Table of Contents
What are the symptoms of bad plug wires?
The following are common signs that your spark plug wires have issues.
- Visible Damage on the Spark Plug Wires. Spark plug wires may start to dry out over time, so look for cracks in the insulation.
- The Engine is Idling Rough.
- Engine Hesitation.
- Engine Misfiring.
How do you know if you have bad ignition coil?
1. Engine misfires, rough idle, and loss of power. One of the most common symptoms associated with a faulty ignition coil is engine performance issues. Faulty coils may cause the vehicle to experience misfires, a rough idle, a loss in power and acceleration, and a reduction in gas mileage.
How do you check a coil from distributor to spark?
If you have power to the coil, hold the pointer of your light to the negative side of the coil while your assistant cranks the engine. Your light should flash on and off as the engine spins over, telling you that the switching mechanism in the distributor is working.
How do you know if you need spark plugs and wires?
Signs it’s time the spark plugs and ignition wires need attention
- The engine idles roughly. The sound of your car’s engine should be constant and smooth.
- You have trouble starting your car in the morning.
- Your car’s engine misfires.
- Engine surge or hesitation.
- High fuel consumption.
- Lack of acceleration.
How do I test my ignition system?
The only safe way to test for spark is to use a spark plug tester tool. If a coil problem is suspected, measure the coil’s primary and secondary resistance with an ohmmeter. If either is out of specifications, the coil needs to be replaced. A coil can be easily bench tested with a digital 10 megaohm impedance ohmmeter.
Why am I not getting spark from my coil?
If the ignition coil does not have spark, it’s time to check its wires. Use a test light to check the continuity on the signal wire and power wire on the ignition coil. If both wires are functional but the coil fails to produce spark, the ignition coil or the ignition control module is bad.
What would cause no spark from coil?
Loss of spark is caused by anything that prevents coil voltage from jumping the electrode gap at the end of the spark plug. This includes worn, fouled or damaged spark plugs, bad plug wires or a cracked distributor cap.