The ignition coils in your engine generate high voltage for the spark plugs to ignite the fuel inside the combustion chambers. As the coils play a pivotal in the combustion process, you’ll soon notice if one or more of them malfunction. Here are seven of the most common indications that you need to visit your local Volkswagen dealer to repair or replace your coils.
Misfiring Spark Plugs
As spark plugs depend on the ignition coils for a ready supply of electricity, a faulty coil will cause its corresponding spark plug to misfire. A misfiring engine will cough and sputter as one or more spark plugs fail to ignite the fuel on time.
Rough Idling and Stalls
Misfiring usually becomes most notable when the car is idling, such as when you’re waiting in traffic or at an intersection. If the misfiring caused by a faulty coil is particularly bad, your car might even stall.
Weaker Engine Power
With at least one cylinder misfiring, an engine weakened by a malfunctioning coil will also lose power. You’ll find it harder to gain a quick burst of speed when attempting to accelerate.
Lessened Gas Mileage
Despite the bad coil and spark plug failing to work properly, the engine keeps injecting fuel into a misfiring cylinder. This means fuel is being guzzled inefficiently and your gas mileage will plummet.
Black Exhaust Smoke
With a malfunctioning coil, unburned fuel inside the cylinder can start leaking back into the exhaust pipes. As it does, the fuel may ignite, causing loud backfiring. You may also see black smoke emerging from the tailpipe behind you.
Slow-To-Start Engine
Lacking the necessary electrical power to generate sparks properly, an engine with a faulty coil will struggle to start in the morning. This problem will be worse during winter or with more than one bad coil.
Blinking Check Engine Light
With a bad coil, you’ll soon see the check engine light come to life on your dashboard. Although you won’t immediately know what caused the light to switch on, a technician can quickly figure out and fix the underlying problem.
How Your Volkswagen Dealer Can Check a Bad Coil
An experienced technician can use a diagnostic tool to read fault codes in your car’s system. They can inspect any misbehaving coils for signs of damage to the wiring, anti-rotational tabs, or plug connections. They can also test the coil to see if it can generate more than the necessary 10.5 volts and perform various other tests. Finally, they’ll repair, refurbish, or replace the faulty coil.
Visit Auffenberg Volkswagen in Shiloh, IL, today to have your coil or spark plug problems resolved. We’re a local full-service dealership offering a broad range of new and used cars at competitive prices, along with excellent vehicle maintenance services.
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