A faulty ignition system stops the car. What you need to know about candles and wires?

Starting problems are not necessarily the result of a weak battery or a damaged starter. A faulty coil or old spark plugs may also be the culprit.

The ignition system in gasoline engines can be built in two ways. In older models of cars, these are mainly spark plugs, wires, and an ignition device. Spark plugs create the spark needed to ignite the air/fuel mixture in the cylinders. However, for this they need to apply an electric charge. wires. The ignition device distributes the spark to the individual cylinders.

Newer vehicles no longer use cables and an ignition device. Instead of them, in addition to candles, ignition coils and a computer that controls the entire process are installed. Although the design is different, the result of the assembly is the same: creating a spark between the electrodes of the candles due to the energy coming from the battery. Without it, the engine would not start.

Don't forget to change the spark plugs

In the whole puzzle, it is difficult to single out the most important element. The failure of any of them can disrupt the operation of the engine, making it difficult to drive. Worst case scenario, we won't run it at all. However, the most common symptoms are engine roughness, jerking when adding gas, and revving.

The basis for the care of the ignition system is the regular replacement of spark plugs. In a car with a four-cylinder unit, there are usually four. Depending on the manufacturer, the service life can reach up to 120 50. km, but there are also products for about 60-XNUMX thousand. km. Spark plugs with platinum or iridium electrodes are more durable. Regardless of the brand and type of spark plug, the risk of breakdown increases if the driver uses low-quality fuel. How many spark plugs do we change?

See also:

– Maintenance and battery charging. How to care for a maintenance-free battery?

- The ABC of winter inspection. What are the problems in the cold?

– It is individual for each car model. The recommended mileage is always listed in the vehicle's owner's manual. If the manufacturer recommends ordinary candles, then most often it is no more than 30-40 thousand. km. In the case of platinum or iridium electrodes, the time increases to about 60-80 thousand. km. And even if the spark plug manufacturer says they last longer, I recommend that you follow the recommendations in your car owner's manual, says Stanisław Plonka, an auto mechanic from Rzeszów. Mechanics warn that driving with a broken spark plug can be devastating to an engine that shouldn't run three cylinders for too long.

- Candles are replaced with complete sets, because if one burns out, the next one is likely to be the same soon. In newer models of cars, access to them is difficult, and the use of specialized keys is required to unscrew them. I don't advise you to try to replace it yourself, because you can easily twist the plug, which in turn often leads to the need for repair of the head, says Plonka. The leading spark plug manufacturers are Bosch, Champion and NGK. A set of four good quality spark plugs costs around PLN 120-150.

New car - higher costs

In older vehicles, ignition wires also require special care. If they are old, then after dark you will see punctures in the form of flashing sparks. Especially when the air humidity is high, starting the engine is difficult. New cables cost around PLN 50-60 and are recommended to be replaced every 20-30 thousand. km. Spark control devices are items that can be repaired. In older models, the circuit breaker has been replaced, but there are very few such machines. The most common solution are cameras with a Hall module. – This element controls the spark using a magnetic field. The cost of a new element is about PLN 80-120, says Stanislav Plonka.

Ignition control coils and computers used in new vehicles have been completely replaced. – The four-cylinder engine has four coils, one for each spark plug. They rarely break all at once, most often we change them one at a time. The advantage of this solution is the best supply of electric charge to the candles. The main disadvantage is the price of spare parts. A branded coil replacement for a popular car model can cost PLN 150, which is three times more than a cable kit, says Plonka.

Even more, even about 2-3 thousand. PLN can cost a new ignition control ECU, the failure of which most often ends in a complete stop of the car. This is why many drivers prefer to collect used parts. - The price then is 200-400 zlotys, plus payment for electronics, which should change the immobilizer, - says the mechanic. Depending on the workshop, you will have to pay about PLN 150-300 for this service. For the correct operation of the system, the driver must also remember to regularly replace the air and fuel filters. The first one changes every 15-20 thousand. km, the second time at 25-30 thousand km. But mechanics say that due to the poor quality of fuel in Poland, a more frequent change would not hurt.

Diesel Glow Plugs

The ignition system on vehicles with diesel engines works differently. Here, glow plugs play a key role, the task of which is to heat the combustion chamber to a temperature that allows the fuel-air mixture to ignite. They also get the energy they need from a battery. - The candles are lit when the key is turned. Older cars last longer when it's very cold outside. When the chamber reaches the right temperature, fuel is injected through the injectors and the mixture ignites,” explains Tadeusz Gutowski, head of the Honda dealership in Rzeszow.

There are as many glow plugs as there are cylinders. At high temperatures, it is difficult to determine the failure of one part, but when it gets cold, the malfunction will manifest itself as problems with starting the engine. Fortunately, regardless of the weather, a burning light with a spiral symbol or a permanent engine light will indicate a problem. – The service life of glow plugs is difficult to accurately determine. However, it is high, even I have a car in my care that has already traveled half a million kilometers and the candles in it work flawlessly. These elements are not replaced until they break, adds Marcin Silka from ASO Honda Rzeszów.

Take care of the nozzles

Problems with fuel injectors, especially in modern diesels, can be a much more serious problem preventing ignition. These elements are very sensitive to low-quality fuel. “There are as many of them as there are candles. In the event of a breakdown, the cost of repairing a car is very high. A new injector costs about PLN 1500-2000, and, unfortunately, these elements cannot always be regenerated, says Stanislav Plonka.

See also:

– Fuel, air and oil filters. When and how to replace them?

– Glow plugs in diesel engines. Operation, replacement, prices. Guide

- Starter and alternator. Typical malfunctions, cost of repair

Symptoms of injector failure can vary. In addition to a lit glow plug or engine indicator, this means a drop in power, car jerks, starting problems. Exhaust gases also change color very often. The car may emit black smoke from the exhaust pipe if too much diesel fuel enters the engine. A new injector for the Ford Focus II 1.6 TDCi (110 HP) costs PLN 2170, and for the same version 90 HP. – PLN 1680. A glow plug for this car will cost ASO PLN 81. We will pay PLN 1.9 for an injector for Skoda Octavia 105 TDI (2000 hp). A glow plug for a Czech car costs about PLN 80.

– To avoid starting problems in winter, remember to use diesel fuel designed for operation at the lowest temperatures. Otherwise, in severe frost, its consistency will change and it will be impossible to start the car. I also recommend winter fuel improvers,” says Gutowski.