Spark Plugs and Spark Plug Wires Inspection

We all know that with the advancement of technology the classic definition of tune up has been changed. But one thing that still persists from the classic tune up is the changing of spark plugs. Most of the cars on the road still have the spark plugs. It is one of the maintenance procedures that can increase your car’s mileage and can make your car to run smoothly.

Spark plug is basically a high voltage bridge for electricity. They can last long depending upon the condition of your engine, purity of the fuel, and even your driving manner. While changing your spark plug, you should also inspect your plug wires.

Spark plug wires are durable enough and do not wear out frequently as they are not a moving part. If you inspect your spark plug wires often, you will not encounter any kind of problem due to bad or worn wires.

Spark plug wires have an insulation which keeps the electricity inside, where it means to be, to avoid sparking elsewhere before it gets there. The main and only problem with spark plug wires is break in there insulation. When the insulation gets broken, the spark jumps off the wire, onto some metallic thing under the hood. This will cause a weak spark or no spark at all in the cylinder which in turn affect your car’s mileage and also your car will run roughly. This can also affect the car’s catalytic converter by passing the unburned fuel there. It can also lead to fire if the fuel leak and arc in the plug occurs simultaneously.

To avoid such problems check your spark plug wires while changing your spark plugs. Follow the following steps while changing your spark plug wires.
1. Put your engine off.
2. Start looking for uneven or not smooth, pliable rubber, towards plug end of the wire from the distributor end.
3. Slightly bend the wires to check the cracks anywhere.
4. At the distributor end of the wire, check the boots to make sure they are not cracked.
5. At the plug end, check the wires for any crack after pulling them off the plug one by one. Make sure that there is no burning or darkening.

If you come up with any kind of damage, then it is the time to change your spark plug wires. It is better to install good wires as the bad wires can even trigger engine fire.