How To Tell If Your Spark Plug Needs To Be Replaced

Your car will not start—or go anywhere—without a spark.

The spark plug in a car provides the spark required by the ignition to start the vehicle. A spark plug’s electrical spark ignites the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber.

• See Also: How To Survive When Your Car Is Getting Washed Away By Floodwater

If the voltage supplied to the plug is high enough, electrical energy is transmitted through the spark plug, jumping the gap in the plug’s firing end.

The condition of a car engine’s spark plugs determines its performance. Your ride will not be able to maintain maximum power if they are not in good health.

Here are some indicators that your spark plugs need to be replaced.

The engine produces inconsistent sound

The sound produced by the engine is consistent and smooth. However, if your spark plugs are not performing properly, your engine will produce a rough and jittery sound, as well as larger vibrations throughout the vehicle. Failure to check this can result in costly damage.

Your car is difficult to start

If you are having trouble starting your car and you are certain it is not a battery issue or that your car is not out of fuel, it could just be a bad or worn-out spark plug.

A faulty or worn-out spark plug does not produce the necessary spark to start the vehicle. If this occurs, your vehicle will not start. A faulty spark plug can deplete your vehicle’s battery.

Your engine frequently misfires

When a car engine misfires, the moving vehicle comes to a sudden halt – for a fraction of a second – and then resumes normal motion.

This indicates that one or more cylinders are not firing properly. This condition may result in increased fuel emissions or the use of more fuel.

Surge in engine performance

If your car jerks and then slows down, or if it starts and stops frequently, it could be due to a faulty spark plug.

When a vehicle sucks in more air than usual during the combustion process, this is referred to as jerking or surging. Jerking can cause a moving vehicle to slow down or to repeatedly start and stop. When this occurs, it indicates that the vehicle’s engine is working inefficiently. This is also known as engine hesitation, and it can lead to a dangerous situation if it occurs in traffic.

Fuel consumption has increased

A worn-out or faulty spark plug causes your car to consume more fuel in a shorter period of time.

Your car’s fuel economy will fall dramatically by up to 30%. This is the result of incomplete combustion. If you notice you are having to fill up more frequently than usual, it could be due to deteriorating spark plugs. All you need to do to restore your vehicle’s optimal fuel consumption is replace the spark plugs.

Inadequate acceleration

When you put your foot on the accelerator and your car does not accelerate, this is also a sign of a faulty spark plug. This sluggishness is easily remedied by having the vehicle serviced and the spark plugs changed.

• See Also: How To Know If A Toyota Camry Or Venza Has 4 Or 6-Cylinder Engine Just By Looking At The Rear Of The Car