Your ignition coil is a hard-working part. It takes the small amount of voltage that you get from your battery and amplifies it to up to 40,000 volts, sending all that power to the spark plugs so it can ignite your fuel. As long as it's doing this seamlessly, you'll have no problems. But a faulty coil will show itself through some signs: when you see these, visit your Ford dealer. Three Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil Your Car Backfires If your coil is faulty, then it will not be able to send the right voltage to the spark plugs. When that happens, some of the spark plugs don't fire. This means some unburned fuel will start to leak into the combustion chambers, and this fuel can suddenly ignite because of the heat, just when the valve is opening, creating an enormous bang. If you start hearing this kind of bang, and especially if you see black smoke coming from your exhaust, you've probably got an issue with the spark plugs or the coils. Your Gas Mileage Tanks You drive your Ford every day, so you have a good idea of how often you need to fill the tank. If you're having to fill it too much, you'll notice: and the culprit could be the coils. If fuel is going to waste and the engine is struggling, this will make a dent in your gas budget. You're Not Feeling the Power If the coil is not taking the charge to the spark plugs like it should and the cylinders are not firing, you're just not getting the power that your engine is capable of giving you. This means you're going to notice it gets harder to cross an intersection quickly or get up to speed on the interstate. You're Struggling To Start When a coil isn't working right, the spark plugs don't get the big surge voltage they need to start the engine. You'll notice this especially when you're trying to start a cold engine, and if it's getting hard to start the car in the morning, but the battery seems fine, a coil is likely to blame. Come See Your Ford Dealer to Diagnose a Coil Fault The average coil in an engine can last somewhere from 80,000 to 100,000 miles these days, and as you bring your Ford in for regular maintenance and service, we'll check on those coils and replace them according to the right intervals. However, there are some things that can cause a coil to fail early, so if you notice any of these signs, come see us. Come see us today at Bill Jackson Ford in Troy, AL for all your maintenance needs!
