Spark to a spark plug is really important to a vehicle. Without a spark, neither can the fuel ignite nor provide power to an engine. It can be really frustrating when your car doesn’t start when you have an important appointment. This may lead you to hold your head and question why you are going through this. There’s no need to fret, stay calm and find the cause of your problem.
There are many reasons why your car’s engine might not start. For a normal gas engine to start, power, spark, fuel, and compression are the important components required. For your current situation, the most probable cause would be a spark plug that’s not sparking. So, let’s move on to what you can do in this situation.
How To Confirm If The Spark Plug Has A Spark Or Not?
We recommend that you ensure yourself of the problem before you jump into fixing it solely based on a guess. To test if you are correct in your guess, just follow these few steps to check for the spark.
1. First, make sure that your vehicle’s battery is fully charged.
2. Inactivate the fuel system by removing the fuel pump relay or fuse.
3. Now, insert a spark plug tester into the boot plug and attach it to a metal area on the engine.
4. The only thing left to do is to crank the engine and check for the spark.
For a better understanding of the process, we’ve included a video below for you to watch.
If you are unable to find any spark then the next step would be to find the reason behind this.
Potential Causes For No Spark To The Spark Plugs
There is a wide range of problems that may cause a lack of spark. As it would be impossible for us to discuss all of them, let us tell you the most common causes. If you find yourself facing a situation with no spark to the spark plug, these common causes we have discussed below.
1. Dirty or Corroded Spark Plugs
The most common cause of no spark is a dirty spark plug. With time, dirt and combustion material tend to build up on the spark plug electrode, causing resistance to spark production.
2. Worn-out Spark Plugs
Wearing out of spark plugs is the second most common cause of no spark. When spark plugs are used for a long time without changing, they get worn out and lose the ability to create a spark.
3. Low-Quality Ignition Coil
The ignition coil has a major role in providing power to the spark plugs, so it must work properly.
4. Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor
The crankshaft position sensor is responsible for monitoring the positional and rotational speed of the crankshaft. Without its proper working engine control monitor wouldn’t know when to fire the fuel to ignite the spark plugs.
5. Bad Engine Control Monitor
An engine control monitor plays an essential part in the working of your vehicle. It is responsible for firing the fuel to provide energy to the engine.
6. Loose Wires
Loose wires are a fairly common issue leading to spark-less plugs. Over time, it is common for wires to loosen up, causing a lost connection of the spark plug with the ignition system.
7. Gap Issues
For a spark plug to work properly, it is really important to have a proper gap between the electrode and the spark plug. Decreased gap causes damage to the engine because of a strong spark while an increased gap causes a weak spark not sufficient to ignite the fuel.
8. Damaged Distributor Cap
A distributor cap is required for proper distribution of the initial spark to all the spark plugs. With damage to a distributor cap, a spark cannot reach the plugs that need it.
9. Faulty Ignition Switch
An ignition switch is a basic requirement for igniting the spark plug. If the ignition switch does not work properly then the engine will not start.
10. Faulty Rotor
The rotor is indirectly responsible for the distribution of spark because it works to rotate the distributor cap. Working in cooperation with the distributor cap it distributes the spark to individual spark plugs.
Key Points to Fix No Spark To The Spark Plug Issue:
The solution mainly depends on the main issue, so it is really important to know the exact problem. Since the majority of issues are due to spark plugs, allow us to brief you on what to do if the spark plugs do not fire correctly.
- Firstly, you need to ensure that you are using the right type of spark plugs because each type of engine has a designated variety of spark plugs that should be used. If you’re unsure about the type to be used, take a look at your vehicle’s car manual or consult a mechanic.
- Next, check the gap between the spark plug and electrode regularly. For this, you can always use a feeler gauge.
- Make sure that the spark plug is clean, not corroded or damaged. You can use extra protective measures to protect the spark plugs from damage such as applying lubricants or dielectric grease on them.
- If nothing else works, your ultimate move is to change the spark plugs consistently. Spark plugs lose their quality over time, even if they look fine, they still need to be replaced after a certain period.
Conclusion
No doubt, it’s a real pain when your car does not start in the time of need, so it is always better to take precautions before the issue occurs. Also, it would be helpful to know what to do when you come across this situation. That is why we were here to help you out! All you need to do is to follow the above steps to take your car back on the road.
