Spark plugs are at the core of an engine; if one of your plugs fails, the effect will ripple throughout your engine and car. The primary symptom of a faulty plug is misfiring, and there are several more warning signs to look out for, as outlined below. The friendly technicians at your local Honda dealer can promptly repair or replace your worn-out plugs, returning your car's engine to optimal performance.
Your Engine Starts Coughing and Sputtering
When a plug fails to spark properly, it misfires. As plugs ordinarily fire hundreds of times per minute, this misfiring will repeat rapidly, causing the engine to sputter, cough, and make other alarming noises.
Your Car Jolts and Shudders
Along with the strange sounds, misfiring also causes the vehicle to shudder and shake. These misfiring symptoms will become more noticeable whenever the engine is under more strain, such as when accelerating, driving at higher speeds, or towing a heavy load.
Your Idling Roughens When Paused in Traffic
Often, misfiring becomes most evident when the car idles, such as when navigating slow urban traffic. If the faulty plug fails completely or more than one plug becomes bad, your car might stall altogether. You may then find it hard to restart.
You Have Trouble Starting Your Car
In the morning, when the engine's cold, an especially powerful surge of voltage is required to start the engine. With one or more malfunctioning plugs, your engine will be slow or unable to start.
Your Engine Loses Acceleration
For maximum engine efficiency, all cylinders need to be firing properly. With a failing plug preventing one cylinder from pulling its weight, your overall engine power will diminish. This makes it harder to accelerate and maintain high speeds.
Your Fuel Efficiency Is Falling
Fuel will still be pumped into a cylinder with a misfiring plug, causing waste and inefficiency. The result is reduced gas mileage and less bang for your buck at the gas station.
Your Check Engine Light Appears
The many problems caused by a failing plug will usually trigger the check engine light to appear on the dashboard. While this light may not immediately point to the failed plug, a technician will quickly diagnose the underlying issue.
Your Honda Dealer Identifies a Malfunctioning Plug
It's wise to respond promptly to any of these signs of a bad plug. Hesitation allows the problem to worsen, potentially harming other parts of your car.
The engine's plugs should also be inspected periodically for signs of wear and tear. If one of our technicians finds a fault, they can quickly repair or replace the problematic plug, preempting a more serious fault.
