Basic answer is the coil is a series of two wires wound in a configuration around a core so that when the vehicle sends 12 volts to the primary side it multiplies the voltage to 30-40 Thousand volts DC some go up to 60 K volts, but then the higher voltage goes to the spark plug causing a spark to jump across the gap on the plug igniting the air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of the engine.
Older cars only had one coil , it had a HT cable going to a distributor and from there to the cylinders . Most V six engines have a coil pack with three coils, with two HT cables from each coil to the spark plugs . No distributor the computer controls the spark. some engines have the coil mounted on the spark plugs. No distributor or HT cables.
A coil pack is the modern-day equivalent to an older vehicle's ignition coil (which provides electrical spark for all of the spark plug wires when combined with a distributor, distributor cap and rotor). However, one coil pack usually only drives 2-4 spark plug wires or boots (though some drive 6). In some cases 1 coil-on boot configuration is used and no spark plug wires are present. In this case the vehicle may use one coil per spark plug. Basically, a modern V8 will require 2-8 coil packs to provide spark for combustion, where'as an older V8 would usually only have one ignition coil. A four-cylinder vehicle will usually have 2-4 (depending on whether or not it utilizes a coil on boot configuration). Some V6 vehicles use 1 coil pack for all 6 cylinders and the top resembles that of an older distributor cap, with connections for spark plug wires. Many V6 configurations use 3 coil packs. Coil packs should be replaced every 60,000-100,000 miles with a full tune-up, or as need. They are expensive, but they help your vehicle operate efficiently and are good for the environment.
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