Faulty spark plugs

Faulty spark plugs

Many drivers assume that when their car has trouble starting, there’s a problem with the battery. While this certainly could be the case, it’s not the only possibility. Old or faulty spark plugs could be the problem.

Spark plugs are an insulated plug that are an important part of a vehicle’s internal combustion engine. They screw into the cylinder head that sits at the top of the engine. Only about the size of a finger, spark plugs take in high voltages of electricity and use it to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. The combustion process, burning fuel with oxygen, is what powers the engine.

Because spark plugs bring power to your engine, they have sway over your car’s engine’s performance, efficiency, and even emission levels. But over time, like any auto part, spark plugs can wear out. 

Worn/failed spark plugs, coil packs, or spark plug wires can trigger your check engine light to come on. In today's cars, if a spark plug fails and can no longer ignite the air-fuel mixture, then the most obvious event should be the check engine light coming on or even flashing.

This can cause your engine to misfire and your check engine light to pop on. A flashing engine light could mean that potentially catastrophic misfires are taking place, which could damage the catalytic converter(s).

Symptoms of misfiring spark plugs may include rough idling, uneven power when accelerating, and an increase in exhaust emissions.

Your spark plugs have one of the most important jobs in your vehicle, which is to provide the spark that powers the engine. Old, worn out spark plugs have a harder time creating the spark that actually powers your engine. If your car stalls when you are trying to turn it on, there could be a problem with spark plugs or damaged spark plug wires. 

If your spark plugs are on their last leg, they’ll take it out on your gas mileage. Worn out spark plugs can increase your vehicle’s fuel consumption because they won’t effectively burn the fuel that goes into the engine.

In general, keeping your car tuned up can work wonders for your fuel efficiency.

If you notice that the engine is making rattling, pinging, or knock-like noises, your spark plugs might be to blame.

You’re probably pretty familiar with how your vehicle handles and drives. If you notice that your car isn’t as responsive as normal, particularly when you’re trying to accelerate, this could be traced back to worn spark plugs. 

Luckily, spark plugs don’t wear out very quickly. But if you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to get your spark plugs checked out with an engine tune up.