Parts for your 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer-Ignition coils

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer ignition coils — what they do and how to look after them

Based on technical references — including the Mitsubishi Motors Lancer CJ/CY Factory Service Manual (Engine Electrical, Group 16), the Mitsubishi ASA electronic parts catalogue, and major ignition component catalogues for the 4B11/4B12/4B11T engines — the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer sold in Australia and New Zealand is fitted with ignition coils. These petrol engines run a coil-on-plug (COP) system, with one coil per cylinder. Only some overseas diesel variants don’t use ignition coils because diesels ignite fuel by compression rather than a spark, but that doesn’t apply to local petrol models.

On the 2008 Lancer, each ignition coil sits directly on top of its spark plug. Its job is to step up the battery’s 12 volts to the thousands of volts needed to jump the plug gap and light the air–fuel mix. When coils get tired, the spark weakens and the engine can misfire — especially under load or at idle.

Common signs a coil is on the way out include a rough idle, sluggish acceleration, a flashing or steady check engine light, higher fuel use, or a sulphury exhaust smell after repeated misfires. A scan tool may log codes like P0300–P0304. A simple “swap test” — moving a suspected coil to another cylinder and seeing if the misfire follows — can help confirm the culprit.

While coils aren’t a scheduled replacement item, they do live a hard life with heat and vibration. Good practice on a 2008 Lancer includes:

• Replacing spark plugs at the manufacturer’s interval and using quality plugs — weak plugs stress coils.
• Keeping the coil boots clean and lightly treated with dielectric grease to prevent tracking.
• Inspecting coil connectors for broken locks, corrosion, or oil intrusion from a leaking rocker cover gasket.
• Refitting coils carefully: seat the boot squarely, don’t force it, and tighten mounting bolts to the specified torque (not “gorilla tight”).

Heat is the enemy, so Ralliart/turbo cars can be tougher on coils, proactive inspection during services is smart. If one coil fails at higher kilometres, some owners choose to replace the full set to keep things even. Always disconnect the battery and work on a cool engine, or have a qualified tech handle diagnosis and fitment.

How many ignition coils are on a 2008 Lancer?

All Aussie and Kiwi 2008 Lancer petrol models are four-cylinder and use four ignition coils — one per cylinder in a coil-on-plug layout. The Ralliart turbo version is also coil-on-plug with one coil per cylinder.

When should the ignition coils be replaced?

There’s no fixed interval. Replace a coil when it shows failure symptoms or triggers a misfire code tied to that cylinder. If the vehicle has high kilometres and one coil fails, replacing the set can prevent repeat visits, especially if the car sees lots of stop–start driving or heat.

Can a bad coil damage anything else?

Yes, prolonged misfiring can overheat the catalytic converter and foul spark plugs. If the check engine light flashes or there’s a noticeable misfire, minimise driving and fix the issue promptly to avoid costly damage.