London is the capital of England, the largest city in England and the United Kingdom, and is termed to be one of the most important cities in the world, yet the city of London, with boundaries closely based on its original medieval limits, is an area only 1.12 square miles.

London exerts a powerful impact on art and culture, tourism, innovation and industry; it’s also one of the most expensive places to visit or to live.

Greater London, the ceremonial county within the London region, has a population of over 8.8million, covers 606 square miles, and is organised into 33 local districts and also the 32 London boroughs. Its famous points of interest, attractions to visit and historical landmarks are too many to list; it is the home of UK Parliament and the Royal Family, as well as to cultures speaking over 300 languages and the busiest city airport system in the world, seeing its also the most visited city in the world (as measured by international arrivals).

The most popular cars in Central London

Given their worldwide popularity, multipurpose appeal and agility to make light work of cutting through the London traffic, it’s no great surprise to hear that the VW Golf is estimated to be the most popular car in London, according to data provided between 2012 to 2018 by ownership and postcode.

Close on its heels—and in order of popularity—are the Mercedes A-Class, the new Audi A3, BMW 3 Series and the F-Type Jaguar Convertible. Needless to say, Western Central London is one of the more affluent areas of Greater London.

Vehicle numbers in London

There are approximately 4.4 million licensed vehicles in the Greater London area, with some of the most popular models including the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Fiesta and the Kia Sportage.

Find a Fixter garage in London today

There are a total of 124 Fixter garages in the London area, all ready and waiting to provide you with a fantastic quote for your car service, MOT and a wide range of vehicle repairs.

Fixter garages service the following postcodes and more, in and around the London area:

• EC & WC: Central London
• N & NW: North and North West London
• E: East London
• SE & SW: South East and South West London

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.

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.