Here are 6 Signs You Have Bad Spark Plugs.

Are you noticing that your engine doesn't run as well as it should? The engine light sometimes appears on your dashboard.

The problem could be due to a defective or damaged spark plug. Spark plugs are an important part of the engine. They can lead to a variety of unusual symptoms or even engine damage.

You will find out what a Spark Plug is. Also, which symptoms should you look for when your engine has a problem with the spark plug. Information on how and where to buy a spark plug will also be provided. Let’s begin with the signs:

6 Signs You Have Bad Spark Plugs

The most common symptom of bad spark plugs is a misfiring engine together with a check engine light on your car’s dashboard.

Bad or failed spark plugs can be characterized by the following symptoms:

Bad spark plugs can cause many symptoms. This is because they are so important in an engine's performance. Below is a list that explains the six most frequent symptoms caused by bad spark plugs.

Misfires in engines

Bad spark plugs will cause misfires in your engine. The engine can run rough when it is idle or at high speeds, as well fuel economy changes. After some time, you will see the check engine lamp. It is possible to feel misfires in the engine as the engine might be running rough. The engine noise may also be different.

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Check engine light

Engine control units will recognize misfiring engines and can store trouble codes and turn off the check engine lights. That’s why it is an excellent idea to read the trouble codes with an OBD2 scanner when you are troubleshooting your car.

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It is a rough idle

Bad spark plugs can cause a misfire. The O2 sensor may be fooled by the fuel mixture. You may then see a lean mixture. It can lead to rough idle or misfires in other cylinders.

Bad spark plugs can cause a cylinder to fail, and it is especially noticeable at low RPMs such as idle. If your idle is feeling very rough and you car does maybe sound like a tractor and now like usual, it’s a big chance that you are experiencing failed spark plugs.

Acceleration: Slow, but not too rapid

You can get slow or rough acceleration due to misfires, lean mixture, and the O2 sensors. It is most noticeable at high accelerations but also at slower speeds. If your spark plug is so bad that the cylinder with the bad spark plug isn’t running at all, you can also feel the difference with one cylinder less.

It is difficult to start

A good spark is essential for an engine's starting moment. Bad spark plugs could prevent it from starting, or make it take longer to crank the engine. You should also check your spark plugs for a smell of unburned gasoline when cranking the engine.

Poor fuel economy

Poor spark plugs may cause poor fuel economy and misfires due to the O2 sensor regulations. While this will not make any significant differences, it may be because misfires can have a huge impact on the fuel mixture.

You should inspect your spark plugs if your car runs rough or has a low fuel consumption.

What does a spark plug mean?

Your engine's spark plug is responsible for igniting the mixture of cylinder fuel and air. Fuel injectors are responsible for injecting fuel to the combustion chamber. The piston then compresses this mixture. It’s time for the spark plug to ignite the fuel mixture to push the pistons down in this event. If there is a problem with the spark, the air-fuel mixture won’t get ignited, and it will blow out unburned through your exhaust pipe. It is also known as Misfire.

You may understand the importance of the spark plugs and why it’s a very important part of the engine to keep in good shape now.

Locate Sparks

The spark plugs are located at the engine’s cylinder head, often under a cover on the top of the engine and under an ignition coil.

Sometimes they may also be on the side or head of the cylinder, making them harder to replace.

Spark plugs replacement cost

According to the number of spark plugs that you need replaced, your car's model and labor costs, the average cost for replacement is $40-$600. The cost of a spark plug is $10-$30 per piece, while the labor for it costs $20-$500.

Costs for replacing your spark plugs vary depending on which car model you own. Spark plugs are $20 to $100 each, depending on which model you have and what type of spark plug. The cost of replacing spark plugs can range from $20 to $100 for a 4-cylinder engine but could go up to $1000 for a V8 or other engine if the location is poor.

RELATED : How long do spark plugs last?

If you consider that a regular spark plug costs $10 per piece and that you are using a V6 engine the cost of spark plugs is $60. Different car models have different labor costs. You can change the spark plugs in some cars within minutes. Others may take several hours. The most expensive labor for a replacement spark plug is $50 to $150.

FAQ Spark Plug