Ignition Coils

Upgrading your factory ignition coil to a performance version improves your engine's power and performance. Higher voltage creates a better spark which can more efficiently and completely burn the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. This results in quicker starting, smoother idle, better fuel mileage, improved throttle response, and more power.

Ignition coil replacements help maintain your engine's ignition so that it remains in proper working order. By replacing your coil before it fails, you improve both the reliability and the life of your ignition system. This keeps your vehicle on the road longer and helps prevent downtime created by a coil that fails after many years of service.

An automotive ignition coil sends a large amount of voltage to either the distributor cap, which then directs the voltage to the spark plug via spark plug wires, or directly to the spark plug. The spark plug then converts the voltage to a spark, which ignites the fuel and air mixture within the combustion chamber of the engine. The ignition coil is triggered by the ignition module (in electronic ignition systems), to create the perfect spark timing. Coil pack ignition systems contain multiple coils (often referred to as " ignition coil packs") that are dedicated to one engine cylinder each, and are controlled by an ignition module or engine management system.

For factory ignition coils, the average life is approximately 100,000 miles. However, there are a variety of factors that affect ignition coil longevity. These include heat, vibration, moisture, corrosion, as well as other contributors. Defective ignition coil symptoms may include difficult engine starting, poor idling, loss of power, as well as poor engine performance.

There are three tests that can be performed on most ignition coils. For two of the tests, the ignition coil needs to be removed from the vehicle. A multimeter is also needed as well as a repair or shop manual for your specific vehicle or engine that will have the primary and secondary resistance ranges to reference and compare with.

Depending on the year, make, model of the vehicle as well as the engine and type of ignition coil, the replacement directions will change. For most ignition coils, there is either a connector or two leads and the spark plug wire or spark plug boot connection. These need to first be removed. Next is the mounting hardware that holds the coil in place which needs loosened or removed. The ignition coil can then be removed from the vehicle. Ignition coil replacement and installation is in the reverse order of removal.