Ignition Coil Vs Spark Plug: What Sets Them Apart From One Another?

A car's ignition system contains an ignition coil, which is an induction coil. The ignition coil converts the low voltage in your vehicle’s battery into thousands of volts. The ignition coil then ignites the spark plugs with an electric spark, as a result, fuel is ignited by the spark plugs. The ignition coil pack's main function is to develop and produce the energy required to run the engine. The ignition system needs to be frequently maintained because the ignition coil is essential to start the vehicle.

Your vehicle's engine's air-fuel mixture is ignited by a spark plug using electricity from the battery. Consequently, a spark plug aids in starting your vehicle. Additionally, your car features spark plugs that start the pistons in your engine. They keep your car moving while it is on the road.

When one of the ignition coils in the ignition coil pack breaks or the spark plug is damaged and not working, the engine may begin to misfire, backfire, or stall, which will cause it to progressively lose its power. The combustion to take place in an engine, an ignition coil pack is required. However, for the engine to start, both the spark plugs and the ignition coils are required. The following are some of the most common indications that the ignition coil and spark plugs are failing:

Modern automobiles come with an electronic computer that keeps a close eye on all the parts of the vehicle’s system. The car's computer system will activate the "Check Engine" warning light when the ignition coil starts to wear out or get damaged. The failure of the ignition coil prevents the spark plugs from receiving sufficient voltage to ignite the fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber. As a result, the engine begins to misfire, which sets off the car's emission system. The Check Engine light flashes as a result of this.

Sometimes the ignition coil may not completely  fail. You'll see indications of diminishing engine performance before they eventually fail. A considerable decrease in gas mileage is one of the most obvious signs of poor engine performance. Part of the fuel is left unburned when an ignition coil is unable to finish the combustion process. Ineffective ignition coils can't produce enough current to ignite the spark plugs. As a result, the fuel's chemical energy cannot be transformed into a usable form. As a result, more fuel is consumed.

If an ignition coil in the ignition coil pack malfunctions, the air, and fuel mixture will exit the combustion chamber unburned and it will ignite due to the heat generated in the combustion chamber when it flows out of the exhaust. This results in the engine's one or more cylinders backfiring. The exhaust system of your car might suffer serious harm from backfiring.

If your vehicle fails to go at its full speed when you press the acceleration pedal, this can be attributed to a bad ignition coil.

When an engine won't start, it's typically an indication that the spark plugs aren't producing enough spark to ignite the fuel. Even the ignition coil is unable to supply the required voltage to spark the spark plugs.

As an ignition coil is linked with a spark plug, when an ignition coil stops working, the spark plug also stops working. New spark plugs must be installed at the same time as the ignition coil. Swapping out either the bad ignition coil or the bad spark plug for a new one is one technique to determine whether the problem is with the spark plug or the ignition coil. In order to see how the engine operates with the new spark plugs, first, try connecting a new ignition coil to the old spark plugs. Usually, a simple visual inspection will reveal the ignition coil's state. The ignition coil's wear can be seen in the form of burn marks, cracks, and carbon tracking on the ignition coil. 

You can get the most precise diagnosis of the ignition coil with the aid of an oscilloscope. This device plots the timing of the ignition coil signals. Wave patterns are used to display the results. By a specialist spark tester so that you can check the functionality of your spark plugs. Weak sparks can sometimes produce an orange or red colour that is challenging to see during the day. The ignition coil needs  replacement if there is a poor spark or no spark at all.

Utilizing a scan tool or code reader when the check engine light appears is possibly the simplest technique to discover whether your car has defective spark plugs or ignition coils. The scanning tool or code reader communicates with the computer system of your vehicle to identify any mechanical issues it is experiencing. The majority of well-known auto shops will scan your automobile for free, but a mechanic will need to understand the code.

In general, it should be quite some time before the ignition coils need to be replaced. At least 100,000 miles of use is recommended for the ignition coil. The majority of the modern vehicles on the road have an ignition coil that is covered in plastic to protect it. Untimely ignition coil failure can result due to a variety of reasons such as:

The ignition coil’s internal copper wire is prone to heat damage. If spark plugs fail, the ignition coils  work much harder as they experience high voltage. The performance of the engine is eventually compromised when the ignition coil overheats and begins to develop cracks and burn marks.

When the electrical connectors corrode, start to melt, or break, the ignition coil may malfunction.

With time, the ignition coil will ultimately start to show signs of wear. The internal parts of the ignition system will suffer due to the high voltage that the ignition coils are frequently exposed to. Leaks in the engine's oil also harm the ignition coil.

The spark plugs used in the majority of modern automobiles contain platinum tips on the electrodes, which extends their lifespan compared to conventional copper spark plugs. Approximately after 75,000 miles, copper spark plugs begin to wear. The recommended interval for spark plug replacement varies depending on the manufacturer. For instance, Toyota advises customers to change the spark plugs every 120,000 miles, whereas Ford advises Explorer owners to change the spark plugs after 100,000 miles.

The spark plugs must be replaced as soon as possible if they become contaminated with engine oil. Even though spark plugs equipped with electrodes are intended to live longer, some less expensive ones don't. Electrodes occasionally deteriorate more quickly.

Additionally, the lifespan of your spark plugs may be greatly influenced by your driving habits. The spark plugs should wear out more quickly if you drive fast as it demands high engine performance.

Driving with a damaged ignition coil pack and spark plugs will ultimately cause further harm to the engine and ignition system of your car. Even if your car runs fine, the performance of the engine will soon deteriorate, making driving extremely challenging. Misfires are a typical sign of worn-out spark plugs and ignition coils. An accident could result from intermittent misfiring because it can generate vibrations that make a car difficult to control or even cause the automobile to shut off while it is moving. Your engine will stall and lose power if bad ignition coils and spark plugs are not checked. Therefore, you should have a qualified mechanic replace the spark plugs and ignition coils as soon as possible.

Ignition coils  cost between CAD$ 13.5 and CAD$ 844 at  PartsAvatar, depending on the make and model of your car. The price of Spark plugs varies from CAD$ 5 to CAD$ 83.