Five Common Warning Signs of Spark Plug Trouble

There are many causes of car breakdown but some are more common than others. Spark plug issues are one of the most common reasons your car may break down. Loose, faulty or dirty plugs will affect the normal functioning of your car and could leave you stranded by the roadside. The good news is that it's possible to catch and fix spark plug problems before they result in vehicle breakdown.

Here are some common symptoms that could indicate spark plug trouble.

Difficult Starting

Spark plugs play an integral role in your car's starting process. When you turn the ignition key in your car, the ignition system will send high voltage to the vehicle's spark plugs, starting the vehicle in the process. 

If you're having difficulty starting your car, it's likely your spark plugs are bad and therefore can't deliver power to your engine.

Rough Idling 

When your car is running smoothly, it provides a smooth and comfortable ride. If it starts to feel rough and bouncy when the engine is operating, it may be rough idling. Faulty spark plugs are one of the several reasons your car may rough idle. You may fix the problem by removing and reinstalling the plugs. If this doesn't work, you may need to replace your spark plugs.

Losing Power

You may have experienced your car losing power when you press the accelerator pedal. This may happen due to various reasons, including bad spark plugs. One bad spark plug is enough reasons for your car to lose acceleration.

Engine Misfiring

Your engine's cylinders are designed to fire in a certain order or time and when that doesn't happen, the overall performance of your vehicle will suffer. Spark plugs feed electric power into each of the cylinders in your engine. Even one failed plug is enough to affect the engine's firing order or timing.

Increased Fuel Consumption

If your spark plugs aren't working correctly, they may lead to high fuel consumption by not burning fuel efficiently. Getting faulty plugs replaced can help restore your vehicle's normal fuel consumption levels by ensuring smooth combustion of the compressed air-fuel mixture.

If you notice one or more of the above signs when you're operating your car, you may have bad spark plugs. If that is true, technicians at a local auto electrical repair shop can check and replace the plugs for you. If not, they'll diagnose and fix the underlying cause of your car trouble.