- How often do you need to change your spark plugs and ignition coils?
- What happens if you don’t change your spark plugs or ignition coils?
- Here’s how you can change your car’s spark plugs and ignition coils at home
- My words of warning to home mechanics
Spark plug and ignition coil replacement guide highlights:
- Whether they’ve gone bad or have enough miles on them, you need to change the spark plugs and ignition coils to keep your engine in good shape
- Besides the new parts, you’ll need a torque wrench, spark plug socket, socket wrench, regular sockets, extensions, dielectric grease, and possibly some screwdrivers
- Always hand-tighten the plugs and any screws/bolts first to avoid cross-threading, and be prepared to potentially discover additional maintenance needs
As a self- and parent-taught home mechanic, I’m not a trained car repair professional. This likely explains why I killed my first car trying to change its spark plugs. So, ever since, that task, along with the related ignition coil replacement, has been my bugbear. And I’m sure I’m not alone in this. But with the right tools, some patience, and plenty of care, replacing your spark plugs and ignition coils doesn’t have to be terrifying.
How often do you need to change your spark plugs and ignition coils?
New 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth ignition coil | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
New Fiat 500 Abarth spark plug | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
Usually, you don’t have to change your spark plugs all that often. Generally, cars need new plugs every 30,000 miles or so, though some plugs can hold on for longer. Ignition coils, though, don’t have a recommended mileage or age. Some last for the lifetime of the car while others conk out after 60,000 miles. Basically, until they go bad, you don’t need to change them.
Speaking of going bad, there are a few signs that foretell spark plug and/or ignition coil failure. The most obvious is an engine misfire or backfire because without working plugs and/or coils, fuel doesn’t ignite properly. Your engine might also idle roughly, burn more fuel, have trouble starting, and make less power or deliver it less consistently. And these symptoms will likely come accompanied by a Check Engine Light.
In my rebuilt 500 Abarth’s case, I noticed it was stumbling occasionally at higher rpm. Plus, every so often, if I didn’t drive it for a few days, I’d get an initial misfire that would quickly clear itself. Digging through forum posts and talking with some fellow Abarth owners, I determined that I likely needed to change the spark plugs and ignition coils. Plus, it was at tune-up mileage anyway.
What happens if you don’t change your spark plugs or ignition coils?
On that note, mechanics usually change your spark plugs when you go in for a tune-up. This keeps your engine running smoothly and efficiently, which also extends its lifespan. And it’s the same thing with your ignition coils.
Besides being annoying and loud, misfires and backfires can cause internal engine damage if left unchecked. In addition, a damaged coil can overheat and create an oil leak, CarBibles says. Not only can that lead to fouled spark plugs, but leaking oil can also short out other electrical connections. At that point, a bad ignition coil might be the least of your worries.
Furthermore, age isn’t the only thing that causes ignition coil failure. As the gap between a spark plug’s electrodes grows, so does the energy the plug needs to make a spark. That means the coil needs to work harder, which makes it overheat and fail.
Here’s how you can change your car’s spark plugs and ignition coils at home
Spark plug and ignition coil change tools and parts | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
Spark plug change socket | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth ignition coils | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
Checking a spark plug gap | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth ignition coils closeup | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
Fortunately, you can usually catch these failure signs before your car suffers permanent damage. And while it’s a bit more involved than an oil change, most DIY mechanics should be able to replace their spark plugs and ignition coils.
First, make sure you have the correct replacement parts. You don’t have to spring for the most expensive spark plugs or ignition coils. But make sure the ones you buy have the right specs and fit for your car. Also, if you don’t already know, write down the torque specs for the plugs and any bolts or screws.
Next, assemble your tools. Because this process requires precision, torque wrenches are a must. Plus, in addition to the usual socket wrench, sockets, extensions, and screwdrivers, you’ll need a spark plug socket and gap tool. The former is vital because dropping the plug can damage it and your engine. Hence why these sockets have rubber gaskets to securely hold the plugs.
Once you’ve got everything assembled, pop your hood, and disconnect your battery. Then, remove any intakes, covers, etc. until you can see the ignition coils. The next steps will change slightly based on what kind of ignition system your car has.
If you have a distributor or a coil pack system, you’ll see a bunch of thick wires stretching from it to the spark plugs. Meanwhile, my Abarth has a coil-on-plug system, which puts the coil right on top of the plug. And rather than thick wires, each coil-on-plug arrangement is hooked into the wiring harness. Since this is the most common system nowadays, I’ll focus on it for the rest of this guide.
Going one cylinder at a time, unclip the coil from the wiring harness and remove any securing bolts. Then, pull up on the coil until it pops out. After that, use your spark plug socket to remove the old plug. Next, after checking the new plug’s gap, start hand-threading it back into place. Once you’re absolutely sure you haven’t cross-threaded it, use your torque wrench to secure it.
Then, take the new coil, smear a little dielectric grease on the end that connects to the spark plug, and securely re-install it. You should feel a little click when it grips the plug. Next, screw the retaining bolt back in, once again starting by hand and finishing with the torque wrench. Finally, re-install any intakes, covers, etc. you’ve removed and re-connect the battery.
And that’s how you change your spark plugs and ignition coils, folks.
My words of warning to home mechanics
Old 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth spark plugs next to a new one | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
An old oil-covered 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth spark plug next to a new one | Matthew Skwarczek, MotorBiscuit
Having learned from past wrenching mistakes, it was easier to change the spark plugs and ignition coils this time. However, for all you home mechanics, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Firstly, as you can see from the photos above, my spark plugs were worn and dirty. One of them, though, was also wet with oil. Add in the ashy-white residue on my other plugs and I think my engine might need a new valve cover gasket. However, the leak might be from a careless oil change, an old spark plug gasket, or the fact that I don’t take my Abarth on long trips often. Or maybe that coil overheated. Regardless, when you change your spark plugs, don’t be surprised if you discover more maintenance needs in the process.
Secondly, even with my cross-threading escapade and torque wrench, I still managed to partially strip the threads from one of the ignition coils’ bolts. Luckily, there were enough threads for me to secure the bolt with the help of some blue Loctite. But let this be a reminder of how easy it is to accidentally damage something.
Thirdly, if your car has a distributor or coil pack, you have a few more things to keep track of. If you wire the wrong plug and coil, your engine won’t run properly. So, if you’re just changing the spark plugs, I highly recommend doing it one at a time, so you don’t lose track of which plug connects where. And if you’re changing the coil pack, consider color-coding the wires and taking plenty of ‘before’ photos.
If this sounds intimidating, there’s no shame in going to a trusted mechanic instead. But if I can safely change my car’s spark plugs and ignition coils, I know you can, too.
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Keyword: How to Safely Change Your Spark Plugs and Ignition Coils