How to Stop a Car From Backfiring

by Editorial Team

Backfiring is a common problem and can be a symptom of issues you need to address. The loud bursts of noise that come out of your exhaust pipe could be a sign that there's something seriously wrong with your car. Ruling out common causes of backfire can help you diagnose your problem. Unfortunately, there are many causes and solutions, and it could take several hours to fix the problem.

Step 1

Examine your carburetor. The carburetor is the device that regulates airflow into your engine. This facilitates the controlled gas explosions that keep your car cruising along. Balance and tune the carburetor to ensure the air and gas mixture is properly balanced. The backfire may be your car's way of telling you that it's not getting enough air in its fuel mixture. You may also be able to prime the carburetor to fix it if it hasn't been used in quite some time.

Step 2

Check the distributor cap. If it is cracked or broken in any way, it can easily backfire. Be sure to look very closely. Even a hairline crack can cause a car to backfire.

Step 3

Evaluate your spark plugs. These provide the spark that ignites the air and gas mixture. If they are dirty, backfiring may be a symptom of an underpowered car. Remove the plugs with a wrench and make sure the pins are the right distance from the base of the plug. There may also be small bits of dirt in the plug that could cause a problem.

Step 4

Inspect the integrity of the gaskets in your engine. These gaskets keep the proper gases in and the unneeded gases out. If these are compromised, they could cause backfire.

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