Ignition Coil

An ignition coil (also known as an ignition coil) is an induction coil in a car's ignition system that converts the low voltage of the battery into the thousands of volts needed to create a spark inside. spark plugs to burn fuel.

How Ignition Systems Work

Ignition Systems - Explained

How does spark plug timing work? An explanation of automotive ignition systems. Ignition coils, distributors, and firing intervals all play an important role in ignition.

Note: The cylinder order from left to right on the engine is 4-3-2-1, not 1-2-3-4.

The Basics Of A Car Engine

In order to understand how your vehicle's ignition system works we need to review the basics of internal combustion.

Basically, a car engine is like a large pump. Air and gas are being pumped in and exhaust is being pumped out. There is a by-product of excess energy that is being sent to the wheels and exhaust (which exits through the tailpipe). Your car's engine combines the air and the fuel, and adds a spark. The spark ignites the air and fuel mixture to cause an explosion. This is what we refer to as ignition.

The ignition system is a group of components that work in tandem to create the ignition. The ignition system contains an ignition coil, a distributor, a distributor cap, a rotor, plug wires and spark plugs. Older ignition systems use what is called a "points-and-condenser system" in the distributor. Current ignition systems like the one your car most likely contains uses an ECU. An ECU or an engine control unit controls the spark and ignition timing.

Well take this apart piece by piece so it all makes sense.

1. Ignition Coil

The ignition coil takes the weak battery power and turns it into a spark that is powerful enough to ignite your fuel's vapor. There are two coils of while in the ignition coil and they are right on top of each other called windings. The windings are differentiated as primary and secondary. The primary winding gathers the power to create a spark. The secondary winding sends it to the distributor.

There are three contacts on an ignition coil. If the ignition coil has an external plug, then the contacts are on the inside of the case. The large and obvious contact in the middle of the ignition coil is where the coil wire goes. The coil wire is the wire that links the ignition coil to the distributor cap. The second contact is a 12V wire that connects into a positive power source. The third contact sends information to the rest of the vehicle such as the tachometer.

2. The Distributor, Distributor Cap, and Rotor

As we mentioned above, your ignition coil links to the distributor via a coil wire. The distributor receives that powerful spark and sends it out to the spark plugs.

The distributor is a very precise spinner. It spins distributing the sparks to each of the spark plugs at the right time. The rotor, which is actually connected directly to the shaft of the distributor, is the mechanism that distributes the sparks. Since it's connected to the distributor, the rotor also spins and makes contact with a number of points that correspond to the number of cylinders your engine has. Then, it sends the spark through the point to the plug wire located on the other end. Modern distributors use electronic assistance that is able to alter the ignition's timing.

3. Spark Plugs & Wires

As we mentioned above, once the ignition coil creates the high-powered spark, the distributor and rotor takes that spark and spins it to the right outlet. However, we still need a way to transport that spark to the spark plug. This is done using spark plug wires.

The contact points on the distributor cap connect to a plug wire that takes the spark to the spark plugs. The spark plugs are screwed to the head of the cylinder.

The end of the spark plug is located at the top of the cylinder and that's where the action happens. Once the intake valve lets out just the right amount of fuel vapor and air in the cylinder, the spark plug creates a blue hot spark that ignites the mixture. This is what causes combustion. The ignition system does this thousands of times per minute.

4. The Ignition Module

Through an old system called "a points-and-condenser system", a distributor relied on many of its own mechanics to time the spark at just the right time. The ignition points were set to a specific gap, which created the proper amount of spark while the condenser did the regulating.

Nowadays, all of this is handled by computers. This computer is called an ignition module. If it malfunctions, all you can do is replace it since it cannot be repaired.

How much does it cost to replace the ignition coil?

The average cost for a ignition coil replacement is between $ 264 and $ 376. Labor costs are estimated from $ 99 to $ 126 while parts are priced from $ 165 to $ 250. Estimated Currently excluding taxes and fees.

Cheap and good ignition coil:
Full ignition coil
"ignition coil" for cars: Accessories for "ignition coil" cars

The ignition coil on a Stihl FS 

1 Pcs Ignition Coil For Stihl MS270 MS280 Gasoline Chainsaw

More details: 1 Pcs Ignition Coil For Stihl MS270 MS280 Gasoline Chainsaw 1133 400 1350 Engine Garden Tools Spare Parts Igniton System Rubber

Typical ignition coil for Cars

Car Ignition Coil A0001587803 0221503035

More details: Car Ignition Coil A0001587803 0221503035 for Mercedes-Benz W203 C240 M112 C320 CLK320

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Faulty Ignition Coil - Signs and Symptoms

Before discussing the signs and symptoms of faulty ignition coil, let us see the common causes that could lead to its failure.

Causes of failure

• Lack of proper maintenance and using spark plugs that are too old. Bad spark plugs often cause the failure.

• Overheating also leads to failure. This is because its ability to carry electricity decreases drastically.

• Normal wear and tear also leads to damage. This is because of the high voltage generated and as the voltage goes across all parts in the ignition system, it results in high wear and tear, which in turn results in ignition coil failure.

Signs and symptoms: When it is defective, you notice certain signs. They are as follows:

• Starting trouble: If the ignition coil is completely dead, it is obvious that the vehicle won't start because the spark plugs need power at a high-voltage. This prevents the vehicle from starting, and leads to trouble.

• Vehicle runs sluggish: A faulty ignition coil does not produce enough voltage that can create enough sparks. This weakens the combustion process making your car run sluggish.

• Repeated spark plug misfires: If your vehicle is experiencing repeated spark plug failures, it is also a sign of faulty ignition coil. This sign requires immediate attention as it can damage the engine.

• Poor fuel economy and noisy engine: Your car gives very less mileage. As the spark plugs do not get enough power, your car will have to consume more fuel. Your car may emit thick black smoke. Also, the car produces loud noise because the engine has to work harder as you accelerate.

• Acceleration gets affected: When you accelerate the car, it might not go at a speed beyond 25-30 mph. It will not accelerate even if you try hard.

Test to check

To confirm that the ignition coil is problematic, follow these steps.

• Run the vehicle for half an hour, and tap the ignition coil module. If the engine stops, the ignition coil has become faulty for sure.

• Check the resistance using a multi-meter.

If the resistance is too high, it is a positive sign of failure. This is because, when the resistance is too high, the ignition system will have more load and has to struggle.

If the resistance is low, it leads to flow of a high amount of electricity, which might damage the ignition system.

Tips to reduce the failure

• Ensure health of spark plugs: The spark plugs play an important role as part of the ignition system of your car. Make sure to get it checked periodically as recommended by manufacturer. Keep it clean and replace after the life period or if it is damaged, worn out, whichever is early.

• Regular maintenance: Maintenance of your car can avoid the failure. Make sure to follow the user manual given by manufacturer.

Ignition coil is the energy generator to the engine of your car. The points discussed in this article are likely to help you spot a faulty one, and take necessary remedial steps.

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Tips on Extending the Life of an Ignition Coil

You can extend the life of the coil up to 80,000 km by following a few tips

Battery should be well charged

Make sure to charge the battery optimally. If it is below optimal level, the workload on the coil is unlikely to create sufficient spark to ignite fuel.

Check for oil leaks

Check if there is any damaged sealant. This condition may lead to the leakage of oil. Often, oil damages the insulation in wires and exposes them. This causes sparks and rules out coil ignition.

Prevent formation of moisture

Look out for any breakages where the ignition coil is located. Make sure you seal such cracks with an adhesive. This prevents moisture from entering into the system.

Avoid engine overheating

In summer, the climate is hot and you may like to sit in your car with the air-conditioner on. Running the air-conditioner puts excess workload on the engine. The engine component gets hotter and hotter. Unless the heat is facilitated to move out from the engine, it might cause excess heat. This heat may reduce the durability of the ignition coil.

Limit vibrations

Occasionally, you may get a knocking noise that is unusual. Such noise is an indication of damage of the part where it comes from. If the noise becomes frequent, it damages the housing. It might also lead to short-circuit in the coil and ultimately failure.

Maintenance of spark plugs

Over time, spark plugs wear because of workload. Get the spark plugs replaced as recommended by the manufacturer. While replacing spark plugs, see that the cylinder head threads and spark plug threads are free from moisture, dust and debris. Make sure to follow maintenance of the coil as recommended by the manufacturer.

Proper maintenance of engine parts

It is important that you take proper care of the engine parts. For this, you need to use engine oil of the right grade and appropriate fuel. You should also replace air filters, fuel injection pump, spark plugs and use right level of coolant (it should be between 'high' and 'low').

Make sure to replace the belts (in driving the pulleys) in the engine (replace them at 80,000 km), and get the vehicle serviced by expert professionals. Also, for optimal fuel economy, inflate tires to pressure recommended by the manufacturer.

Wait...
✔ You probably didn't know about the alternating current generator of Nikola Tesla
✔ You will be shocked by the easy way to build ...
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✰ Honestly, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen and in a few minutes from now you’ll be outraged you ever paid a single cent to Big Electric…
✰ So you absolutely need to watch this short presentation today, while it’s still up…