Mercedes is known for being one of the most innovative brands in the automotive industry. To keep your Mercedes performing at its best, you must take proper care of it. When it comes to internal combustion engines, the ignition system is arguably the most crucial one, and it might be tough to diagnose problems with your ignition. You may suddenly discover that your Mercedes is failing to start, or you may have noticed that its engine performance has deteriorated. The problem may be with your ignition coil.

How the Ignition Coil Works

To ignite the fuel inside the cylinder, gasoline engines need an ignition source. It’s not simple to provide that source of ignition when your car’s electrical system only has 12 volts of electricity. The function of the ignition coil is to convert the low 12-volt battery electricity to the much higher voltage needed to create a spark that ignites the fuel and starts the engine.

Here’s how it works: Two-wire coils are wrapped around a core. With only a few twists of wire, one coil is light, while the other has thousands. When the primary coil receives electricity, it is activated, creating a magnetic field that raises the voltage. The accumulated power is released through the minor coil and transferred into the spark plug when the proper voltage is attained. The ensuing rush of power is sufficient to create a spark, which ignites the air/fuel combination in the engine cylinders. In most new automobiles, each cylinder has its own ignition coil.

Signs an Ignition Coil is Faulty

• Performance Issues: A faulty coil may still create a spark, but it will only be half of what the automobile needs to function properly. Your Mercedes engine may start, but it will do so slowly with a struggle.
• Engine Misfires: When the ignition coils of a car begin to fail, the engine will misfire. You’ll hear noises that sound like coughing and sputtering if you try to start the car.
• Some other possible symptoms are backfires, the illumination of the check engine light, stalling, rough idling, and poor fuel economy.

Defective coils can lead to serious performance and structural problems in the vehicle. Therefore, if you suspect that the coil is defective, or if you experience any of these symptoms, go to an auto repair shop and have a skilled technician check it. It may be tempting to change the ignition coils yourself, but if you don’t know your way around a Mercedes engine, you might end up doing more harm than good.

Why Your Ignition Coil is Failing

It may come as a surprise to hear that the most common reasons for ignition coil failure are unrelated to the coils themselves. Damage to the ignition coil is frequently caused by underlying issues that are never addressed during engine misfire fixes. Spark plug gapping, leaky valve covers, and moisture penetration are all examples of problems.

The health of the ignition system and an ignition coil depends on the spacing between the spark plugs. An ignition coil that is overworked due to a worn or excessive gap will utilize more voltage to bridge the gap and ignite a spark within the cylinder. This increase in voltage puts a strain on the internals of the ignition coil.

Moisture, which may come from the most unlikely of locations, is another source of ignition coil damage. An oil leak from the valve cover gasket is the most likely cause.

Preventing major engine damage and other ignition-related concerns may be as simple as checking for oil leaks, moisture, and spark plug troubles. Also, replace your spark plugs as needed, and only use high-quality brands.

Woodinville Sports Cars for Your Mercedes

At Woodinville Sports Cars, we understand that owning a European car like your Mercedes requires routine maintenance and high-quality service. Our certified mechanics have years of experience working with the most popular European and Import vehicles.

Located in Woodinville, we proudly provide high-quality service to European auto drivers from throughout surrounding areas including Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Monroe, Redmond, Snohomish, WA.

Our staff is ready to assist you with everything from emergency repairs to factory maintenance. To learn more or to arrange your next appointment, please contact us at (425) 402-7878 or visit our shop today.