bad spark plugs can cause your engine to misfire. the engine's computer uses sensors to detect these misfires and will create a code that turns on the check engine light. a flashing check engine light indicates the misfire is severe enough to cause damage to your catalytic converter.
Worn/failed spark plugs, coil packs, or spark plug wires can trigger your check engine light to come on. In today's cars, say Firestone Complete Auto Care technicians, if a plug starts to fail then the most obvious event should be the check engine light coming on or even flashing.
Check Engine Light
If your sparks plugs have gone out, the OBD scanner should read the codes P0300 or P0171 which means lean running engine coupled with misfires. A good way to check spark plugs at home is by doing a thorough visual inspection.
Bad spark plugs can cause various issues with a vehicle's engine performance, and in some cases, it can trigger a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and illuminate the check engine light.
Yes, a bad spark plug can confuse your car's internal computer and trigger the O2 sensor code. for your situation. in under a minute. takes care of all the paperwork and phone calls and can even assist you in canceling your old policy!
Why do O2 sensors fail? Since the oxygen sensor is in the exhaust stream, it can become contaminated. Common sources of contamination include an excessively rich fuel mixture condition or oil blow-by in an older engine and engine coolant being burnt in the combustion chamber as a result of an engine gasket leak.
Ordinary copper and nickel spark plugs should be changed every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, unless otherwise suggested by the spark plug manufacturer. Platinum and iridium spark plugs tend to last longer than standard copper and nickel spark plugs. Expect to change them every 60,000 to 150,000 miles unless otherwise noted.
Driving With Faulty Spark Plugs
Malfunctioning spark plugs cause engine problems including, misfires, hard starts, reduced gas mileage, rough idling, and lack of acceleration. Driving with a faulty spark plug will be difficult because the engine might fail to function.
Even if you're not having problems, you'll still want to change spark plugs out at every 30,000-mile interval. For most drivers, that will mean that you're due for spark plug service once every 2-3 years!
Many factors can cause a spark plug to fail; from incorrect heat ranges to improper gapping, to chemical contamination. Yet 90% of spark plug damage claims are due to improper torque. Many factors can cause a spark plug to fail; from incorrect heat ranges to improper gapping, to chemical contamination.
A Closer Look At Spark Plugs
A yellowish color is typically caused by leaded gas. Red is a sign of iron particle s or rust in the fuel system. Black is the color of oil fouling. Pay more attention to the size of the deposits and where they occur to determine if there is a problem.
Check your gas cap first. Many vehicles have a loose gas cap indicator that will be triggered before your check engine light comes on. If your gas cap is loose or the seal is not tight, the vapor leakage can cause your fuel system to trigger the check engine light.
Whenever you change spark plugs, it is a good idea to replace the ignition wires and vice versa. This will keep your vehicle running at peak performance and prevent you wasting money on unburned gasoline. In fact, a sudden drop in gas mileage may be an indicator that your ignition system is not functioning properly.
Dirty or Old Spark Plugs
Dirty spark plugs can cause misfires as partially burned engine oil can prevent the plugs from creating the sparks needed to ignite the fuel after it goes into the cylinder. Old spark plugs can simply break and fail to produce a spark. A broken spark plug is a simple fix: just replace it.
Oxygen sensor failure can often be traced to one of three common factors: Age and high mileage, an internal contaminant (poisoning) or an electrical issue.
A common emissions code seen in the field, a P0420 trouble code indicates that the catalytic converter isn't functioning efficiently. To work at peak efficiency, the emissions or feed gases entering the catalytic converter need to be perfectly balanced and not excessively elevated.
We recommend against driving with a bad O2 sensor as the powertrain is not running on the correct fuel mixture. While it may perform fine in the beginning, if your engine is running rich and using too much fuel it might begin to clog the catalytic converter.
Most often, a light tan color around the tip of the spark plug indicates a healthy and well performing engine. If the tip of the plug is any other color or condition, it indicates an issue with either the engine, the fuel system, or the ignition.