Signs That Your Vehicle Needs New Spark Plugs

When you turn your car's ignition key, a spark from the spark plugs ignites the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, starting your car. So, without a spark plug in each of your engine's cylinders, your vehicle won't run. You may also experience efficiency issues if the spark plugs in your engine are old or faulty.

While most motor vehicle manufacturers recommend when to replace spark plugs in varying vehicle models, some spark plugs may wear out earlier than expected. So, how do you know you need to replace your spark plugs? Below are some signs to look for.

The Engine Has Rough Idling

If your engine sounds louder when idling, the problem could be the spark plugs. Since faulty spark plugs don't ignite the engine optimally, the fuel in the cylinders will burn unevenly, causing louder noise when idling due to fluctuating RPMs.

The Engine Has Trouble Starting 

Though the car battery mostly takes the blame when the car has trouble starting, the culprit could be faulty spark plugs. As mentioned above, the primary role of a spark plug is to create the spark that ignites the air and fuel mixture in your engine's cylinders to start it. So, if the spark plugs are worn or clogged, the engine may not start as smoothly as it should.

The Engine Misfires

Though the engine can misfire due to poor-quality fuel or mechanical issues, spark plugs could also be the reason.

During a misfire, the engine stumbles for a moment or even loses its speed. If you don't replace the faulty spark plugs, the misfires could damage your vehicle's catalytic converter, causing higher emissions. Your vehicle could also consume more fuel because it sends raw fuel to the exhaust during misfires.

The Engine Is Too Loud During Normal Drives

Modern vehicles are excellent at reducing noise pollution, but this could change if one of your spark plugs is faulty. Since a faulty spark plug won't ignite the cylinder effectively, the effectiveness of that particular cylinder drops. Therefore, the other cylinders must overwork to compensate for the lower performance of that cylinder, causing rattling sounds during normal drives.

The Check Engine Light Comes On

Modern vehicles come with an on-board diagnostic system that warns the user of something wrong with the vehicle. This system detects both small and big issues and displays them on the dashboard as warning lights. 

A warning light is the check engine light, indicating malfunctions in the vehicle's emissions, exhaust, ignition, or fuel systems. An ignition malfunction could result from faulty spark plugs or spark plug wires. If not solved, the ignition problems could lead to severe problems like damaged ignition coils and clogged catalytic converter.

Your Fuel Consumption Has Gone Up

If your spark plugs are old and worn out, they will adversely affect combustion in the cylinders. Since fuel doesn't burn effectively, you'll need more fuel to run your engine, leading to poor fuel economy. Therefore, check the condition of your spark plugs if you've noticed a drop in your miles per gallon (MPG) figures.

Your Vehicle Has Acceleration Problems

As your spark plus age, they lose their ability to ignite your engine at optimal rates. These changes adversely affect engine combustion levels, causing jerking acceleration.

Despite being a small component in your engine, spark plugs play a huge role in your vehicle's performance. So, if you notice any of the signs above, take your vehicle to a car care center for diagnosis.

At Powers Transmissions, we are committed to solving your automotive problems promptly and accurately. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.