Are Ignition Coils Universal? We’ve Answered Perfectly!
One of the trickiest parts of a car engine is the ignition coil. It keeps the car running pretty much but also tends to fail. And if it does, you have to be careful while replacing them.
You’ll have to find new coils to replace the old ones, but can you just go with anything? Are ignition coils universal? If you’re looking for answers to these, you’ve come to the right place. The general answer to this is no. Keep reading for a detailed answer.
What is an Ignition Coil?
An ignition coil is a mechanism that gets your car engine going. The coils help the spark plugs to ignite the spark that starts the fuel-burning process. Once the spark plugs ignite and start burning the fuel mix, you get to drive your car.
An ignition coil is a container of tightly coiled wires. The wires amplify the electricity your car generates to start the engine function process. When you take your car key to the ignition position, your car only generates a very low voltage. The coils then take it and amplify it so the spark plugs can work.
The amplified voltage is enough to nudge the spark plugs. Ignition coils then wait for the control module command. Once they have the command, they nudge the spark plugs and ignite the initial spark. This gets the fuel mix burning process started.
Your car starts getting energy from the fuel-burning process and powers everything else. To make it short, ignition coils are something that amps up your car’s power and gets it going.
What Does the Ignition Coil Look Like?
That depends on your car engine. If your car engine is an older model and has a distributor, the ignition system will look like a metal container. You’ll see multiple wires going out from it.
If your engine is a newer model, you might see one long tube with plugs on it.
Are Ignition Coils Universal?
No, the ignition coils aren’t universal. They are made to be application specific, so you can’t just hook up a random coil in your engine.
Most of the ignition coils you’ll find are for specific applications and/or models. Even if the plug fits, the wires might be too short. There are a bunch of different scenarios here, and most of them lead to no.
But that doesn’t mean no two coils are the same. The issue is you’ll have to go through a lot of trial and error to find an alternative that fits your engine model. This will take more time and money than just buying the specific ignition coil, so no more financial efficiency.
If you’re about to talk about the universal canister coil you can still find at your local parts store, the answer will still be the same. The “universal” coils come in two types, with internal resistor and with external resistors. You’ll have to pick the one your vehicle is compatible with here too.
According to Counterman,
“The distinct differences between coil designs make identification of optional coils relatively simple for both the parts specialist and the technician.”
So, if you pick the internal resistor ignition for an external resistor-based system, your coil will produce too much resistance. This means your engine won’t be getting enough power and you’ll end up with a dead engine.
If you pick the external resistor coil for an internal resistor-based system, your coil can end up with heat overload. That can pretty much fry your whole system and leave you with a dead car.
Can You Switch the Ignition Coil Order?
The answer depends on your engine model. The order doesn’t really matter, but there is a twist to this.
Older engines have the canister coil system. That means the ignition coils are all in one place and spread out from there. For these kinds of ignition coils, you’ll see some number marked on the canister. The order scientifically doesn’t matter, but it is better to follow them.
For newer engine models, the answer is no. The order of ignition coils doesn’t matter. Your engine will fire them all the same. Plus, they don’t have any numbers on them either, so the order doesn’t matter. And Short-fact has said the same.
Here’s a little Video That Can Help You Out
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It is hard to cover everything in a single article. So if you have some more questions, that’s understandable. Here are a bunch of questions people usually ask about ignition coil and its location in general.
Sure, as long as the coil is compatible with your car model. Ignition coils are usually application-specific so you can’t exactly freestyle them. But if you end up using a different coil, make sure your vehicle is suitable for that so you don’t create more issues.
Not really. Your ignition coils can be different from each other. If they’re compatible and work fine with your engine, you have nothing to worry about.
A lot of things can happen. You can face engine issues like a misfire or backfire. If you mess up and get the wrong resistor-based coil, your car can end up with a weak engine output or, worse, a fried system.
You can start by checking the current ones. You can also search by your vehicle’s model, year, or build. Or you can go straight to the parts store (or someone who knows better) and ask the people there for help.
Final Verdict
Are ignition coils universal? Not really. You’ll have to pick something that is compatible with your engine. A wrong ignition coil can do more harm than good to your engine.
So unless you want to end up with a messed up engine, make sure to research and find the right ignition coil for your car.
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