How do you change the spark plugs on a Pontiac Grand Am?

How do you change the spark plugs on a Pontiac Grand Am?

How to Change Spark Plugs on an 2001 Pontiac Grand Am

1. Open the hood on the Grand Am and set the prop rod.
2. Remove the plastic cover on the top center of the engine.
3. Remove a spark plug from the engine with a ratchet, extension and 5/8-inch-drive spark plug socket.

Where are my spark plugs located?

Typically, spark plugs in four-cylinder engines are located on the top or side of the engine in a row. Spark plugs in inline six-cylinder engines are usually located on the top or side of the engine head.

How can I check to see if the spark plugs needs replacing?

Here are seven symptoms that let you know it’s time to replace your spark plugs.

1. The car is hard to start.
2. The engine misfires.
3. The car gets poor fuel economy.
4. Rough engine idle.
5. Your car struggles to accelerate.
6. The engine is really loud.
7. Your ‘check engine’ light is on.
8. Frequency of replacing spark plugs.

What are the symptoms of old spark plugs?

What are the signs your Spark Plugs are failing?

• Engine has a rough idle. If your Spark Plugs are failing your engine will sound rough and jittery when running at idle.
• Trouble starting. Car won’t start and you’re late for work… Flat battery?
• Engine misfiring.
• Engine surging.
• High fuel consumption.
• Lack of acceleration.

What are signs of a bad ignition coil?

Ignition Coil Problems, Symptoms and Solutions

• Engine misfires.
• Rough idle.
• A decrease in car power, especially in acceleration.
• Poor fuel economy.
• Difficulty starting the engine.
• Check engine light is on.
• Exhaust backfiring.
• Increased hydrocarbon emissions.

How often should you change platinum spark plugs?

There are two types of spark plugs: conventional and long-life. Conventional spark plugs need to be replaced every 30,000-50,000 miles. Long-life (iridium- or platinum-tipped) spark plugs need to be changed between 60,000 and 150,000 miles, depending on the vehicle.

How long does a platinum spark plug last?

100,000 miles

Will new spark plugs and wires improve performance?

The short answer is Yes, when you replace the spark plugs and wires can increase your vehicle’s performance. New spark plugs help keep your engine at its peak performance and efficiency levels. Worn or dirty spark plugs require higher voltage to get a strong enough spark to start a vehicle.

What happens if you don’t change your spark plugs?

Spark plugs will depreciate over time, so various engine issues will arise if they are not replaced. When the spark plugs do not generate the adequate spark, the combustion of the air/fuel mixture becomes incomplete, leading to loss of engine power, and in the worst-case scenario, the engine will not run.

How long can you go without CHanging spark plugs?

You can typically get 80,000 miles on them before they need replacing. But if you notice any of these symptoms, it’s time to get your spark plugs checked out with an engine tune-up. Continuing to drive with worn out or damaged spark plugs can ultimately cause engine damage, so don’t put it off.

What problems can spark plugs cause?

Failing spark plugs can cause the car engine to misfire and thus affect its performance. A single spark plug that fails to ignite the fuel-air mixture can cause a halt in the running of the engine. It can result in incomplete combustion and damage to the catalytic converter of the car.

When should I replace my spark plugs?

As a rule of thumb, you should replace your spark plugs in intervals of 20,000 to 40,000 miles, based on how often you use your vehicle and the kind of car that you drive.

Will changing spark plugs increase mpg?

Replacing your old worn spark plugs and failed plug wires with new spark plugs and new plug wires can improve fuel economy. Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve your fuel economy by as much as 40%.

How long do spark plugs last in years?

When your engine is functioning correctly, spark plugs should last between 20,000 and 30,000 miles. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration clocks Americans’ average annual mileage at 13,476. Break this down into spark-plug life expectancy, and it comes to between 1.5 and 2.25 years.

Should I replace ignition coils with spark plugs?

Worn spark plugs can cause unnecessary load on the coils and there is often some overlap in the labor required to replace both components. If your ignition coils failed as a result of worn-out spark plugs, it is wise to replace both components at the same time.

What happens if you don’t change your ignition coil?

If you don’t have strong ignition coils then it will result in weak fuel consumption or engine misfires. If the coil is faulty, you may have difficulty starting your car or it may not start at all. Misfiring, loss of power, poor acceleration.

Should I replace all my ignition coils at once?

Coil packs are reliable and likely to last the lifetime of a vehicle. If anyone goes bad, there is no need to change all of them. However, if one pack starts malfunctioning after the odometer has around 75,000 miles, you should replace them all.

Is it OK to replace just one ignition coil?

Changing Just One Coil You can of course change just one coil. If your coils are easy to access, replacing them as they fail is OK, apart from the inconvenience. It is possible to drive a car with a faulty coil but it isn’t advised. But on larger engines, you may need to remove engine components like intake plenum.

Can you drive with a bad ignition coil?

It is possible to drive with a faulty Coil On Plug (COP), but not advisable. Driving with a faulty waste spark ignition system won’t be possible. Driving with a faulty coil pack can damage other components of the engine. You’ll also learn how to diagnose and replace your faulty coil.

Can you fix a bad ignition coil?

Replacing an ignition coil is a basic repair procedure you can do at home with tools from your local AutoZone. That being said, many of today’s vehicles, especially with engines positioned sideways, can make testing/changing an ignition coil a bit more complicated.