13
votes
Accepted
Car only runs when I am cranking the car
That is usually a ballast resistor fault.
Some cars had a resistor mounted next to the ccoil which provided about 9v to the coil when running. When starting the coil was supplied with 12v to increase ...
- 34.7k
9
votes
Spark plug working fine in free air, but hard miss in engine
The current follows the least resistance. On a spark plug the current jumps between the gap in the electrodes. When the plug is out of the cylinder the easiest path is between the electrodes. But when ...
- 3,440
5
votes
Accepted
Small spark can be seen after replacing spark plugs
Visible sparks are not ok. I'm not familiar with your particular plug wires, but that normally means the insulation or wire connector is damaged.
If you see a spark, at a minimum it means that you'...
- 13.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Fourth piston isn't sparking so car is losing power
I am pretty sure the spark plug is broken but I am not sure
That's almost certainly the issue. Replace the spark plug and try again, if the problem is fixed, you're all set. If not, then there are ...
- 12.1k
5
votes
When does the spark plug ignite the air fuel mixture?
The power stroke (the bang in the series: Suck; Squeeze; Bang; Blow) begins after top dead center (TDC) past the compression (Squeeze) stroke. The spark does ignite the air/fuel mixture prior to the ...
- 162k
4
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to have a good looking spark but but still not suitable for ignition?
Inside the cylinder is quite a hostile environment. What looks like a strong looking spark at atmospheric pressure outside of the cylinder can become nothing at high pressures in a fuel rich ...
- 25.5k
4
votes
Weird object in cylinder head preventing spark plug install
It appears the threaded portion of the body has broken away from the body itself. The split would have occurred at the point where the image below points to as "spark plug gasket". This could have ...
- 162k
4
votes
Is there a risk of igniting the incoming charge with wasted spark systems?
If the inlet valve opens 20 deg before TDC, will fresh mixture be going in or not? As there is still pressure in the cylinder - the exhaust leaving is helping to "draw" the fresh mixture into the ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
Accepted
spark plug problem in service
Usually, reputable garages would in these kinds of circumstances pay for the accident. However, reputable garages have a higher labor rate than non-reputable garages, so you get what you pay for. I ...
- 15.3k
3
votes
Is there a risk of igniting the incoming charge with wasted spark systems?
The wasted spark will likely be 30 degrees or so before TDC. There would be no fresh fuel charge at this point.
- 294
2
votes
Spark Plug Gap Ranges
Nobody gaps plugs anymore, unless they are doing something custom for a racing vehicle or similar.
I certainly wouldn't risk damaging an electrode on an NGK Iridium at 10-15 bucks each. The correct ...
- 12.4k
2
votes
Overfilled oil by 1 quart in a Chevy Spark
For peace of mind, go to a good workshop and they will have a tube that can be put down the dipstick hole which will then remove the excess (it sucks the oil out).
That amount may or may not be a ...
- 34.7k
2
votes
What components on a 1973 Datsun 240z would cause loss of spark
There are two possibilities, assuming of course that all the correct parts are fitted; compare dimensions and part numbers to anything removed from the car.
Either, the distributor isn't turning or ...
- 23.4k
2
votes
Spark plug working fine in free air, but hard miss in engine
Air is an insulator until you exceed the breakdown voltage, then it starts conducting and you get a spark.
If an insulator inside the plug breaks down at a lower voltage than at the spark gap, then it ...
- 121
2
votes
Spark Plug Deposits
Depending on the mileage on these plugs, I'd suggest there's absolutely nothing wrong with the way your engine is running. These plugs look to be in great shape. The small amount of deposits on the ...
- 162k
2
votes
2017 Chevy Spark Drive Cycle Help
Your evap readiness monitor may not set if your fuel tank is more than 3/4 full.
You haven't stated your location, but in some jurisdictions such as California, you can pass if all monitors have run ...
- 8,548
2
votes
When does the spark plug ignite the air fuel mixture?
That's a great question! Four cycle engines have four steps to operate(cycles):
Intake(Suck)
Compression(Squeeze)
Ignition-Power(Bang)
Exhaust(Blow)
As seen here
Technically, the spark ignites the ...
- 49
1
vote
When does the spark plug ignite the air fuel mixture?
Maybe a philosophical question. The spark defines the transition between the two.
- 149
1
vote
Small engine reliable spark only in wrong direction
This sounds like an issue with the magneto and points timing.
It may be possible that the magneto is not aligned properly. If the magneto and points timing are not aligned, then it could result in a ...
- 25.5k
1
vote
I removed a spark plug from my “98” Lincoln to replace it, when I went to put the new one in it wouldn’t set down in and tighten. Will canned air work
Don't use canned air, since you'll likely blow debris into the spark plug hole and down into the cylinder. Twist a narrow bristle brush soaked with Seafoam into the spark plug threads, then pull the ...
- 2,200
1
vote
Engine oil in Coolant Tank and Coolant overflows
This nearly always is caused by a blown head gasket, a warped or cracked cylinder head, or a warped or cracked block.
I wish there was an easy fix but you need to remove the cylinder head and ...
- 12.1k
1
vote
Accepted
What are the pros and cons of using distributor per bank vs single bigger distributor on a dohc v8 for example?
Well the play in both causes the timing to drift between the two banks when there are two distributors.
A single distributor with either one or two sets of points is easier to time - especially if you ...
- 34.7k
1
vote
1
vote
Missing spark plug, broken rear timing chain guide?
It's clearly an issue on their side.
A spark plug does not blow out of the engine alone, the spark plug would be shattered at minimum.
Get the best refund you can, reinstall the spark plug and try a ...
- 309
1
vote
Normal spark plug vs platinum
There should be no ill effect of using the platinum spark plug over a "normal" spark plug (usually a copper based plug). The main difference between the two is the tips of the platinum plug will last ...
- 162k
1
vote
Does starting the engine with one of the spark plug wire disconnected damage the starter coil?
No. The reason your other friend incorrectly said that is because if a charged plug was touching a ground (the frame or whatever) that's a short over a device designed to produce a high voltage, ...
1
vote
Understanding the waveform for my waste spark system
OK, so I was reading this article from Motor magazine and those are apparently both normal sparks, and in a waste spark system, the waste spark is superimposed on the firing spark and can be seen as ...
- 15.7k
1
vote
Do leaking shocks need to be changed?
I saw a really minor oil leak in the shock of my new 2011 Toyota Yaris shortly after purchase. The shock worked perfectly, and nobody in annual inspections complained about a broken shock. I also didn'...
- 15.3k
1
vote
spark plug problem in service
Not an answer per se; but in similar situations I've had great luck putting the contaminated cylinder to BDC by hand, filling up the cylinder with foamy shaving cream, and then adapting a shop vac ...
- 12.4k
1
vote
Engine cranks but won't start
ok a few things to check then
do you have enough compression?
are you cranking fast enough
you should be able to smell fuel as your cranking. take any filters or intake off and smell what happens. my ...
- 2,879
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible