Your automobile relies on the spark plugs to produce sparks in the combustion chamber. The sparks are what ignite the air and fuel to start your engine and keep it running. The spark plugs need to be changed anywhere from every 30,000 miles to 100,000 miles. It depends on the age of your vehicle and the spark plug type. Below, we are going to list signs that your spark plugs need to be changed.
Hard to Start
Without a spark in each cylinder, the air and fuel will not ignite. Consequently, it will be difficult to get your vehicle started. In fact, you may start it several times only to have it stall right away. If the spark plugs have died completely and are not generating any sparks at all, you will not be able to get your vehicle started. You will have to have the automobile towed to our shop.
Misfiring/Rough Idling
Let’s assume for the moment that your engine did start. This does not mean that you are out of the woods. Worn spark plugs have a hard time generating sparks while the engine is running to keep it running. Consequently, the engine will misfire and idle roughly. When the engine misfires, your vehicle will jerk and you will hear the engine stop running for a split second.
Stalling/Surging
In severe cases, the engine will stall. It can stall at any time, including while you are driving. The engine may also surge if the spark plugs are firing too much. Naturally, this can make driving your automobile quite difficult because you will not know what it is going to do.
Poor Performance
As you can see, worn spark plugs create poor performance in your engine. The engine will sputter, lag, misfire, surge, and stall. You will continue to have the engine performance problems until you have the spark plugs replaced. Do not worry. We can do this at our shop.
Rotten Fuel Economy
You will want to have the new plugs installed sooner rather than later because the poor engine performance will reduce your fuel economy. Consequently, you will not get the gas mileage out of your automobile that you normally get. This can make driving the automobile more expensive because you will have to refill the tank more often.
Call us today if you believe it is time to have the spark plugs replaced, or if you are having any of the problems listed above.
