Ignition coils boost the electrical voltage coming from your car's battery, providing enough power for the spark plugs to fire the engine's cylinders. Despite how hard ignition coils work, you can expect them to last for 100,000 miles or more. But all ignition coils eventually falter. The following six signs of a faulty ignition coil should prompt you to
visit your trusted Nissan service center in Rockville, MD.
Your Engine Loses Power
When an ignition coil is on its last legs, the corresponding spark plug will also run into trouble. It won't be sparking as often as it should. As a result, your engine will lose power.
You Lose Acceleration
With your engine losing power, you won't be able to accelerate as quickly. A loss in acceleration is dangerous at times when you need a rapid burst in speed, such as when crossing a busy intersection.
You're Idling Roughly
If your cylinders aren't firing effectively, you'll hear the engine sputtering and coughing while resting in idle. The struggling engine will also cause your car to tremble and shake. This is noticeably different from the smooth, quiet idle of a healthy Nissan engine.
Your Car Won't Start
If one or more ignition coils aren't providing enough consistent voltage, the engine might fail to start at all. At the very least, you might find it difficult to start up in the morning, which is usually the first sign of trouble.
Your Fuel Economy Drops
With at least one problematic ignition coil and spark plug, some of the fuel being pumped into the combustion chambers is going unburned. This reduces your gas mileage, which means you'll be traveling less far for each gallon of gas in the tank.
Your Exhaust Fumes Thicken
The unburned fuel left behind by failing spark plugs starts to force its way out through the exhaust system. Eventually, this fuel will emerge from the tailpipe through thick, dark smoke.
As the unburned fuel passes through the catalytic converter, it can cause damage to the cat's delicate ceramic meshwork. The immense heat inside a cat can even cause the fuel to ignite, melting the cat's interior. If this happens, you'll see flames in the smoke behind your car.
How a Nissan Dealer Inspects Your Coils
A good technician will use a variety of tools to test your ignition coils. These tools include an OBD scanner, a spark tester, and a multimeter. When a faulty coil is identified, it can sometimes be cleaned. But more commonly, you'll need to install a new one.
Have an experienced technician inspect your ignition coils and engine today at DARCARS Nissan of Rockville. We hope this blog has helped you further understand your vehicle’s engineering. We encourage you to
browse our similar blogs to discover more ways to maintain your Nissan.
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