
So, be sure to let the engine cool off before diving in. That includes plugs that aren’t exactly in tip-top shape. There are plenty of parts under the hood waiting to barbeque you. Don’t attempt to pull plugs when the engine is hot. So, unless you want to risk a botched surgery, throw on a set of safety glasses and gloves.
#HOW TO INSTALL SPARK PLUG WIRE TO COIL SKIN#
Plastic surgeons will welcome any services, but you’ve only got one layer of skin and two eyeballs. For that second method, you want to keep these safety tips in mind. One of which only requires a multimeter, but the other involves working with an exposed plug under the hood. By performing these tests, you can quickly determine whether or not the spark plug is the source of your problems.īecause we are highlighting two different ways to test plugs, there are variable safety considerations. Both are relatively easy and require little more than basic hand tools. We're going to talk about two tests you can perform to test out spark plugs. But what if it's not? How can you tell for sure if the spark plug isn't firing?

Over time the center electrode will wear away, and it can't perform its job. Sometimes a visual inspection is enough to determine if a plug is faulty. In the case of a misfire, the easiest place to start is by checking the spark plugs. So, if you fall into the habit of throwing parts at a car until it works again, you can wind up deeper in the hole than you could ever imagine.Īs a rule of thumb, you always want to start with the simplest and easiest solution and gradually work your way up the latter when troubleshooting. And if it's a lack of spark, it can be due to a bad plug, coil, ignition module, distributor, or spark plug wire. It can be a lack of fuel, compression, or spark. There are plenty of contributors to a misfire. So, it's not a big deal to replace them if they go bad. Why are we performing a spark plug test? Spark plugs are cheap. There's more to it than that, but that's all we need to know to understand the tests we're performing as we’re just trying to ensure the plug can perform that very task.

The short version of how they work is by sending electricity through the plug, so an arc breaches the gap between the center electrode and the ground electrode. Vehicle System : Ignition What Is a Spark Plug Test?Ī spark plug is a simple device that turns the ignition system's energy into spark, which ignites the fuel mixture. So, it’s a good thing you’ve got The Drive’s brainiac team to teach you the ways that won’t leave your hair standing up straight. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, though.
#HOW TO INSTALL SPARK PLUG WIRE TO COIL HOW TO#
That said, it pays to know how to test a spark plug so you can pinpoint the issue. Lack of spark can be on account of plenty of other faulty electrical components. But just because a plug isn’t firing doesn’t mean it’s the problem. Like all other things mechanical, spark plugs will see their day. Luckily, that’s the kind of lesson you only need to learn once and, thankfully, it’s not the only way to test a spark plug. While it might have seemed cruel and unusual, followed by his raucous laughter and a lifetime of vengeful plotting to get him back, the power of that shock is something you kept in mind every other time you worked on a vehicle’s electrical system. Everyone dropped their first, or likely fortieth, F-bomb when their dad had them hold the spark plug while he hit the kick starter on their dirt bike.

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