Spark plug wires are a key part of the ignition system. While experiencing engine trouble, The problem sometimes lies in the engine ignition system. Whether you do a complete tune-up or only change the spark plugs, spark plug wires should always be checked first. There are some common problems that happen if you put spark plug wires on wrong.
In this article, we will look through some common issues which are the result of displacing spark plug wires.
What will happen if the spark plugs the wires on wrong?
A lot can happen to stop your car. If the wires are faulty to point out the real problem with the spark plug, it instantly creates some problems that can cause your car to stop. So keep reading this article and find out if there are any signs given below with your car.
1. Wrong Firing Orders
Every engine manufacturer provides a service manual handbook to connect the proper firing order of their cylinders. The firing order starts with a spark plug wire leading from the first cylinder to the top position on the distributor and the remaining spark plug cables connected to their respective cylinders. When various spark plug wires are crossed, the engine may run roughly.
Related: Black Spark Plugs || Make It Reusable
2. Decrease In Power
The ignition cables carry the spark from the coil and distributor to the spark plugs so that engine combustion can occur. If there is any issue with the spark plug wires the engine spark can be disturbed, which can result in engine performance. The wrong combination of spark plug wires leads to power decreasing. So that can not generate enough power to boost up the engine.
3. Engine Won’t Start
If the spark plugs are bad and not firing the spark as they should the fuel and oxygen mix can be very hard to get ignited. So bad combination of spark plug wires can cause the car to not start. However, that is not the only cause a car might not start. When your engine cranks but won’t start or run, it could mean your engine is having trouble producing a spark, getting fuel, or creating compression. The most common causes are in the ignition.
Related: What Causes Spark Plugs To Go Bad Fast? & Its Sign
4. Misfires
Ignition problems can cause misfires. Misfires also happen for several reasons such as bad spark plugs or weak ignition coil. if other coverage stuff is working well then wires are the reason behind it. After 50,000 or so miles, OEM carbon-core ignition wires may have too much internal resistance that weakens the spark and increases the risk of misfire.
5. Idle Rough
Here I’m gonna share an experience of mine. When I was checking out my spark plug tubes today and when reinstalling the spark plug wires I accidentally reversed cylinder 1 and 2 wires in my 2000 Chrysler neon. When I started the car it idled rough so I turned it off and it made a bit of a squealing sound upon turning it off as some diesel trucks make. I then fixed the wires and now it runs fine. Roughness could damage the engine.
What Will Happen If The Spark Plug Gap Is Too Wide?
The spark plug gap is one of the key factors that make sure that a spark plug works well, or not. The gap between the electrodes should be installed properly to run your car without any trouble.
If the spark plug gap is too large, the spark is unlikely to consistently jump across the long distance between electrodes, thus leading to a rough-running engine.
Moreover, it may lead to the engine not running at all. In case you drive your car normally and tune the engine regularly, you can increase the spark plug gap by about 0.010″ for better performance and better fuel economy.
Here we will look through what will happen if the spark plug gap is too wide :
1. Cold start problem
A cold start is an attempt to start a vehicle’s engine when it is cold, relative to its normal operating temperature, often due to normal cold weather. Here’s a story of mine, My Porsche 911 plugs were gapped too wide and I had a serious cold start problems that I couldn’t even start my engine Lil bit less normal weather.
The wider gap was the culprit, after finding out the issue ended as soon as I recapped the plugs and installed new plug wires.
2. Backfire
In case you increase a spark plug gap after the plug has been in operation for months and make it difficult for the spark to jump. Lack of proper ignition system maintenance can cause problems that ultimately lead to backfires. Moreover, The spark inside the chamber may not burn up all the fuel, allowing a little extra gasoline vapor to enter the exhaust, and lead to a backfire.
This can cause damage to your car’s exhaust and it also means that your car’s engine isn’t making as much power as it should, and is wasting lots of fuel.
3. Poor Engine Performance
For an engine to run at its best performance levels, spark plugs have to be gapped correctly as it is given in the manual book by the manufacturer. Any spark plugs that are gapped incorrectly can result in poor engine performance by weakening the ignition spark.
Spark plugs that are gapped incorrectly can cause an engine to miss. The increased length of the spark gap robs it of the hot, strong ignition charge it needs to fire the plug.
Related: How Do Diesel Engines Run Without Spark Plugs?
4. Rough Idle
The major problems of a rough idle can be reduced fuel economy, poor performance, starting issues, or potential engine problems in the near future. Spark plugs that are gapped incorrectly such as prolonged gaps upset the air/fuel mixture, which in turn affects engine combustion and idle. Your vehicle reduces smoothness as you expect.
What to do if the spark plugs the wires on wrong?
If you have a distributor cap, remove it and take a look at the rotor. It has a number of wires sticking out of it–usually one for each spark plug. There should be a corresponding wire on the cap that goes to each wire on the rotor. Make sure they are all connected properly.
If you don’t have a distributor cap, then you’ll need to remove each spark plug one at a time and inspect the wires. Make sure they are all connected properly and that none of them are crossed over (touching another wire).
If you find that some of the wires are connected wrong, just switch them around until they are all in the correct position. Be very careful not to cross any of the wires.
