Skip to Content
Main Content

Quick Tip: Ignition Coil Current and Voltage Comparison

Last Updated: June 21, 2022

Overview

Having a hard time figuring out whether or not an ignition coil is bad? In this Diagnostic Quick Tip, National Field Trainer Jason Gabrenas shows you how to compare both the voltage and the current of an ignition coil to find a problem quickly.

Resolution

Video Transcript

When testing ignition coils, there's a couple of different ways we can test: we can do voltage, we can do amperage.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to compare the voltage and the amperage flowing through the circuit at the same time?

We're going to do a two-channel test here. One channel is going to have the primary voltage and the other channel is going to have the primary current going through it. We're going to see how they compare on the screen.

I already have the coil all set up. I have channel one going to the voltage and I have channel two hooked up with a low amps current probe.

Let's just put the scan tool in record then fire up the car and see what happens. After a few seconds, pause the recording and shut the vehicle off.

Let's move this zoom up a little bit so we can compare them. You can see the current is going on the green wire and the voltage is going on the yellow wire. They should pretty much match up because voltage and current follow each other around.

As we can see, they do line up nicely and the current pattern looks good and the voltage pattern also looks good. So this coil is good.

Applies To

MODIS Edge™, MODIS Ultra™, VANTAGE® Ultra, VERUS® Edge, VERUS® PRO, ZEUS®

Manuals

Skip to Results Listing

Diagnostics Product Family

clear
Please wait while we gather your results.

Results Updated

119 Results Listed

Accessing SureTrack

Accessing SureTrack

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Edge™
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™

Accessing SureTrack Community

Accessing SureTrack Community

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D8™
  • ETHOS® Edge
  • MODIS Edge™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • VERUS® Edge
  • VERUS® PRO
  • ZEUS®

APOLLO-D8 Quick Start Guide

Getting Started Pack for the APOLLO-D8 scan tool

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D8™

APOLLO-D8 User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D8™

APOLLO-D9 Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D9™

APOLLO-D9 User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D9™

Arcade Machine Owner Manual

Arcade Machine Owner Manual

Asian Import Vehicle Communication Software Manual

Description

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

BMW Vehicle Communication Software Manual

Description

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

Code Scan Report Editing & Printing

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D8™
  • ETHOS® Edge
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • ETHOS® PRO
  • ETHOS® Tech
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®

Code Scan Report Editing & Printing

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® PRO

Diagnostic Mobile Workcenter Instructions

EAZ0149L01A Rev. B Mobile Workcenter Instructions

Diagnostic Safety Manual

Important Safety Instructions

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D8™
  • APOLLO-D9™
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite
  • Diagnostic Thermal Laser
  • ETHOS® Edge
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • ETHOS® PRO
  • ETHOS® Tech
  • MICROSCAN® III
  • MODIS Edge™
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • P1000™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Legend®
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • TRITON-D10™
  • TRITON-D8®
  • VANTAGE® Legend
  • VANTAGE® Ultra
  • VERUS® Edge
  • VERUS® PRO
  • ZEUS®

Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite FAQ

Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite FAQ

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite

Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite

Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite

Diagnostic Thermal Imager FAQ

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager

Diagnostic Thermal Imager Quick Start Guide

Diagnostic Thermal Imager QSG

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager

Diagnostic Thermal Imager User Manual

Diagnostic Thermal Imager User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager

Diagnostic Thermal Laser FAQ

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Laser

Diagnostic Thermal Laser Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Laser

Diagnostic Thermal Laser Safety Instructions

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Laser

Diagnostic Thermal Laser User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Laser

ETHOS Edge Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Edge

ETHOS Edge User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Edge

ETHOS Plus User Manual

ETHOS Plus User Manual, EAZ0078L00D

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus

ETHOS PRO User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® PRO

ETHOS Tech Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Tech

ETHOS Tech User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Tech

ETHOS User Manual

ETHOS User Manual, ZEESC312K Rev C

Fast Download for ZEUS VERUS and VERDICT Platforms

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® Edge
  • VERUS® PRO
  • ZEUS®

Global OBD Vehicle Communication Software Manual

Description

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

Land Rover Vehicle Communication Software Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

Low Amp Current Probe User Manual

Low Amp Current Probe User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • VANTAGE® Ultra
  • VERUS® Edge
  • VERUS® PRO

M2 Scope Meter Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® PRO

M2 Scope Meter User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® PRO

Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Communication Software Manual

Description

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

MICROSCAN III Quick Start Guide

MICROSCAN III Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MICROSCAN® III

MICROSCAN III User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MICROSCAN® III

MICROSCAN Quick Start Guide

MICROSCAN Quick Start Guide

MICROSCAN User Manual

MICROSCAN User Manual

MODIS Component Test Meter User Manual

MODIS Component Test Meter User Manual

MODIS Edge Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Edge™

MODIS Edge User Manual

MODIS Edge User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Edge™

MODIS Flexible Gas Analyzer User Manual

MODIS Flexible Gas Analyzer User Manual

MODIS Lab Scope Plugin User Manual

MODIS Lab Scope Plugin User Manual

MODIS Scanner Plugin User Manual

MODIS Scanner Plugin User Manual

MODIS Ultra Quick Start Guide

MODIS Ultra Quick Start Guide, EAZ0079L00B Rev A

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Ultra™

MODIS Ultra User Manual

MODIS Ultra User Manual EAZ0079L03C Rev A

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Ultra™

P1000 Quick Start Guide

ZEESC334A1 Rev E P1000 QSG

Diagnostics Product Family
  • P1000™

P1000 User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • P1000™

Product Warranty - 12 Month

Product Warranty - 12 Month

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VANTAGE® Ultra

Product Warranty - 24 Month

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® Edge
  • VERUS® PRO

PRO-LINK Edge Hardware & Software User Manual EEHD959001

Diagnostics Product Family
  • PRO-LINK® Edge

PRO-LINK Ultra HDS Suite User Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • PRO-LINK® Ultra

PRO-LINK Ultra Registration Activation Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • PRO-LINK® Ultra

PRO-LINK Ultra User Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • PRO-LINK® Ultra

Scanner Demo Prop Instruction Manual

Scanner Demo Prop Instruction Manual

Scope Demo Prop Instruction Manual

Scope Demo Prop Instruction Manual

Software License Agreement

Snap-on Incorporated Software License Agreement

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D8™
  • ETHOS® Edge
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • ETHOS® PRO
  • ETHOS® Tech
  • MODIS Edge™
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • P1000™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • TRITON-D8®
  • VANTAGE® Ultra
  • VERUS® Edge
  • VERUS® PRO
  • ZEUS®

SOLUS Edge Quick Start Guide

SOLUS Edge Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • SOLUS Edge™

SOLUS Edge User Manual

SOLUS Edge User Manual, ZEESC320A Rev B

Diagnostics Product Family
  • SOLUS Edge™

SOLUS Legend Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • SOLUS Legend®

SOLUS Legend User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • SOLUS Legend®

SOLUS PRO User Manual

SOLUS PRO User Manual

SOLUS Ultra Quick Start Guide

SOLUS Ultra Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • SOLUS Ultra®

SOLUS Ultra User Manual

EAZ0075L06D Rev A

Diagnostics Product Family
  • SOLUS Ultra®

TRITON-D8 Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • TRITON-D8®

TRITON-D8 User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • TRITON-D8®

US Domestic Vehicle Communication Software Manual

EAZ0025B01J

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

VANTAGE Legend Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VANTAGE® Legend

VANTAGE Legend User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VANTAGE® Legend

Vantage PRO User Manual

Vantage PRO User Manual

VANTAGE Ultra Quick Start Guide

VANTAGE Ultra Quick Start Guide, EAZ0081L02A Rev A

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VANTAGE® Ultra

VANTAGE Ultra User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VANTAGE® Ultra

Vehicle System Report Editing & Printing

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Edge™

Vehicle System Report Editing & Printing

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® Edge
  • ZEUS®

VERDICT Quick Start Guide

VERDICT Quick Start Guide, EAZ0063L15A Rev B

VERDICT User Manual

EAZ0063L05G Rev E, VERDICT User Manual

VERUS Edge Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® Edge

VERUS Edge User Manual

VERUS Edge User Manual, ZEEMS330A Rev. E

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® Edge

VERUS PRO Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® PRO

VERUS PRO User Manual

EAZ0077L00D Rev E, VERUS PRO User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® PRO

VERUS User Manual

EAZ0061B46F Rev E, VERUS User Manual

VERUS Wireless Quick Start Guide

VERUS Wireless Quick Start Guide

VERUS Wireless User Manual

EAZ0061B46F Rev A, VERUS Wireless User Manual

Volkswagen-Audi Readiness Code Charts

Description

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

Volkswagen-Audi Vehicle Communication Software Manual

EAZ0031B01E

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

Volvo Vehicle Communication Software

EAZ0025B47A_RevC

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Plus
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™
  • SOLUS Ultra®
  • VERUS® PRO

Waveform Demo Board User Manual

Waveform Demo Board User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • VANTAGE® Ultra
  • VERUS® PRO

Wi-Fi Connection Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite

Diagnostics Product Family
  • Diagnostic Thermal Imager Elite

WI-FI Connection Instructions for MODIS, SOLUS, ETHOS

Wi-Fi Connection instructions for MODIS, SOLUS, ETHOS

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ETHOS® Edge
  • MODIS Edge™
  • MODIS Ultra™
  • SOLUS Edge™

WI-FI Connection Instructions TRITON-D8 and APOLLO-D8

Diagnostics Product Family
  • APOLLO-D8™
  • TRITON-D8®

WI-FI Connection Instructions VERUS, VERUS PRO, VERDICT

WI-FI Connection instructions VERUS, VERUS PRO, VERDICT

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® PRO

WI-FI Connection Instructions ZEUS to 19.2, VERUS Edge

WI-FI Connection instructions ZEUS, VERUS Edge

Diagnostics Product Family
  • VERUS® Edge
  • ZEUS®

ZEUS Quick Start Guide

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ZEUS®

ZEUS User Manual

Diagnostics Product Family
  • ZEUS®