7 Signs Your Ford Needs New Spark Plugs

Healthy spark plugs fire up to 1,000 times a minute, igniting the fuel inside each engine cylinder and keeping your car powering onward. These hard-working little components are remarkably durable but eventually fail. If you detect the following symptoms, head to your local Ford dealer for new spark plugs before the misfiring worsens and causes harm to the engine and other car parts. 

Your Engine Loses Power

With one or more bad spark plugs no longer pulling their weight, your engine won’t be able to generate as much power. Acceleration will become sluggish, making it harder to find that quick burst of speed when coming out of a corner or overtaking another car. 

Your Engine Starts Misfiring

When a spark plug fails to fire, the smooth purr and rumble of the engine will be replaced by coughing and shuddering. This misfiring will gradually get worse as unburned fuel inside the combustion chamber coats the spark plug with carbon deposits, further hampering its ability to fire. 

Your Car Idles Roughly 

Misfiring from faulty plugs is usually most notable when the car pauses in idle, such as while stuck in traffic or waiting at traffic lights. When idling, your car may sputter and shake alarmingly, and the engine might even stall, especially if more than one plug is malfunctioning.

Your Engine Struggles To Start

When starting from cold in the morning, your engine needs the spark plugs to provide a reliable jolt of electrical power. If one or more bad plugs fail to deliver this voltage, your car will struggle or even refuse to start. This problem is often worse in winter when the engine and motor oil become especially cold. 

Your Gas Mileage Diminishes

When a failing spark plug can’t ignite properly, fuel is still injected into the cylinders where it can build up and cause various complications. This inefficiency leads to lower gas mileage; you’ll need to stop for gas more frequently.

You See Black Smoke Behind You

Further problems can develop from the unburned fuel that misfiring spark plugs cause to collect inside the combustion chamber. This excess fuel may begin seeping back through the exhaust system, igniting inside and causing black smoke to pour out of the tailpipe.

Your Ford Dealer Finds a Spark Plug Fault

Regular spark plug inspections should be part of any vehicle maintenance schedule. Our diligent technicians will quickly identify a spark plug-related fault. They can then clean, repair, or replace the problematic plug, ensuring your engine keeps running as it should. 

Visit Plantation Ford in Plantation, FL, today to have your spark plug issues promptly resolved. Our courteous sales staff and technicians are dedicated to providing top-notch customer care, whether you need vehicle maintenance, purchasing, or financing services. 

Posted in Plantation Ford Dealer | No Comments »