What do spark plugs do?

Spark plugs convert electric current from the ignition coil into a spark that ignites the fuel and air mix inside the car engine. This combustion is what powers the engine and moves the car. Spark plugs are located in the cylinder head and are connected via external leads attached to the engine.

Hyundai

The Hyundai Motor Company (or Hyundai Motors) is a South Korean multination automotive manufacturer, founded in 1967, with current divisions that include Kia Motors and Genesis Motor.

How popular is Hyundai in the United Kingdom?

Since arriving in the UK market, Hyundai has made a steady and consistent rise in sales, to the point where there are now over 850k of their cars on our roads today.

Well-priced luxury cars with a fantastic warranty

Predominantly producing an extensive range of smart looking hatchback cars of quality and price to compete with Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen, perhaps their rising sales figures can be partly put down to holding one of the best warranties for a new car in the business.

Their 5-year, unlimited-mileage warranty offers the peace of mind any new car owner would be thrilled to receive, given that most marques only offer 3 years with around 60k miles of cover.

Hyundai doesn’t solely offer a range of varying hatchback models; the current full line-up features tourers, coupes and of course, as the leading trend in today’s market, a selection of SUV models of varying sizes, trims and price tags.

Hyundai electric hybrid technology

Hyundai, as have most marques during the growth of new fuel technologies, has shown a strong entry into all electric and hybrid motoring. The brand’s Ioniq Hybrid model proved more efficient than Toyota’s Prius, the world’s first mainstream and possibly the most popular hybrid car on the road today.

Motorsport: Hyundai’s subcompact rally car

Entering motorsport in the late 1990s, Hyundai unveiled its Accent WRC (world rally car) to compete in the World Rally Championship. It achieved its first top-10 result in the 2000 Rally Argentina and continued to finish well throughout the season, but not quite well enough to compete with the top 3 or 4 teams.

In 2014, Hyundai made a return to world rallying after a 10-year absence, with the introduction of their i20 WRC; a rally car based on the i20 subcompact and was unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

How often should spark plugs need replacing?

Most manufacturers recommend that spark plugs should be replaced at around every 30k miles; this is only a guideline, as the quality of the component, engine performance and driving habits can affect spark plug lifespan significantly.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

Old or damaged spark plugs can affect engine performance areas that cause an MOT failure, for example, in emissions testing. Poor performing spark plugs or filters that clog up can affect the gasses that are delivered from your exhaust; replacing these faulty parts can often rectify the problem.

What happens when we replace your spark plugs?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will check for possible fault codes relating to the ignition system, the operation of the ignition system and the spark plugs themselves.

• A compression test may be carried out on each of the engine’s cylinders.

• Wherever required your spark plugs will be replaced and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from their malfunction.

• You will also be advised of any other affected parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.

• Once the spark plugs have been replaced, our mechanics will test them thoroughly to ensure their correct operation and make any adjustments required for their optimum performance.

What causes spark plugs to stop working correctly?

Spark plugs can wear out over time, at which point they should be replaced to ensure the correct combustion of fuel. There is also a chance of potential carbon build up on the electrodes; this is known as carbon fouling and will affect the correct operation of the spark plugs. Oil can build up on the spark plugs too, which can be rectified with a simple cleaning.

Spark plugs can occasionally melt due to excessive engine temperatures. This isn’t usually a spark plug fault, but that of the engine or fuel system.

Symptoms of malfunctioning spark plugs

Starting your engine is problematic

If your car struggles or fails to start, it could be down to faulty spark plugs.

Engine cut out or misfiring

If your engine cuts out after starting or during its usual operation, if it fails to run smoothly or it vibrates excessively under normal use, then your spark plugs could be due to worn out spark plugs.

The dashboard engine warning light is illuminated

Any dashboard warning light is due to a sensor detecting fault or incorrect operation of a related component. An engine warning light could relate to a faulty spark plug.

Fuel consumption is higher than normal

Faulty spark plugs can cause your engine to burn fuel in an erratic manner, affecting both vehicle performance and fuel consumption. If you notice a change in your fuel consumption, it could be a spark plug problem.