Where is the Best Shop to Replace Your BMW’s Ignition Coil in Allentown?
by schearerswpadmin February 28, 2021When you purchase a luxury vehicle with your hard-earned money, the best way to ensure you get everything out of that purchase is by keeping up with the BMW-recommended maintenance. A car will reward you with high-quality performance when you meet it with high-quality care. Part of the responsibility of a good car owner is to do your research and find the best certified repair shop in your area.
Even with regular maintenance, the occasional problem can arise in your vehicle. This can be frustrating, but it doesn’t always have to be serious. There are a few common problems that can come up, one of which is old or faulty spark plugs or coils. Many ignition coils or spark plugs break down with age, and there are a few telltale signs when damaged.
What are ignition coils in your BMW?
Ignition coils can also be known as compact electrical transformers. They convert the low 12-volt current generally found in car batteries into a much higher voltage needed to ignite the fuel and start the engine. Each spark plug in your BMW has its own ignition coil. These can be a part of the spark plug, connected by wires, or it can be atop the spark plug if not using wires.
A spark plug needs around 15,000-20,000 volts of electricity in order to form an electric spark to ignite the fuel, but if you don’t have strong enough ignition coils, it can result in engine misfires or weak fuel consumption.
A faulty ignition coil can also be related to a low voltage or an abnormally high voltage. This may cause many various issues on your BMW, including but not limited to:
- poor fuel economy
- rough idling or stuttering
- cold-starting issues or long cranks
- loss of power, responsiveness, and acceleration
- engine misfires
What are the signs of a bad ignition coil?
When the ignition coil of your BMW is defective, it may behave intermittently and give you problems with smooth driving. These signs will vary depending on the severity of the damage, but some of the most common signs include:
- Check Engine Light: While there are many reasons the check engine light could turn on in your dashboard, this is very often due to engine problems. One such problem is a faulty spark plug or ignition coil.
- Backfiring: Early stages of ignition coil failure can cause backfiring in your vehicle; this happens when unused fuel in the engine’s combustion cylinders leaves through the exhaust pipe. If left unchecked, it can result in costly repairs or even irreparable damage to your engine. The exhaust pipe may leak a black smoke smelling of gasoline that signals backfiring.
- Stalling Vehicle: A damaged ignition coil can also cause the vehicle to stall due to the irregular sparks sent to the spark plugs by the fault coil, It may even shut off when brought to a stop, leaving you stranded with the possibility that it won’t restart.
- Poor Fuel Economy: If your car is getting noticeably less mileage than before, or poor fuel economy, it can mean that the ignition coil is defective.
- Problems Acceleration: When driving, your vehicle may feel like it’s missing some power. This can present in rough idling, jerking, and hesitation while accelerating.
- Misfiring Engine: In a car whose ignition coil is damaged, the engine will misfire. You can notice a coughing, sputtering noise when trying to start the engine. You will also see jerking and spitting behavior when driving at high speeds or vibration when idling at a light or stop sign.
What do you do when you suspect a fault ignition coil?
It’s vital that you entrust your quality vehicle to the care of a certified BMW specialist as each make and model are uniquely engineered and require specialized care. If you suspect that your ignition coil is bad, you must contact an experienced technician possessing the tools and supplies needed to correctly identify the engine’s problem, whether it be one of the causes listed or another more particular one.
At Schearer’s Sales and Service, Inc., we have been delivering error-free service on time since 1995. We are conveniently located a quarter mile west of the PA turnpike in Allentown, PA and a short drive from Bethlehem and Macungie. Call us today for an appointment.