There are also those times when the piston rings go bad, and you will have to either do/pay for an engine rebuild or just scrap the engine altogether.īut the good news is that replacing parts like spark plugs, ignition coils, O2 sensors, valve gaskets, injectors, distributor caps, and rotors is not so difficult. Sure, there are those situations where you blew a valve and are going to need a new head. In most situations, you can handle this with a basic set of tools. Other Valuable Resources on Knowing What a Bad Spark Plug Looks Likeĭid your check engine light turn on due to a misfire? Don't panic. If you get any reading at all this means that there is contact between the terminal and the ground, and you should replace the plug. The spark plug is good if there is zero resistance between the two contact points. Measure for resistance in Ohms Ω between the terminal and the ground by touching one test lead to where the wire boot hooks on and the other to where the wrench goes on.
The last test you can perform is a shortage test between the ground electrode and the center electrode. If the spark plug is good, you should hear the multimeter beep which means that the circuit is continuous. Touch one test lead to the side electrode and the other test lead to the ground (the part where the wrench goes). In this case, you will set the multimeter to the horn icon in the Ohms Ω section. The second test is performing a continuity test between the center electrode and the ground. If you are testing a non-resistor plug, you can expect a very low or even no resistance between the terminal and the center electrode. If you are testing a resistor spark plug (all automobiles other than race cars use resistor plugs), then you should get a reading of anywhere between 4-8K Ohms Ω. Touch the positive test lead to the top of the plug where the spark plug boot hooks onto, and the negative test lead to the center electrode. You can test a spark plug for continuity and shorting with a Multimeter.įirst, start by setting the multimeter to measure resistance at a range of 20K Ohms Ω.
#HOW TO INSTALL SPARK PLUG BOOT INSULATOR CRACK#
If the plug is tightened too tight, the ceramic insulator will crack and the engine will misfire. Inspect the white insulator part of the plug for signs of cracking. Any of these colors generally means your spark plug is still good.įouled spark plugs will either be caked in oil, have black carbon deposits, or appear to be burned and blistered with a white side electrode. You can even sand off the side electrode to help the ground connection.Ī normal plug will have brown, gray, and tan on the side electrode. Cleaning off the threads and electrodes with a good cleaning agent and a brush will help you to get a better look at the condition of the plug. Step 2: Clean and Visually Inspect the PlugĪfter removing, use your eyes to find any obvious signs of spark plug malfunction. If you can't see where the spark plugs are, shine a flashlight down into the holes to get a better view. You may also have to remove air intake hoses and other plastic parts. You'll need something like a 10mm socket to quickly unbolt and unplug each ignition coil. First, for carburetor engines, you will have to remove the spark plug wire boots.įuel-injected engines have ignition coils bolted on to the terminal. Removing the spark plug is a fairly easy task that anyone can do.
#HOW TO INSTALL SPARK PLUG BOOT INSULATOR HOW TO#
How To Know What a Bad Spark Plug Looks Like (5 Step Guide) With just a few simple tools, you will be able to remove and do a quick visual inspection of your spark plugs.