Ignition coils lie at the heart of your car’s engine, providing the electrical charge used to ignite the fuel inside each combustion chamber, thereby powering your car. Without healthy ignition coils in each of the cylinders, your engine won’t have the voltage required to keep the whole combustion process combusting. So if you ever notice the following indications of engine trouble, a faulty ignition coil might be to blame. Visit your local Chevy dealership in the DMV area right away to have it repaired.
Blinking Check Engine Light
Fortunately, it’s far easier these days to catch engine problems early on because of all the sophisticated sensors throughout your car. So as soon as a bad ignition coil starts causing trouble, you’ll see the dreaded check engine light come to life on your dashboard. If you notice this warning light, don’t delay in having the underlying problem diagnosed by a technician.
Coughing, Sputtering Engine
When a failing ignition coil prevents a spark plug from sparking, the cylinder begins to misfire. This causes the engine to cough, sputter, and shake as it struggles to keep going. The slower you drive, the worse these symptoms of misfiring are likely to become.
Repeatedly Stalling Engine
When a spark plug is misfiring because of a bad ignition coil, the unburned fuel that builds up in the chamber starts to foul the spark plug, worsening the problem. So a misfiring engine will inevitably get worse unless promptly repaired, eventually causing your car to stall. If you find your car’s engine repeatedly dying at inopportune moments, one or more of your ignition coils might be the culprit.
Slower Acceleration
With bad ignition coils, as misfiring cylinders rob the engine of its power, you’ll soon notice reduced acceleration speed. It will become harder to gain that necessary burst of power needed when crossing a busy intersection or coming out of a sharp turn.
Dropping Gas Mileage
Misfiring engines also tend to guzzle more gas for every mile you travel. If you realize your dashboard’s gas gauge is swinging to empty far too often, your ignition coils may be malfunctioning.
Backfiring From the Tailpipe
When bad coils cause misfiring cylinders, the unburned excess of fuel will start to leak back through the exhaust system. As it does, this fuel may ignite in the exhaust’s extreme heat, causing a loud bang and smoke to pour from the tailpipe.
Your Chevy Dealer Finds a Flaw
Good car maintenance requires regular trips to a trusted technician for servicing. While examining your vehicle, the technician will notice any engine problems stemming from a faulty coil and let you know when it’s time for replacement coils.
Visit Jim McKay Chevrolet’s Chevrolet Department today to have your engine and ignition coils checked by our expert Chevy service team in the local Fairfax, VA area!
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