Contemplate geriatric Glimmer plugs when replacing them.
Troubleshooting the Glimmer plugs in your 1996 Saturn oftentimes leads you to other repairs or adjustments that obligation to be untrue to your vehicle. Connatural wear leads to a demand for a replacement once a year; during this replacement you should see the plugs to troubleshoot them for indications of other repairs that obligation to be specious. This type of preventive continuation can be performed by the homey mechanic.
Instructions
1. Remove the Glimmer plug, and study the electrode on the top of the Glimmer plug to fix upon what type of alter has occurred. Discrepant changes are caused by heterogeneous problems and want at odds follow-up procedures as outlined below.
2. Attention the colour of the electrode. Provided it is brown to grayish-tan with slight wear, it has the right heat range for engine and operating conditions. This is common wear and should be replaced with plugs of the alike type.
3. Examine the firing site of the electrode; whether it is rounded with a baby magnitude of carbon put on it and is brown to grayish-tan, the plugs hold been left in the engine besides lingering and duty to be replaced. Locate up a extended frequent continuation scheme, or you Testament launch to grasp your vehivle starting harder than natural in damp or bitter weather and getting deficient fuel economy.
4. Glimpse for dry, sooty ash deposits on the electrode; these manifest a loaded alloy or effete ignition and can effect misfiring, exhausting starting and hesitation. This indicates your Glimmer plugs are running also fevered. Stores that sell spark plugs keep charts for Everyone at odds Trade-mark of plug they sell; there might be exceeding than one plug pleasant for exercise in your vehicle. Whether you bear the above mentioned problems, you must to select a plug from the cooler scope listed on the chart. (Model: You posses AC24 plugs in your automobile currently, the example of your plugs instruct they are firing too hot. You will need to buy your new plugs from the cooler end of the spectrum such as an AC23.)
5. Check the electrode for light brown deposits encrusted on the side or center (or both). These are derived from oil or fuel additives. Excessive amounts might mask the spark, causing misfiring and hesitation. Try changing brands of gas, and then recheck. If excessive deposits accumulate over a short time or few miles driven after you have changed brands of gas, install new valve guide seals to prevent seepage of oil into the combustion chambers.
6. Look for an oily coating, which is caused by poor oil control. If you have an oily coating, oil might be leaking past worn valve guides or piston rings into the combustion chamber. This can cause hard starting, misfiring and hesitation. Correct the mechanical condition with necessary repairs, and install new plugs.
7. Notice if the gap between the tip of the electrode and the top of the spark plug is bridged with a deposit lode of carbon or oily deposits. These deposits can cause the plug to stop firing, resulting in a dead cylinder. Remove the deposits with a small wire brush.
8. Check the white insulator; if it is blistered and the electrode is eroded or absent, it is getting too hot, and the life of the plug will be shortened. If this condition is found, check for the correct plug heat range, over-advanced ignition timing, lean fuel mixture, intake manifold vacuum leaks, sticking valves, and insufficient engine cooling.
9. Look to see if the electrode is melted. Insulators are white but might be dirty because of misfiring or flying debris in the combustion chamber. This can lead to engine damage. This indicates the combustion chamber temperatures have raised suddenly during hard acceleration. Normal deposits melt to form a conductive coating and cause misfiring and high speeds. Install new plugs.
Check for the correct plug heat range, over-advanced ignition timing, lean fuel mixture, insufficient engine cooling, and lack of lubrication.10. Check the insulator for a yellow-ish, glazed appearance. Consider using a colder plug if your driving habits warrant it.
11. Look to see if the insulators are cracked or chipped. Improper gap-setting techniques can also result in a fractured insulator tip and can lead to piston damage. Use care when setting the gaps on new plugs.
12. Check for mechanical damage caused by a foreign object in the combustion chamber or the piston striking an incorrect reach (too long) plug. This causes a dead cylinder and could result in piston damage. Repair the mechanical damage. Remove the foreign object from the engine, and/or install the correct reach plug.
