As you drive, the engine’s ignition coils perform the remarkable feat of transforming the meager 12-volt charge from the battery into massive 25,000 to 40,000-volt bursts of electricity for the spark plugs. If your coils malfunction, you’ll notice the following symptoms of struggle inside your engine. You can have bad coils repaired or replaced at your local BMW dealership.
6 Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil
Your Engine Starts Misfiring
When one or more of your coils suffer a fault, its spark plug will no longer have a steady supply of electricity and will misfire. Misfiring cylinders cause the engine to cough and shake, especially when idling, accelerating, or towing heavier loads.
Your Engine Loses Power
Bad coils mean your engine can’t fire with all cylinders; it’s generating less power. You’ll therefore find it more difficult to accelerate promptly, and you may not be able to reach higher speeds on the highway. This reduction in engine power can pose a safety hazard.
Your Engine Suddenly Stalls
If malfunctioning coils fail altogether, your car might stall as the engine shuts down. This could leave you stranded somewhere inconvenient or parked in the middle of an intersection, unable to restart your car. It’s important to notice the early warning signs and have bad coils replaced before you experience stalling.
Your Gas Mileage Worsens
With faltering coils, your spark plugs will fail to ignite all the fuel that’s still being injected into the combustion chambers. This reduction in efficiency and power means your engine will guzzle gas without taking you nearly as far as usual; your gas mileage has plummeted.
You’ll See Black Smoke Behind You
The unburned fuel collecting inside the cylinders will eventually leak back into the exhaust pipes, where it’s likely to ignite, possibly causing your car to backfire. This will cause thick smoke to emerge from the tailpipe behind you: a sure sign of engine trouble.
Your Check Engine Light Appears
With faulty coils, the check engine light will soon come to life on your instrument panel. This warning light almost always indicates that your engine needs urgent attention by a trusted technician.
Have Your Coils Inspected at Your Local BMW Dealership
If you suspect that one of your coils has stopped working, bring your car in for an engine inspection. Our courteous, experienced technicians can run diagnostics and quickly identify the source of the problems. If a bad coil is to blame, we can promptly clean, repair, or replace it and have your car working like new once more.
Visit Tom Bush BMW Orange Park in Jacksonville, FL, today to have your engine troubles resolved. We’re a locally-owned, community-focused dealership providing terrific cars, maintenance services, and customer care.
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