6 Clear Signs of a Faulty Ignition Coil

Is the engine of your Porsche shaking, emitting strange noises, and losing power? If it is, you might have a faulty ignition coil inside one of the cylinders failing to provide the spark plug with a strong electrical voltage. It’s best to head to your local Porsche dealer as soon as you notice the following signs of a bad coil. 

Coughing, Shaking Engine

The coils in your engine amplify the battery’s voltage, delivering enough electricity for the spark plugs to ignite the fuel inside the cylinders. Therefore, if one or more coils suffer a fault, the spark plugs will no longer be able to spark properly. The result is a misfiring engine, which shakes and coughs noisily as it struggles to keep going.

Rough Idling and Stalling

With a bad coil, whenever you slow down or pause at traffic lights, you’ll no longer hear the usual pleasant rumble and purr of an idling Porsche engine. Instead, your engine will idle roughly, shuddering and sputtering. It may even stall, suddenly shutting off power. 

Backfiring and Exhaust Smoke 

When any car’s engine continues misfiring for a while, unburned fuel can build up inside the cylinders. This excess fuel eventually leaks back into the exhaust system, partially igniting and causing black smoke to billow from the tailpipe. As this leaking fuel ignites outside of the cylinder, you may also hear loud backfiring. 

Reduced Engine Power

The coils are vital to proper engine functioning. Because of this, even one malfunctioning coil causes the engine to lose a portion of its power. As a result, you’ll find it harder to accelerate or reach higher speeds on the highway. 

Worsening Fuel Efficiency

As you drive, fuel continues to pump into the cylinders, even with a faulty coil and misfiring spark plug. This means a bad coil will cause your gas mileage to plummet as more fuel is burned for each mile traveled. 

Blinking Check Engine Light

One of the first signs of a faulty coil is usually the check engine light appearing on the instrument panel. If you respond promptly to this warning light, a technician can repair or replace the coil and get your Porsche back into tip-top condition before more serious problems develop.

Your Porsche Dealer Can Clean, Repair, or Replace Your Bad Coils

Sometimes a faulty coil has been fouled by carbon residue and can be restored simply by cleaning it. A more severely damaged coil might be reparable with the attention of a skillful technician. However, more often, the best solution is to install a brand-new coil. 

Visit Porsche Lincolnwood in Lincolnwood, IL, to have your faulty coils cleaned, repaired, or replaced by specialist technicians. For many decades, we’ve been providing the region’s Porsche drivers with exceptional vehicles, maintenance services, and customer care.  

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