Glossary / Engine

ignition coils

12 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

Ignition coils help start the engine by sending a strong electric spark to the fuel. If they are not working right, the engine can misfire or run poorly.

Technical Definition

Ignition coils are electrical components that convert the battery's voltage into the high voltage needed to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the engine's cylinders. A faulty ignition coil can lead to engine misfires.

Hear It Discussed

"This car has two ignition coils. [345.7s] Yes. And it has along the top of the cap where one of the coil wires connects."
#2650: Non Impediti Ratione Cogitationis The Best of Car Talk 05:43

"ChatGBT suggested that maybe ignition coils could be just marginal, only having a problem when it's idling and there's no codes or anything and it drives fine perfectly every other instance."
Guys Giving Free Car Advice Over The Air You Can Call Too Under The Hood show 01:51

"And we, we would play starters, alternators, ignition coils. I mean, by the time we finally realized, Hey, we've sunk too much money and it was over 7,000. We just let it go."
Car Pro Radio Show April 11 26 Hour 3 CarPro Radio Show 17:15