Troubleshooting E3 Spark Plugs

Identifying a Bad Spark Plug

Start your vehicle and pop the hood. Disconnect one spark plug wire at a time. If your engine begins to sound sluggish and choppy then that spark plug is OK. Removing the wire means removing spark and a firing piston will no longer fire and make the engine sound bad. Reconnect the spark plug wire. Continue doing this until you identify spark plugs that don't affect how the engine performed and take note of these damaged E3 spark plugs.

Testing the Spark Plug Wires

While testing spark plugs you can test the wires as well. While you have the spark plug wire disconnected, hold the tip near steel on the engine or frame of your vehicle. If you don't hear or see a little blue spark then that spark plug wire or connection is bad. Continue doing this until you identify all wires that didn't create sparks and take note of which ones they were.

Checking the Linkage to the Distributor

Follow the spark plug wire to the vehicle's distributor. Disconnect and reconnect each spark plug wire one at a time to ensure a solid connection. Look at your notes for which wire failed and which spark plug failed.

Install New Spark Plugs

You can purchase new spark plugs and wires from an auto repair store (have your car make, model and year ready when purchasing). With the spark plug wires disconnect the old and connect the new; with spark plugs unscrew the old ones and install in the new ones with a torque wrench. Use the torque as specified in the owner's manual.