Best Prices for Spark Plug Replacement
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How much does Spark Plug Replacement cost?
It depends on the type of car you drive and the auto repair shop you go to. Our mechanics are mobile, which means they don't have the overhead that repair shops have. They provide you convenience by coming to your home or office.
Spark Plug Replacement pricing for various cars
| Cars | Estimate | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Savings | Average Dealer Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Toyota Tundra | $260 | $113.94 | $145.99 | -17% | $221.44 |
| 2011 Nissan Cube | $433 | $271.95 | $160.58 | -10% | $390.20 |
| 2010 Nissan Armada | $566 | $302.88 | $262.78 | -13% | $496.38 |
| 2011 Land Rover Range Rover | $364 | $101.04 | $262.78 | -23% | $294.54 |
| 2016 Cadillac CTS | $401 | $109.08 | $291.98 | -23% | $324.08 |
| 2009 Audi S8 | $835 | $455.05 | $379.57 | -13% | $734.55 |
Spark Plug Replacement Service
What are Spark Plugs & How Do They Work?
Spark plugs are one of the key components of your vehicle’s ignition system. They ignite gasoline and air inside of your engine. This gives your engine the power to propel you down the road. The spark plug takes high voltage electricity from the ignition coil and creates a spark at just the right moment during the engine’s combustion cycle. This gives the engine the best mix of power, fuel economy and low emissions. However, the electrode at the end of the spark plug eventually wears out and can cause performance issues.
Spark plugs are entrusted with a crucial task — conveying electrical energy from the ignition coil to the combustion chamber. The generated electrical spark ignites the air and fuel mixture, leading to the engine's power-producing explosions. Without this vital spark, your engine cannot convert fuel into mechanical power.
Each component of a spark plug plays a distinct role in ensuring efficient engine operation:
- Insulator: Typically made from ceramic, the insulator protects the spark plug's firing end.
- Electrodes: At the tip of the plug, the electrodes must tolerate extreme temperatures and corrosive conditions to create sparks.
- Shell: The shell is usually made of metal and provides a threading to screw the spark plug into the engine’s cylinder head.
- Gasket: Not all spark plugs have a gasket, but for those that do, it aids in achieving a tight seal with the cylinder head.
The configuration and materials of spark plugs affect your car's performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions. A well-tuned spark plug ensures clean combustion, reducing the likelihood of misfires and engine stress.
How to Replace Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are threaded into the engine’s cylinder head(s). Most cars have one plug per cylinder, so a four-cylinder engine will have four plugs, a six-cylinder engine will have six plugs, and so forth. When a replacement is needed, it’s important to purchase quality replacement spark plugs to ensure they don’t go bad before the vehicle maintenance schedule.
The basic steps to changing your spark plugs include:
- Have the correct spark plugs and make sure they have the correct gap.
- Pull any diagnostic trouble codes that may be related to worn spark plugs
- Remove the original spark plugs and look at removed spark plugs for any clues indicating engine mis-operation exists; such as oil burning, excessively rich mixture, pre-ignition damage etc. Inform owner of any found unusual conditions
- Install new plugs using a torque wrench
- Finally, a road test of the vehicle to confirm normal operation
Symptoms of Bad or Failing Spark Plugs
How often spark plugs should be replaced depends on the vehicle maintenance schedule, which will be listed in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Some cars require regular replacement at 30k, 60k or 100k miles. It is possible in some cases that a spark plug might fail before the service schedule, but it’s not typically common.
It is essential to inspect your spark plugs and recognize the signs of a spark plug in need of replacement to maintain optimal engine performance. A worn-out or fouled spark plug can cause a plethora of issues, such as engine misfires or rough idling.
Below is a list of symptoms of bad or failing spark plugs:
- Difficulty starting your car
- Check engine light for a misfire code
- Flashing check engine light during acceleration for misfire, this can cause engine damage
- Reduced fuel economy and/or power
- Rough idle and/or unexplained engine vibration
- Failed State emission testing
Even if only one spark plug is found to be faulty, they should always be replaced in sets. Most engines will require 4,6, or 8 spark plugs.
Can You Drive With Bad Spark Plugs?
Yes, but spark plugs that are worn enough to cause engine-misfiring have the potential to cause engine damage and overheating of the catalytic converter. Regardless of the age of the plugs, or mileage, if the engine misfires or runs poorly, the plugs should be inspected for defects.
Generally, spark plug failure will not keep the engine from running, but in cases of extreme wear, you may experience a limitation in the speed at which you can drive the car. If the maintenance schedule says the plugs should be replaced, it is best to do so promptly.
Tips for Post-Spark Plug Replacement
It’s important to keep the following in mind after a spark plug replacement has been made:
- High-speed driving may accelerate spark plug wear. Consider earlier than required inspection and tune-up if you operate the car in severe conditions.
- Plugs should always be promptly replaced per the manufacturer maintenance schedule even if they appear to be working perfectly.
- If your vehicle is equipped with spark plug wires (as opposed to a coil-on-plug system), the wires should be replaced at the same time. This may increase the cost of your repair.
- It is possible that when doing a spark plug replacement, your vehicle may also need additional parts like ignition coils, this will add to the repair cost.
- Some engines require that the intake manifold be removed while replacing spark plugs. This may increase the parts and labor cost for the repair.
- Leaking valve cover gaskets, which have let oil get in contact with the spark plugs, coils or wires, may be the cause of ignition system issues. Valve cover gaskets will need to be replaced in addition to the spark plugs, wires or coils. This will add to the repair cost.
See our other advice related to spark plugs for more information and contact YourMechanic with any questions or to book a mobile mechanic today.
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