How the ignition works
How to know if your ignition if failing
Final word
How the ignition works
Your car’s ignition system is made up of several primary components, the coil, the distributor and its parts, the spark plugs, wires and ignition module. If you do not know what any of these things are or what they do, do not worry. If anything goes wrong with them your mechanic will know when you take your car in for service.
Your ignition system starts with the ignition coil which takes power from the battery and converts it into a spark that eventually ignites the vapor from your gas. This is the “combustion’ in a combustion engine. However, once the spark is created, it needs something to get it to where it needs to be in order to ignite the vapor. That is what the distributor starts, it essentially points the spark in the right direction. It is eventually the spark plug that actually ignites the vapor in the cylinder head. The wires are what transfers the spark from the distributor and its parts to the spark plug prior to the actual ignition of the fumes.
How to know if your ignition if failing
There are very blatant and impossible to ignore signs that your ignition has failed. The biggest one is that your car will not start. However, there are a few warning signs that will give you some time before it fails completely so that you can get it into the shop or diagnose and fix the problem first.
If you start having trouble turning the key, it could be a sign of a failing ignition. If you turn your key to the “ACC” position (turning the key without doing so all the way) and your car’s accessories do not get power or only partial power, this too could be a sign of a failing ignition. If your car stalls while you are driving, this is also indicative of a ignition that’s failing. If you experience any of these things, get your car in for service right away.
You can also do a few things to ensure that your ignition does not fail. The first is that, if you are not driving regularly, be sure to run your car for at least a few minutes every day or at least a few times a week. Extended periods of not using the ignition can cause issues. You should also make sure that your spark plugs are not too old. Most people will not know how to diagnose or fix this, so just ask your mechanic to check this each time they have the car.
Final word
Your car’s ignition is literally and figuratively the spark that powers the engine and the vehicle as a whole. Like anything else with your car, it can fail because of problems or wear and tear. Be sure you are using your car enough and that your mechanic always checks the condition of the components of your ignition system, especially the spark plugs.
