How and Why to Check Your Car’s Spark Plugs
When most drivers turn a key or press a button to start their car, they probably don’t mentally go through everything it takes to start the engine. And while this process seems so simple to us today (especially when it’s literally a push of a button), there are so many things going on under the hood that they all have to fall into place and function properly so that you can push the button. Road.
Spark plugs, although small, play an important role in starting your car and keeping it running, so when they fail you’ll want to replace them. Not sure if it’s time yet? Then you will need to test them. This is why it matters and how to do it.
What do spark plugs do?
It’s probably a good idea to have a basic understanding of what spark plugs actually do. Here’s a quick explanation from Mike Cote of Auto Anything :
A spark plug is essentially an electrical device that is inserted into the cylinder head of your engine, where it “ignites” a spark to ignite the fuel. The spark plug connects to the ignition coil, which generates the high voltage required to ignite the fuel and ignite the engine. No spark plug means no ignition, which means you can’t go anywhere without one.
Why check a spark plug?
When the check engine light comes on – or you are facing some other problem that cannot be immediately identified – it could be due to a lot of wrong things. But as Hank O’Hop of The Drive explains , when you troubleshoot engine problems, it makes sense to start with the simplest and easiest solution and work your way up to more complex problems from there. And if you’re dealing with misfire, the easiest place to start is with the spark plugs.
How to check a spark plug
While this can certainly be trusted by professionals, it is also fairly easy to do at home. In his article in The Drive, O’Hop describes two different ways to test a spark plug at home: a ground test and a multimeter test . Here’s what you need:
- Spark plug wire remover (for older vehicles without coils)
- Multimeter (for testing resistance)
- Spark plug socket
- Sockets (for vehicles with coils)
- Spark plug that is known to work
We’ll let O’Hopu make it out of here, so read his article on Drive of The , to learn about the other steps, including how to make everything as safe.