Why did cars switch from distributors to coil packs? – Jalopnik

Engines need spark plugs to burn their air/fuel mixture, and the spark plugs need an electric shock to do their job. Older cars with conventional distributor-based ignition systems did this by sending voltage through an ignition coil to the spark plugs. That system includes a distributor that distributes electricity, a rotor in the distributor that rotates and directs power to the appropriate cylinder, and spark plug wires that send high-voltage electrical power to each plug in the cylinder head.

The energy generation and distribution both happen in just a few milliseconds to keep the engine running. The system should generate sparks faster the faster you drive, but distributor systems tend to be less efficient at higher engine speeds. In addition, the distributor and rotor can wear out prematurely, requiring regular cleaning, adjustment and maintenance. Despite having been around since the early 20th century, the old-fashioned breaker and electronic systems eventually gave way to coil packs using a distributorless ignition.

While the old way requires a single ignition coil to produce electricity for all the spark plugs, coil packs (or coil-on-plug systems) give each spark plug its own coil, eliminating the need for distributors, rotors and spark plug wires. They also acquired computer systems to disperse the sparks. These sparks are therefore stronger and more precise, which leads to better combustion, lower fuel consumption and lower emissions. The need for more powerful and efficient engines through powerful, reliable and detailed spark deliveries has made distributor-based ignition systems obsolete.

However, coil packages also have disadvantages. Although these systems have fewer moving parts and require less maintenance, the advanced electronic components are typically more expensive to replace and more difficult to diagnose when problems arise. Some engines have coil packages that cost $35 each, but others may have packages that cost over $300 each. Coil packs are hardy and can last 100,000 miles or more, but eventually they wear out and need to be replaced. In some cases, replacing the ignition coils when replacing spark plugs is necessary, especially if your engine has long-life platinum or iridium spark plugs with a comparable lifespan of 100,000 miles.

These replacements may sound like overkill, but wobbly ignition coils can damage your car’s engine and result in even more expensive repair costs. For example, a faulty ignition coil can cause misfires, allowing unburned fuel to flow into the exhaust and clogging the catalytic converter – a necessary part that costs hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to replace.