Electronic Ignition Pickup Replacement Cost Estimate
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How much does an electronic ignition pickup replacement cost?
The total cost for an electronic ignition pickup replacement varies based on your vehicle’s year and model. This cost includes both parts and labor, but the exact price will depend on the specific details of your vehicle.
How long does it take to replace electronic ignition pickup?
The total parts cost includes a new electronic ignition pickup, but you might also need additional components such as a new ignition coil, ignition cable, or a set of spark plugs. Labor costs involve approximately 0.9 hours for a certified mechanic to inspect your vehicle, diagnose the problem, and complete the electronic ignition pickup replacement.
How did we estimate these prices?
My Mechanic experts researched and collected data from 2500+ real repair shops in all states in Malaysia, including everything from the total cost of repair services to the hourly labor cost for mechanic labor in each shop. We combined that data with our expert database of hundreds of real repair jobs, thousands of real cars, millions of real car part prices in order to best estimate the cost of each repair service. Our labor cost estimate is calculated by taking the average hourly labor rate for a certified MyMechanic in Malaysia, times the number of hours it takes on average to complete a repair.
What parts do you need for an electronic ignition pickup replacement?
The electronic ignition system, introduced in the 1970s, replaced the old "contact breaker" (or "breaker points") ignition system. This change brought about numerous benefits, including fewer moving parts, reduced emissions, and increased reliability. As the name implies, the key components of this system are primarily electronic.
Here’s a map of what happens under the hood when you start a car with an electronic ignition system:
- Ignition switch: Completes the ignition system circuit and fires up the engine when you push the ignition button. Hitting the ignition switch again will interrupt the circuit and shut down the engine.
- Car battery: Supplies the raw power in the ignition system. When the circuit is completed by the switch, the car battery sends a low-voltage current towards the electronic control module to distribute to the ignition coil.
- Ignition coils: Transform the 12-14V current of the car battery into 60-120,000 volts of raw power.
- Electronic ignition pickup (pickup coil), armature, and rotor: Part of the distributor or distributor cap, which controls the timing of your engine firing. If the distributor was a lock, the armature would be the key, and the pickup coil the barrel. As the rotor turns the armature, it contacts the pickup coil and opens and closes the paths to the spark plugs, sending electricity in well-timed bursts.
- Ignition cables: Wire pathways between the ignition coils and the engine cylinders. The voltage created by the ignition coils and timed by the distributor passes through them to the spark plugs.
- Spark plugs: Shoot a high-voltage bolt of power across a small gap in each of the vehicle engine's cylinders, igniting the mixture of air and fuel inside at just the right time. These electrical explosions bring your car's engine to life like a mechanical Frankenstein.
We recommend purchasing these parts from MyMechanic. Reputable options are advisable for their reliability. However, recommended options may vary based on your vehicle's specific year, make, and model.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts are typically more expensive than aftermarket parts but often come with better warranties. For instance, if a certified Toyota mechanic installs a genuine electronic ignition pickup in your car, you'll receive a 24-month/25,000-mile warranty. The cost of parts is generally even higher for luxury brands like Audi or Mercedes-Benz. However, some aftermarket performance parts manufacturers provide quality that rivals or even exceeds that of OEM parts.
You can purchase a replacement aftermarket electronic ignition pickup from MyMechanic or contact them for further assistance.
Where can I get my car's electronic ignition pickup?
Finding a mechanic to replace your electronic ignition pickup can be challenging, especially if you don't have a trusted garage. However, you can get your electronic ignition pickup replace at MyMechanic in Malaysia. Additionally, consider using a service to compare prices from a wide range of reputable auto repair shops. This service assesses fair price estimates from each auto shop, taking into account their hourly labor rate. It also helps you determine if diagnostic fees are included in the service cost and provides honest reviews to aid in your decision-making process.
How did we vet these shops?
My Mechanic experts researched 2500+ real repair shops across the Malaysia. We talked to real shop customers, and analyzed both real shop pricing data and thousands of real customer reviews from each shop to verify them individually.
How will a mechanic replace my pickup coil?
A skilled mechanic should be able to complete your pickup coil replacement in a little time with the right equipment.
Take your car to a garage and they will:
- Disconnect the car battery: This ensures safety by cutting off the electrical supply.
- Remove the distributor cap and rotor: The mechanic will access the ignition coil by removing these components.
- Remove the old pickup coil: They will disconnect the wires and take out the faulty ignition pickup.
- Install the new pickup coil: The new coil is installed and the wiring reconnected.
- Replace the distributor cap and rotor: These components are put back in place.
- Reconnect the car battery: The electrical connection is restored.
- Test the electronic ignition system: The mechanic will start the car and ensure the ignition system is functioning properly.
What happens if I don’t replace my shock absorbers?
If your electronic ignition pickup isn't working properly, your engine may not run smoothly, and you might experience power surges. Ignoring the issue can lead to complete failure, leaving your engine unable to start. While you don’t need to stop driving immediately, intermittent surges or power loss should prompt you to visit a mechanic as soon as possible. They can diagnose and repair the problem before it worsens.
What is an electronic ignition pickup replacement?
An electronic ignition pickup replacement involves changing the coil that directs and times the bursts of electricity to the spark plugs. This process is crucial for the proper ignition of fuel in your engine's cylinders. A faulty pickup coil disrupts the engine's ability to fire consistently, leading to poor performance or a non-starting engine.
How can you tell if a pickup coil is bad?
A faulty pickup coil will cause inconsistent engine power and performance issues. Symptoms include:
- An engine that turns over but won't start
- Power surges while driving
- Sudden power losses while driving
- Backfiring or stalling
Key Takeaway: A failing ignition pickup coil might not trigger a check engine light. If you experience starting issues, surges, or power losses, see a mechanic promptly.
How long does an electronic ignition pickup coil last?
Electronic ignition pickup coils don't have a set lifespan. They should be checked when you inspect your spark plugs—every 30,000-50,000 miles for copper and nickel plugs, and 60,000-150,000 miles for platinum or iridium plugs. Proactively spotting and replacing a faulty pickup coil can help maintain your car’s condition.
Can I replace an electronic ignition pickup coil myself?
If you have some experience with electronic ignition systems, you can replace an electronic ignition pickup coil yourself. It’s a relatively simple DIY task that requires basic tools. The biggest challenge is keeping track of the wires and ensuring you don’t shock yourself. Detailed instructions can be helpful if you’re attempting this for the first time.
FAQs
Repairing pickup coils is possible, but the difficulty of the repairs can vary. External wires are relatively easy to fix, while internal corroded wires present a greater challenge. In some cases, you may need to remove the entire length of the wire and rewind it from beginning to end to complete the repair.
You can still drive your car with a single faulty ignition coil, but doing so could eventually lead to engine damage. Most cars have one ignition coil per engine cylinder. For example, if you have an inline-four engine, a single faulty coil means your engine could misfire 25% of the time, which is more noticeable than in a V6 engine. Regardless of how smooth your ride feels, a misfiring cylinder can cause long-term damage to your engine and catalytic converter, both of which can be very costly to repair.
It's advisable to replace all of your spark plugs and ignition coils simultaneously, particularly if you're having the service done at a garage. Typically, these components wear out at a similar rate, so replacing them together proactively can help prevent potential engine issues. Additionally, opting to replace multiple parts at once can be more cost-effective than scheduling separate visits to the garage.
