Symptoms of Bad or Failing Spark Plugs

he spark plugs are part of your vehicle’s electrical system. Their purpose is to help maintain fuel efficiency and power your vehicle’s engine. Spark plugs are an essential part of your vehicle running smoothly, so they do need to be changed from time to time. If you suspect your spark plugs are failing, watch for the following symptoms:

Poor acceleration

If your vehicle has a delayed reaction when you push the gas pedal or poor acceleration, then it may be time to change your spark plugs. In addition, if you push harder on the gas pedal to try and make up for the bad acceleration, it may seem like your engine needs to work harder. Do not ignore this problem as it causes overwork to your engine and may cause larger issue

Poor fuel economy

The spark plugs help to keep your fuel emissions to a minimum, so if you start to have poor fuel economy your spark plugs may be going bad. This is because the gap between the electrodes either closes up or expands, which causes poor fuel economy in your vehicle. Once you start to notice bad gas mileage, contact a professional mechanic to have your spark plugs replaced.

Engine is misfiring

As the spark plugs fail, the engine will start misfiring. The longer the spark plugs are allowed to go, the more the engine will misfire. An engine misfire can be noticed by a stumbling or stuttering sound from the engine, and then it starts running normal again. If the engine is allowed to keep misfiring, the exhaust emissions will be increased, the engine power will be reduced, and the fuel economy will be reduced.

Issues starting your vehicle

If you have trouble starting your vehicle, this is a sign your spark plugs are very badly worn. These need to be replaced as soon as possible if you are having this symptom. Eventually, the engine will not turn over anymore, and your vehicle will not be drivable until the spark plugs are replaced.

As soon as you notice poor acceleration, bad fuel economy, the engine misfiring, and the vehicle not starting properly, contact a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, immediately to have the problem further diagnosed. YourMechanic makes replacing your spark plugs simple because our mobile mechanics will come to your home or office to fix your car.