If you are not experienced with diagnosing and maintaining cars, you might blame a dead battery when you find that your Ford won’t start.
While there may be a problem with the battery or other components, a car’s ignition control module may also cause these issues. Here’s what we found!
Ford Ignition Control Module Symptoms
Problems with the ignition control module frequently appear as difficulty starting or maintaining the vehicle’s motion. Additionally, the ignition control module might negatively impact your car’s converter, which can result in harmful emissions and decreased fuel efficiency. A malfunctioning ignition control module may also be the cause of difficulties with the engine misfiring and overheating.
Keep reading if you’re interested in learning how the ignition control module can affect your Ford!
1. Check Engine Light On Dashboard
The check engine light on your dashboard may be a sign of a bad ignition control module.
Typically, your Ford has several sensors that check the condition of its parts, and these detect any problems that are shown by the warning lights on your dashboard.
As such, when the sensors identify an issue with the ignition control module, an engine symbol could begin blinking—the check engine light.
Thus, if the check engine light on your dashboard is blinking, the ignition control module might be to blame.
2. Car Won’t Start
Aside from warning lights, another sign of a bad ignition control module is your Ford not starting.
Usually, the ignition control module produces the energy required to ignite the spark plug; this is done by jolting the ignition coil with electricity.
However, when the ignition control module is malfunctioning, the spark plug doesn’t get ignited, which could lead to the ignition failing and preventing your car from starting.
Therefore, this may be an indication of a bad ignition control module.
3. Rough Idling
In addition to my points above, rough idling could also be a sign of a failed ignition control module.
Usually, the timing at which the ignition coils are supposed to ignite the spark plugs is determined by the ignition control module.
However, the failure of the ignition control module might also cause the spark plugs and ignition coils to fail.
As a result, when your Ford is idle, this may cause it to shake or rattle.
4. Engine Stalling
In addition to your Ford experiencing a rough idle, a malfunctioning ignition control module can also cause it to stall.
In this situation, if the ignition control module doesn’t initiate a spark at the appropriate time, the engine won’t burn the air-fuel mixture, and if combustion fails while you’re moving, your car will stall.
Furthermore, the engine may stop entirely or halt before starting again.
In addition, the ignition control module may be having issues if there are corroded connections, excessive heat, or loose wiring.
5. Hesitation During Acceleration
Aside from my points above, a faulty ignition control module can also cause your Ford to shake or jerk when you try to accelerate.
In this situation, your engine is having difficulty generating the extra power needed to increase speed.
Additionally, you could experience a lag in acceleration with your Ford.
As a result, this can increase engine temperature and possibly result in your Ford losing power, and you risk getting stuck if the engine won’t start.
6. Poor Fuel Economy
Your ignition control module may be malfunctioning if you notice that your car is getting less mileage than usual, even with the tank full.
Generally, if the ignition coil isn’t working correctly, the system will try to compensate for the underpowered spark plugs by injecting more fuel.
Therefore, this means that fuel leaks can also be a sign of an ignition coil that needs to be repaired.
However, it’s essential to rule out these potential issues because a defective mass air flow sensor or a dirty engine filter can also factor into low fuel economy.
7. Black Fumes From Exhaust
Similarly, dark exhaust emissions may point to an ignition control module issue with your Ford.
As mentioned earlier, your Ford’s engine may misfire if your ignition control module is defective.
Because of this, not all the gasoline is consumed during a misfire; the surplus fuel is delivered to the catalytic converter, where it is converted into pollutants.
When this occurs, the extra gasoline may eventually cause harm to the converter.
As a result, the smoke can indicate a malfunctioning ignition control module.
8. Misfiring Engine
Aside from converter problems, an engine misfire may be a sign of difficulties with your car’s ignition control module.
In this scenario, the engine may misfire, and your car may even slow down; this can happen when the ignition wires that hold the spark plug in place have worn out and become fried.
Fortunately, recovering from a misfire doesn’t take the engine very long.
However, engine misfires can be stressful on your vehicle and must be taken in for repair at a Ford service center.
9. Engine Is Overheating
Problems with the ignition control module may also be indicated by unusually high temperatures on the module body.
In this case, the excess heat can be brought on by a damaged distributor.
Furthermore, if the module operates above its optimal temperature, it will eventually malfunction.
In addition, problems like electrical shorts, poor gas mileage, and engine stuttering could result from this.
Thus, if you discover that your engine is overheating, a faulty ignition control module could be to blame.
To know more, you can also read our posts on why Ford is better than Chevy, why Ford Raptors are so expensive, and Ford remote start not working.
Conclusion
If you think your ignition control module may be malfunctioning, keep an eye out for several indications, such as difficulties starting or accelerating your automobile.
Additionally, the catalytic converter can also be impacted by a malfunctioning ignition control module, which could harm your car more.
As a result, it’s critical to address the problem by having your car examined as soon as possible.