How does a bad ignition coil affect the performance of a Mercedes-Benz?

The internal combustion engine of your Mercedes-Benz needs a functional ignition system to stay operational. It generates the spark to ignite the mixture of air and fuel within the combustion chamber and is thus responsible for keeping the system in working order. The ignition system relies on the battery to get the electrical power required to start the engine and keep it in working order. However, the electrical power provided by a typical 12V car battery is not enough for the spark plugs to generate the spark. Thus, the system needs a high-voltage transformer to convert the car’s 12V power to about 30,000 volts. An ignition coil is nothing but an induction coil and is responsible for multiplying the low-power output of a car battery by thousands of volts.

Bad Ignition coil in your Mercedes-Benz

Each and every spark plug of your Mercedes-Benz has its own ignition coil. If one of those ignition coils fails to do its job due to certain problems, then the engine might misfire. Moreover, faults in the ignition coils could adversely affect the power output as well as the fuel economy of your vehicle. So, symptoms of a bad ignition coil in your car should not be ignored. Inspect the condition of the ignition coils of your car on a daily basis. Faulty coils should be replaced immediately. Let us discuss the impacts of a bad ignition coil on the performance of your Mercedes-Benz.

Bad engine performance:

The performance of your Mercedes-Benz engine is regulated by an intelligent computer. It uses the data provided by different types of sensors to regulate the air intake system and fuel injection system. Moreover, it also regulates the ignition system of your vehicle. If it detects any kind of faults in the ignition system due to the failure of the ignition coil, then it would change the air-to-fuel ratio within the combustion chamber accordingly as a result of which the power output of the vehicle would decline. Moreover, it could also cause engine backfiring in a Mercedes-Benz. So, fix the faults in the ignition system immediately to keep the engine operational.

Bad gas mileage:

The onboard computer of your Mercedes-Benz regulates the quantity of fuel injection into the combustion chamber of the engine on the basis of the data provided by different types of sensors. Failure of the ignition coil would adversely affect the power output of your vehicle. If the power output of the engine declines, then the computer would inject more fuel into the combustion chamber in a motive to enhance its performance. So, if your Mercedes-Benz is consuming more fuel than earlier, then the ignition coils might be the culprit.  

Engine stalling and misfiring:

A bad ignition coil might also cause engine misfiring and stalling. Deviation in the timing of spark generation is solely responsible for such kinds of abnormal behavior. Moreover, the check engine light in your car might also illuminate due to a failure of the ignition coil in your car. So, inspect the ignition coil of your car on a daily basis and if you detect any kind of malfunction in such a crucial component of the ignition system, then replace it immediately.

Final thought

An ignition coil is a vital component of the ignition system of your Mercedes-Benz. It is responsible for converting the low electric power of the battery to high voltage and assists the spark plug to start the ignition process. However, a bad ignition coil might jeopardize the ignition system of your Mercedes-Benz. Neglecting the early warning signs of an abnormal ignition coil might have disastrous consequences. So, never ignore the signs of a bad ignition coil in your car. Repair or replace it as soon as possible to keep the system operational.

So, early warning signs of a failing ignition coil in your Mercedes-Benz should not be ignored. Detect and repair the problems in the system as soon as possible to prevent any major mechanical failure which might cost a lot to you.