencing trouble starting or driving, it could be a faulty coil pack. The following symptoms indicate a defective coil pack:
1. Engine backfiring
Backfiring is one of the common lousy coil symptoms. In this case, combustion occurs in the engine’s intake and not in the chamber. Loud bangs are caused by an unexpected explosion in an internal combustion engine, or even in the exhaust system. There is a possibility that a bad ignition coil can lead to this problem because it does not send the right amount of voltage to the spark plug, which is necessary for combustion to take place.
By the exhaust pipe, unused fuel is left in the combustion chamber when combustion is incomplete. There are times when the waste fuel catches fire in the tube before it can be extinguished. Damage to the tube would then be more severe. If you notice black smoke coming from your exhaust or an unmistakable smell of gasoline or fire, you should have it checked immediately. Delaying a repair can result in more significant damage and much more expensive problems.
2. Fuel economy is low
You know how much gasoline your car consumes every time you drive it after driving it for a while. You might be dealing with a bad coil pack if you notice that your vehicle consumes more fuel than usual. It occurs when the system feeds more energy to compensate for the spark plugs not receiving enough power. Due to the lack of control provided to the spark plugs, the extra fuel consumption pays for it. A faulty ignition coil can also contribute to poor fuel economy or gas mileage.
3. Misfiring engine
In addition to engine misfiring, this is one of the symptoms of a bad coil pack. You may hear or feel sputtering or coughing when you start your engine or idling. A malfunction occurs when one or more engine cylinders fail to fire correctly or don’t fire. Bad coils do not supply sufficient voltage to spark plugs, resulting in this problem.
Engine misfires can happen at any time, but they are more likely to occur when your vehicle exerts more force, such as when accelerating. A car’s catalytic converter can also be damaged by engine misfires, since they produce a great deal of emissions. Raw fuel can pass through a misfire and saturate the interior of the catalytic converter causing the afterburner process to stop, causing a buildup of carbon, which eventually causes the catalytic converter to be clogged. It can also damage your car’s sensors if it changes the fuel-to-air mixture, slowing it down when you try to accelerate. In order to address the cause of a misfire as soon as possible, mistakes should not be taken lightly.
4. When Accelerating, RPMs Drop Noticeably
As you accelerate, you will notice a pronounced drop in RPM when you have a bad coil pack. You will see this by checking the RPM gauge while driving. A malfunctioning coil pack causes insufficient engine power.
5. Car won’t start
A bad coil pack could be the cause of your car not starting. Multiple damaged ignition coils do not produce a spark in a coil pack, which prevents the engine from starting. Even though the starter motor is turned, there is insufficient voltage to ignite the spark plugs. During the combustion process, the ignition lock prevents the engine from starting. This problem is expected during the cold season and when the humidity is high.
6. Stalls Your Car.
You might have a bad coil pack if your car stalls while driving or when you’re already stopped. Intermittent electrical currents reach the spark plug at the earliest stage of a faulty coil. Because of this, you will be able to start and drive your car without experiencing a stall. Your vehicle might eventually stop entirely if the stalling begins while moving, and you might have difficulty restarting it.
Final Thoughts
Listed above are common symptoms of lousy coil. It is possible to determine the type of action you need to take based on the symptoms of your car. It is important that you have your vehicle checked and repaired as soon as you notice one or more of these symptoms. Putting it off could lead to more severe problems like engine deterioration or damage to the catalytic converter. A car with a bad coil pack will also compromise your safety if it stalls, misfires, or stops while you are driving. Even if only one coil fails, the chances are that the others will forget soon.
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