Audis have always been known for setting and breaking records. These vehicles are some of the highest-ranked models in their class. To keep your Audi in peak condition, you have to keep up with the regularly scheduled maintenance.
Even when you do this, there may still be times when your Audi needs extra attention. One of those occasions is if the ignition coil becomes faulty. Below you will learn what the ignition coil does, how to know if it is faulty, and where to go to have the issue professionally diagnosed.
The ignition coil is responsible for igniting the fuel and air mixture that the engine requires to work properly. This is done by taking the 12 volts created by the battery and converting it into thousands of volts. These thousands of volts are now able to jump the spark gap and ignite the mixture of air and fuel.
Older vehicles have only one ignition coil that provides the spark to all the cylinders. Now, most newer vehicles have an ignition coil for each cylinder. This ensures that the engine is able to start quickly and more efficiently.
As you are the one who drives your Audi all the time, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is running smoothly. The smoother your Audi is, the more enjoyable the ride. A faulty ignition coil will negatively affect the overall performance of your Audi. This is why you should be aware of the following signs to ensure you catch a faulty ignition coil early in order to prevent any other damage from occurring.
The first signs to look for are engine misfires, rough idling, and loss of power. As you know, the spark that is created by the ignition coil is what allows your vehicle to start. The spark is then required throughout the entire time your car is on. The ignition coil needs to produce a continuous spark that will not interrupt the overall performance of the engine. When the ignition coil becomes faulty, interruptions occur. These interruptions will manifest themselves in engine misfires, rough idles, and eventually loss of power. The loss of power will happen when the ignition coil has completely failed.
The second sign that indicates a faulty ignition coil is the check engine light. There are numerous sensors all throughout your vehicle that record how each part is functioning and then reports it back to the main computer. If the computer is alerted to an issue somewhere in your vehicle, a light on the dashboard will illuminate. If the ignition coil in your Audi is faulty, the computer system will alert you with the check engine light. The signal will illuminate for any engine issues that are occurring, not just a faulty ignition coil. So it is important to take your Audi in for servicing immediately if you see the check engine light come on.
The last sign that points to a faulty ignition coil is your Audi not starting at all, also known as a no-start condition. This sign mainly applies to those vehicles that have one ignition coil for all the cylinders. If that ignition coil becomes faulty, the entire engine is negatively affected and will not start if there is no spark to ignite the fuel-air mixture.
Driving with a faulty ignition coil can be dangerous and unpredictable. You have no idea when the ignition coil could fail altogether or how much damage it is causing in the engine itself. This is why as soon as you notice any of the above-mentioned signs of a faulty ignition coil, you should bring your Audi in for a proper diagnosis.
The best service center to do that is St. Matthews Import. We have multiple locations based out of Louisville, KY. Here, we pride ourselves on being able to offer a service center that is different from that of a dealership due to our excellent customer service and quality repairs, without the dealership price.
We always keep our service center and technicians up to date on the latest technologies so you can rest assured that no expense has been spared for us to properly diagnose the faulty ignition coil in your Audi. We look forward to servicing you and your Audi for all your future maintenance needs.