You Should Know This About Your Car Ignition Coil

The ignition coil is a part of the vehicle ignition system. It is also called a spark coil, and it is an induction coil. Its job is to transform the battery’s low voltage to the thousands of volts needed to create an electric spark in the spark plugs. This then helps the spark plugs to ignite the fuel. There are several components to the ignition coil which enable it to perform its function. 

If you are searching for more information about Car Ignition Coils, then you should visit our “What Is The Function Of The Ignition Coil?” section.

The Ultimate Ignition Coil Buying Guide for you

The working of the car ignition coil is explained below:

The ignition system comprises different components which have separate functions. All of them work together to drive the process of ignition. Primarily the ignition process is where a spark produced by the spark plugs will trigger an explosion and ignite the air-fuel mixture. This will power the engine as needed to function.

Your vehicle's ignition coil comes into the picture when the insufficient trigger by the 12-volt battery used in the machine facilitates the explosion. The coil converts the 12-volt power into 40kV as required to create the spark.

The contact breaker closes when the current from the battery builds up, this continues till its full capacity is reached. After reaching the full capacity point, it opens and a high voltage spark is hence produced. Without the presence of the ignition coil, the 12v DC battery onboard the vehicle is of no use. Few ignition coils resort to the resistor to reduce the voltage, while others rely on a resistor wire or an external resistor to perform the same task.

Two coils of wire make up the ignition coil, they are placed one on top of the other. These are referred to as windings, the ‘primary coil’ is the first one and the second one is referred to as the ‘secondary coil’.The number of turns in the secondary coil is a multiple of the number of turns in the primary coil. The current from the battery flows through the primary coil and gets collected together to produce the spark required, this is eventually sent by the secondary coil to the distributor. To manage the heat generated during this process the coil is filled with oil, which behaves as a coolant. Few vehicles, depending on their engine, are equipped with a single ignition coil, while others have one for each spark plug.

Some of the common ignition system complaints include:

1. Complete no start of a vehicle - You may find that you’re not able to completely start your vehicle.

2. Difficulty when starting the vehicle - Without receiving the optimal signal from the ignition coil, the spark plugs can’t perform their job. Starting your vehicle may become even more difficult during cold or humid weather.

3. Engine misfiring while running - During high speeds you may experience engine misfire, accompanied by jerking or loss of power.

4. Lowered fuel economy - Insufficient energy created by the spark plug can cause the remaining cylinders to compensate for the loss of power, which increases the consumption of fuel.

5. Engine stalls at idle - This may happen rather frequently if the ignition system isn’t working efficiently.

Do you want to repair your Ignition Coil? If yes, then you surely need some tools to meet the demand of your car body structures. There is no need to worry as we are here to help you out. Have a look at the tools below which you will need while repairing your Ignition Coil.

• Good quality replacement ignition coil
• Screwdrivers
• Vehicle specific service manual for reference
• Socket set
• Ratchet
• Wrenches

Searching for a specific brand for your Ignition Coil? In that case, you have arrived at the correct place. All you have to do is have a look below:

• Blue Streak (Hydride Motor) Ignition Coil
• Richporter Technology Ignition Coil
• Spectra Premium Industries Ignition Coil
• Beck/Arnley Ignition Coil
• Delphi Ignition Coil

To know more about top brand Car Ignition Coil, visit our “Which Top-brand Ignition Coil Should I Choose?” section.

We believe that an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. So why not learn more about the associated parts of the car Ignition Coil? 

• Battery
• Spark plug
• Ignition switch
• Capacitor

Keen to know about the procedure of changing the Ignition Coil? Well, we have simplified the entire procedure for you:

Step 1: Disconnect the battery

Start by disconnecting the battery’s negative cable to cut off power to the vehicle. Using a socket or wrench you can disconnect the clamp bolt holding the cable to the terminal. Be careful while doing this.

Step 2: Locate the ignition coils

You can always use your vehicle manufacturer’s manual for help on this, however, the ignition coil will be attached to the engine block or the surrounding components.

Step 3: Disconnect and remove the old ignition coil

Begin with disconnecting the bolts/screws which are attaching the coil to the vehicle. Also, disconnect the electrical connectors from the coil carefully. Find out which connection has to be broken first, they may vary from vehicle to vehicle. So, refer to your manufacturer's manual for this. It is important to mark or label these connectors so that you have no confusion while reassembling them. The wires should get reattached to the correct corresponding connections to the new coil at the time of installation.

Step 4: Install the new ignition coil

In the reverse order of how you disconnected the old ignition coil, install the new one. Pay special attention to the markings you made for the electrical connectors and ensure they all go in the right place.

Step 5: Reconnect the battery

Now you can reattach the negative battery terminal to the car battery and restore power to the vehicle. Using your hand, tighten the electrical connection and use a socket/wrench to tighten the terminal bolt securely. Be sure to not over-tighten the bolts, you want them to be tight enough to not cause any engine vibration to loosen them. Over tightening can result in damage. Close the hood and proceed on to the next step of testing your replacement.

Step 6: Test the new coil

Start your engine in the park and test the new ignition coil. If you can start the vehicle and it idles as normal, you can do a test drive.

If you are still confused about which type of car Ignition Coil you should buy, then you can visit our The Ultimate Ignition Coil Buying Guide. You should always look for the warning signs of a Bad Ignition Coil and replace them at the earliest you can. With us, you can find Ignition Coil at the most economical cost.