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Can Spark Plugs Just Die?

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kyreb1862

kyreb1862

Jedi Knight
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My car hadn't started in a little over two months, and ran fine when I parked it. When I got ready to run it again I added fresh gas and fired it up. The car sputtered and the carb ran rich almost as is the plugs weren't firing correctly. I tried tuning the car and when this didn't work I decided to try new plugs. Success, the car ran as well as it did when I parked it. I don't know what happened to the plugs while the car was asleep but when I woke them up their performance, was shall we say, less than satisfactory.
 
Hey John,

Plugs don't normally just die. Where they fouled?

Anyway a couple of things that come to mind from personal experience.

First was there any moisture on the plug wires or around & inside dizzy? Even if you don't see moisture when it dries it leaves minerals & deposits that can cause arcing. But I'd check to see if you have a leaky heater valve.

Another thing to consider is the condition of your plug wires. If they're old they can crack & arc. A good test is try running the engine in the dark and use a spray bottle filled with water & use it to “lightly mist” over the plug wires.

Also another one the bit me was my braided oil cooler lines shorted out against the positive terminal of my coil. Totally intermittent subject to engine vibration but made the engine run horribly when it did.
 
How did the plugs look? If corroded or full or black stuff then they may have needed to be cleaned. Of course replacing is always better.
 
Fresh spark plugs can often make up for some problems...for a while, anyhow /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
Spark Plugs can die if there Bosch single electrode platium. I had a set of them that only lasted about 4 months of driving. The newer Bosch 4 platium seem to be good.
 
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