Car Wise: 2 Reasons For Ignition System Problems

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Ignition problems can happen at any time, and you should be prepared for them. The following are a 2 common problems related to your ignition system that can help you pinpoint the issue. 

1, Issues With The Ignition Coils

The ignition coils help your car turn on. They do this by taking the power from your generator and transferring it to your spark plugs. And the spark plugs ignite the fuel from there. Pay attention to some of the following symptoms:

  • You might start noticing your idle speed is a little rough or erratic. This is because your ignition coils are reading your power needs incorrectly.
  • The car may begin to backfire from time to time because your ignition coils failed to use up fuel. That fuel just bleeds to your exhaust system causing backfires. 
  • Your car may start bucking because there is an imbalance between air and fuel in your engine. 
  • There may be stalling simply because the ignition coils failed to send power to your spark plugs. 
  • Fuel consumption will appear to increase because of the unused fuel in your engine. 

You should have your auto care specialist check your ignition system if you notice the aforementioned symptoms.

2. Problems With Your Spark Plug Wires

Your spark plugs are connected to your ignition system (as mentioned above). They ignite your fuel to get your car moving, yet they can fail, too. If you notice any of the following, have your auto specialist check out your spark plugs:

  • You might notice erratic idling accompanied by an engine miss. This is due to your plugs failing to read the electrical commands your ignition system is transmitting, which causes a combustion failure. 
  • The car might experience hesitation as you drive. This is because your spark plugs are not making proper combustion, so your engine lacks the power you are requesting.
  • Your car might experience strange spurts of power, which most mechanics refer to as engine surges. These are unpredictable, which can make them a little dangerous. This occurs because your spark plugs are giving you insufficient power, so you overcompensate. But--every now and then--your spark plugs work perfectly and that might seem like a power spike.

Diagnosing problems with your ignition system is not easy because some of these symptoms overlap. You can always have your auto care specialist check your ignition system to help you identify the problem. But, hopefully, knowing a few symptoms can help both you and your auto care specialist get to the bottom of the ignition system issue faster.

For more information, contact a professional like Vince's Auto Service.

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7 July 2015

About Me

Keep Your Vehicle Safe

Hello. My name’s Samuel Jacobs. I retired from my job as an auto mechanic last year. During my years as a mechanic, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Some have remained friends to this day. When I was working, there is one thing that I came across at least weekly. That is how uneducated people are when it comes to their vehicle’s tires. Properly cared for tires are crucial to the safety of your vehicle. Without them, your car isn’t going anywhere. If they give out on you while you are driving, there is the potential for serious injury. I’m going to share some tire safety information here. Things like the importance of correct inflation, how to check the tread, when to replace tires, tire rotation, and what to do in case of a blow-out. I hope you find this information to be helpful.