Parts for your 2016 Nissan Navara-Ignition coils

2016 Nissan Navara ignition coils — are they used?

For the 2016 Nissan Navara sold in Australia and New Zealand, ignition coils aren’t relevant. This model year in ANZ was delivered primarily with the 2.3-litre YS23DDT/DDTT turbo-diesel engines (D23/NP300 platform), which use compression ignition and glow plugs—no spark plugs, and therefore no ignition coils. This is confirmed by the Nissan Navara D23 Series Workshop Manual for the YS23DDT/DDTT engines (Engine and EC sections), which details a glow plug control system and lacks any coil-on-plug ignition, and by ANZ model specification guides listing diesel-only powertrains for 2016. Diesel combustion principles (per Bosch Automotive technical literature) also explain the absence of ignition coils: fuel auto-ignites under high compression, so there’s no high-voltage spark system to manage.

What the 2016 Navara diesel does have is a set of glow plugs and a control module to assist cold starts, along with common-rail injectors, a high-pressure pump and the usual range of sensors. If a 2016 Navara shows symptoms many drivers associate with “bad coils” (rough running, hard starts, hesitation), the likely culprits on the diesel are different: injector performance, a clogged fuel filter, low battery voltage affecting the glow system, intake air leaks, EGR or DPF issues, or a failing MAF/MAP sensor.

Maintenance that pays off on these utes includes timely fuel filter changes, battery health checks, and inspection/testing of the glow plugs and control circuits during routine servicing. Technicians typically verify glow plug resistance and monitor glow control strategy with a scan tool, and will look at injector balance, rail pressure and air–fuel signals if a misfire or stumble is reported.

Note: In a few markets outside ANZ, some 2016 Navaras were offered with a petrol engine (e.g., QR25DE). Those petrol variants do use coil-on-plug ignition. If working on an import or non-ANZ vehicle with a petrol engine, coil inspection and testing with a scope or swap-test is appropriate, and replacement should be done in matched quality sets where feasible. For the ANZ 2016 diesel models, though, ignition coils aren’t fitted or required.

Technical references (no external links):

• Nissan Navara D23 (2016) Workshop Manual: Engine (YS23DDT/DDTT), Engine Control (EC) — details glow plug system, no ignition coils.
• Nissan Australia/New Zealand 2016 model specification guides — 2.3L turbo-diesel lineup.
• Bosch Automotive Handbook and Bosch Diesel Systems technical briefs — diesel compression ignition fundamentals.

Popular questions about 2016 Nissan Navara ignition coils

Does a 2016 Nissan Navara have ignition coils?
For ANZ-delivered 2016 Navaras with the 2.3L turbo-diesel, no. They use compression ignition and glow plugs instead of spark plugs and coils. Only petrol variants (sold in some other markets) use coil-on-plug ignition.

What’s causing a misfire on a 2016 Navara if there are no coils?
On the diesel, rough running is more commonly tied to fuel delivery (injectors, filter), air metering (MAF/MAP), EGR/DPF issues, intake leaks, or weak glow operation on cold starts. A scan for fault codes and live-data checks usually pinpoint the area.

How are glow plugs maintained on a 2016 Navara diesel?
Glow plugs are checked for correct resistance and operation, and the glow control system is verified during servicing. Keeping the battery in good nick and replacing the fuel filter at the recommended intervals helps preserve easy starts and smooth running.