It used to be that a car should be tuned up every 30,000 miles, and this is still the case for some vehicles. Generally speaking, however, today’s automobile is designed with plugs that can last as long as 100,000 miles. We here at Stringer Auto Repair are talking about the spark plugs, of course. If your car is overdue for a tune-up, you will start to have one or more of the following problems.
Hard Starts/No Starts
Your vehicle’s engine will struggle to start if the spark plugs are worn out and unable to generate sparks in the cylinders. At first, it may just be difficult to get the engine started; it may crank several times before firing up. Eventually, the spark plugs will wear out completely and you will be able to get the engine started at all. You will need to have your vehicle towed to our shop.
Rough Engine Idle
The difficult start should be your first indication that your engine needs a tune-up. Once the engine has started, you will also notice that it is idling roughly. In order for the engine to idle smoothly, it needs the right amount of fuel, the right amount of air, and a spark from each spark plug to produce combustion. If one or more of the spark plugs is malfunctioning, the engine will idle roughly.
Misfiring Engine
When we say malfunction, we mean misfire. A misfiring engine is an engine that hiccups or stutters as you drive along. This is a sign that one or more of the spark plugs is not actually firing. They can also be a sign that the spark plugs are firing out of sequence. If the plug is not firing, the air and fuel in that cylinder will not ignite. In other words, the engine will misfire.
Acceleration Lag
An engine that is struggling to perform is not going to accelerate very well, either. Unfortunately, when you press down on the accelerator, the engine will be slow to respond. The reason why is that the engine needs more fuel in the combustion chamber that is fired up to produce extra speed. Again, if the spark plugs are misfiring, some of the fuel will not be burned.
Finally, Stringer Auto Repair in Johnstown, OH, advises that the engine performance problems discussed above are going to reduce your vehicle’s fuel economy. Call our shop to schedule a service appointment if your vehicle is overdue for a tune-up.
