Mazda City of Orange Park

Oct 7, 2021

A spark plug creates the electricity that ignites the air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber to start your car. These little plugs have a big job, and when they are faulty or fouled, they can cause a range of problems. If you experience the following symptoms, ask your technician at your Jacksonville, FL, Mazda Dealer to check your car’s plugs.  Spark Plug

Bad Spark Plug? Signs and Symptoms From Your Jacksonville, FL, Mazda Dealer

Check Engine Light Is On

A bad plug can cause your engine to misfire and trigger the check engine light. Misfiring plugs could put stress on the catalytic converter. To prevent further damage, replace the plugs as soon as you can. This will prevent further damage and save you money on costly repairs in the long run.

Engine Misfiring

That spluttering sound you hear is a misfiring engine. If your car’s engine misfires, it could be due to a damaged plug or plug wire. If the issue is not sorted out soon, it will lead to all sorts of problems, causing more damage and expensive repairs. A misfiring engine will cause your car to lose power, burn more gas, and increase exhaust emissions.

Poor Gas Mileage

Plugs assist in the effective burning of fuel in the combustion cycle. Old, worn-out, or misfiring plugs will increase your car’s fuel consumption due to the ineffective ignition of the fuel in the cylinder on each combustion cycle. The waste of fuel will cause you to make more trips to the gas stations, spending more cash on gas. When you replace the plugs, you will see immediately see the difference in fuel consumption.

Your Car Is Sluggish and Slow

When you step on the accelerator and your car is slow to respond, bad plugs might be causing the problem. You might also experience a sudden surge in power. Fouled or worn plugs cause poor combustion resulting in a loss of power. This problem can easily be fixed by simply replacing the plugs.

Rough Idling and Vibrating

Your engine should purr like a kitten, but when it starts to sound more like a roaring lion, you’ve got a problem. If you hear knocking, rattling, or pinging sounds, bad plugs might be the culprits. This will also cause your car to vibrate.

Hard Starts

If you struggle to start your car, the cause could be bad plugs or damaged plug wires. When plugs are dirty, old, and worn out, they can’t create the necessary spark to power the engine. Get your car to your technician as quickly as you can to fix the problem before you can’t start your car at all.

If you experience any of these symptoms, ask your Mazda technician to inspect your car’s plugs. Issues caused by bad plugs are easily fixed, but not attending to the problem fast will result in more damage and costly repairs. Also, check your owner’s manual for information on the plug replacement intervals for your car. Contact Mazda City of Orange Park today. Our qualified technicians perform top-quality maintenance and repairs you can count on.