What are the symptoms of faulty car spark plugs?
2 Answers
Car spark plug failure symptoms: poor engine performance, including difficulty starting, unstable idling, poor acceleration, backfiring during sudden acceleration, excessive exhaust emissions, increased fuel consumption, and other abnormal phenomena. Solutions for car spark plug failure: 1. When removing the high-voltage wire connector, do it gently and avoid forcefully shaking the spark plug insulator, as this may damage the spark plug's sealing performance; 2. The area around the screw, spark plug electrodes, and sealing gasket must be kept clean, dry, and free of oil stains; 3. The engine must be cooled before removal. After loosening the spark plug to be removed, use a thin, soft tube to blow away any dirt around the spark plug to prevent debris from falling into the combustion chamber when the spark plug is removed.
I've been driving for over a decade, and when spark plugs go bad, the engine's performance shows obvious signs. At first, it's hard to start when cold, especially on winter mornings—you have to turn the key multiple times to get it to fire up. At idle, the car shakes violently, almost like it's dancing. Acceleration is even worse: the throttle response is sluggish, the car jerks forward in bursts, accompanied by a rattling noise, as if the engine is hiccuping. Fuel consumption also spikes, with each tank of gas running dozens of kilometers shorter, and black smoke comes out of the exhaust, reeking of gasoline. If left unchecked, these issues can lead to misfires and stalling, especially when climbing hills or at high speeds—extremely dangerous. I recommend checking the spark plugs every 20,000 kilometers. Regular cleaning or replacement can prevent major trouble. Pay attention to these small signals in daily driving—safety on the road depends on it.
