What are the symptoms of poor spark plug ignition?
3 Answers
Symptoms of poor spark plug ignition include: difficulty starting the car, low power, excessive exhaust emissions, and increased fuel consumption. Methods to determine if a spark plug is damaged: Remove the spark plug and observe its condition based on the following appearance colors. A normal spark plug's insulator skirt and electrodes should appear gray-white, gray-yellow, or light brown. If the spark plug has oil stains or deposits, the spark plug itself is not damaged. If the top of the spark plug shows blistering, black streaks, or similar phenomena. Symptoms of spark plug failure: difficulty starting the car, low power, excessive exhaust emissions, and increased fuel consumption. Steps to replace a spark plug: Open the engine hood, lift the plastic engine cover, remove the high-voltage distributor wires, and mark each cylinder's position to avoid confusion. Use a spark plug socket to remove the spark plugs one by one. While removing them, check for external debris like leaves or dust and ensure everything is cleaned thoroughly. Place the new spark plug into the spark plug hole, hand-tighten it a few turns, and then use the socket to tighten it further. Reinstall the high-voltage distributor wires in the firing order, then secure the cover.
The most common symptom of faulty spark plug ignition is particularly noticeable engine idle shaking, where you can feel the steering wheel vibrating along with it, as if sitting on a massage chair. Starting the car becomes difficult, requiring multiple attempts to turn the key, especially noticeable during cold starts. When accelerating from a stop, the car feels sluggish, and climbing hills becomes particularly strenuous. The exhaust smell also becomes pungent, with a noticeable gasoline odor. Fuel consumption spikes, and the engine warning light suddenly appears on the dashboard. A visit to the repair shop usually reveals issues with the ignition system. Remember to check the spark plug gap during regular maintenance—don't wait for problems to arise before fixing them.
If the spark plug ignition is faulty, the car will feel like it's having an asthma attack, jerking and shuddering. At idle, the RPM needle jumps around erratically, making even the music in the car shake. When you press the accelerator hard, the engine roars but lacks power, as if something is holding it back. The most annoying part is cold starts—on a freezing winter day, you might have to turn the key several times before the engine fires up. Black smoke comes out of the exhaust pipe, and the fuel gauge drops rapidly, forcing you to refuel twice as often in a month. If you notice these symptoms, it's best to avoid long trips and replace the spark plugs as soon as possible for safety.
