Numerous things can lead to overheating, but insufficient maintenance is the most prevalent. For example, a faulty spark plug or one with a wide gap may cause an ignition coil to overheat.
Unfortunately, drivers frequently ignore ignition coils, although even slight damage to this component can cause a catastrophic engine failure.
Therefore, you must quickly identify the warning signs of ignition coil overheating since it might result in serious harm. That said, let’s find out more!
Overheating Ignition Coil Symptoms
1. Overheated Engine
The automobile’s engine may heat up due to an overheated ignition coil.
You will notice a variety of engine-related problems as well as engine overheating whenever an ignition coil starts malfunctioning and overheating.
This overheating occurs because the ignition coil won’t pass enough spark and charge to the engine.
Undoubtedly, there are several potential reasons why an engine may overheat, and one of them is an overheated coil.
2. Engine Misfires
When the ignition coils in a car fail, the engine will start to misfire. Likewise, a vehicle’s engine will misfire when it is tried to start, making loud coughing and spitting sounds.
The car will exhibit spitting and jerking behaviors when traveling at high speeds.
In addition, when a vehicle is idling at a stoplight or stop sign, an ignition coil failure will also cause vibration.
3. Vehicle Stalling
The car may stall as a result of an ignition coil malfunction. The sparks that the malfunctioning coil sends to the spark plugs might cause this malfunction.
When brought to a halt, your automobile can entirely switch off, putting you in a precarious situation.
4. Difficult Starting
Slow starting is one of the signs of a damaged ignition coil. Because of insufficient voltage and electrical charge, a broken ignition coil prevents the engine from overheating and breaking down.
Your engine would be unsuccessful in starting due to a lack of ignition in the cylinders. “Difficult starting” is the term for this.
5. Check Engine Light Will Start To Activate
The performance of your engine might be impacted by a faulty ignition coil, which would turn on the check engine light (CEL) on your car’s central computer.
Your car’s CEL only activates when there is an issue with your vehicle’s engine.
As a result, you should check your ignition coil if you notice this light on your dashboard. This light could indicate that your ignition coils are burning.
6. Fuel Economy
If you observe a drop in your car’s fuel economy, the ignition coil may be damaged or overheated.
If one of the spark plugs or ignition coils fails, it affects the other. Therefore, your engine would consume extra gasoline to compensate for the power loss caused by broken spark plugs.
7. Backfiring
As we indicated with the fuel economy issue, a defective ignition coil frequently results in unused gasoline entering the exhaust system.
In addition, this gasoline can rapidly ignite and burst upon contact with the hot metal of the catalytic converter or exhaust, resulting in a backfire.
This loud noise emanates from the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, you should always consider the situation, regardless of whether the ignition coil issue is to blame.
8. Faulty Spark Plugs
When you discover that your vehicle’s spark plugs are broken or worn out, they may frequently demand more power from the engine than is typical.
That said, the ignition coil may be subjected to excessive strain, and as a result, it is eventually damaged.
Therefore, examining the ignition coil simultaneously with the spark plugs is worthwhile if you discover issues with them.
9. Oil Leakage
Heat dissipation results from the enormous charge and current transformations within your vehicle’s ignition coil.
Further, the oil often aids in dissipating this heat energy when the component operates correctly.
However, if the coil is damaged, this can result in overheating, which can ultimately cause the casing to fracture and the oil to start leaking from the component.
Conclusion
Overall, you should stop driving if you experience any of the abovementioned symptoms. First, pick a secure parking spot for your vehicle, then open the hood to check whether your ignition coils are overheating.
It is not advisable to use overheated coils while driving. The insulator deteriorates, and the coil melts when the coil becomes too hot, which can lead to dangerous driving.