Can You Jump Start a Car with Bad Spark Plugs?

Jump-starting a car is usually a temporary solution in a situation where the car battery is dead, this is done by using a jumper cable.

To jump-start a car, you must ensure that it will not cause further problems or damage to the engine. There are situations in the car where it will be dangerous to jump start a car but can you jump start a car with bad spark plugs?

Yes, you can jump-start a car with bad spark plugs although this should be a band-aid until you get a lasting solution. 

Can you Jump Start a Car with Bad Spark Plugs?

Yes, you can jumpstart a car with bad spark plugs although doing this should be a temporary solution.

It is important to note that although it is possible to jump-start a car with bad spark plugs, it doesn’t work all the time as there are lots of determining factors such as the type of car you use.

If you have a bad spark plug or bad spark plugs, it is better to have them replaced rather than manage them.

How to Jump Start a Car with Bad Spark Plugs?

To jumpstart a car with bad spark plugs you can do the following:

1. Gap the Spark Plug

The purpose of gapping the spark plug is so electrons can be transmitted with ease from the combustion cylinder. This gap should be between the center electrode and the ground.

When creating the gap, one has to be very careful so that it won’t be too narrow or too wide. If any of this were to happen there is a possibility of the engine misfiring.

To get the accurate and precise distance between the spark plug, you may want to use a feeler gauge.

2. Oil and Carbon Residue should be Cleaned

Over time, there will be a build-up of oil and carbon residue on the spark plugs electrode, when this happens, it becomes difficult to start the car and an uneven transmission of electrodes.

This build-up will usually be in form of soot or ash on the spark plug and it could form as a result of using damaged fuel filters, leaving the engine idle for a long time.

3. Check the Wire End of the Spark Plug

You can also jump-start a car with bad spark plugs by checking the wire end as it could be the reason the car won’t start.

When checking, look to know if there is a strong cable connection to the spark plug and that the wire end is in perfect condition while ensuring it is properly connected so that there will be no interruptions to the transmission of electrons.

4. Seal the Crack in the Cylinder Head

There may be a crack in an engine’s cylinder chamber, when this happens it is important that you seal them immediately. A crack in the cylinder head causes a reduction in ignition power, this is because the combustion is incomplete.

5. Preheat the Spark Plugs

Preheating the spark plugs is another way to jump-start a car when the spark plug is bad.

Due to extremely cold temperatures, the electrodes of a spark plug can be affected which may interrupt the power produced by the engine.

To preheat the spark plugs, you may need to use a heating torch or put the plugs in the oven.

6. Replace the Spark Plugs

As a final option, you may need to replace the spark plug by purchasing new ones. Some spark plugs may be damaged beyond repairs and it will be a total waste of money to fix them, or a total waste of time jumpstarting them.

What Happens if you Jump Start a Car with Bad Spark Plugs?

Here are some things that will happen if you jump-start your car with bad spark plugs

• Little or No Acceleration: If you are able to jump-start a car with bad spark plugs, you are likely to experience difficulty in acceleration. With a bad spark plug, it becomes hard to press on the throttle and if you are able to do so, the response time won’t be the same as it used to be.
• Engine Misfiring: You can also experience engine misfiring when driving, the car stops and then resume again. If this continues, there is a high tendency that permanent damage will be done to the engine.
• No or Hard Start: In some cases, jump-starting a car with bad spark plugs will not make it start. This is because the ignition needed to get the engine started is not there as a result of bad spark plugs, spark plugs play an important role in getting a car started.
• Reduced Fuel Economy: There will definitely be a reduction in fuel consumption as the engine and other parts are working extra hard to keep the car running.  You will realize that the car mileage has reduced and you spend more on fuel.
• Warning Lights: When the spark plugs go bad, warning lights such as ABS light and check engine light can come on on your dashboard to signal a problem that needs to be fixed. These lights can also trigger the traction control to turn off with the warning light blinking on your dashboard.

Can Bad Spark Plugs Affecta Acceleration?

Yes, bad spark plugs can cause your car not to accelerate

One of the many signs of bad spark plugs is when there is little or no acceleration when driving, this is because there is a reduction in the combustion that takes place in the cylinder.

Owing to the fact that spark plugs play a huge role in making a car accelerate, if the combustion does happen or didn’t take place in time for proper acceleration, it will affect the acceleration.

The spark needed for the ignition of air and fuel mixture is created by the spark, when it goes bad it becomes hard to create the spark which makes acceleration hard.

Can You Keep a Jump Starter in your Car?

Yes, you can keep a jump starter in your car, however, some things should be put into consideration before doing so.

It is better to keep a jump starter in the car for emergency situations, this is however provided you can store it properly. Improper storage of the jump starter can make it useless when you need it.

If you plan on keeping a jump starter in your car, ensure it is charged fully before keeping it in the car so it will be useful in case you need to use it.

Also, be sure to keep it in a dry corner in the car, it shouldn’t be kept in a place where it will get wet.

Extra care should also be taken with the jumper cables, keep them in a way they won’t get tangled with other items kept in the car.

Conclusion

You should be able to jump-start a car with bad spark plugs on your own by watching some videos online and with the necessary tools, but if it seems like a difficult task, get an expert to do it.