Im just wondering what would be the sign that i need to have my spark plugs changed. My car is a 99 pontiac grand am, and sometimes it doesn't start right away, I am guessing it is a sensor problem, but today i tried to start it, and it i guess kind of sounded like the gas and everything was going through, but it wouldn't start. then i tried again and it started... then i turned it off to make sure it would start again, and it did, so i tried one more time just to make sure, and then of course it didn't start. anybody have and ideas on what it could be??? Please help. I don't have a lot of money to take it in and have somebody trouble shoot.
2007-09-18 18:15:16 · 14 answers · asked by jayme s 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
my car has about 115,000 and i have never had new spark plugs put in. I am pretty sure that my battery is fine. and when my car doesn't start, it will usually start about 10 mintues after i have tried to start it. if any body out there has a car they would like to donate, i would love it. We are about to start a family and i really need a dependable car, but money is a little tight right now.
2007-09-18 18:24:01 · update #1
how much does all of this stuff cost to replace? Starter? alternator? fuel injector? i really don't like my car, i only have 1 window that works, sometimes, sometimes it will fall down... ahhh i hate my car sometimes!!!
2007-09-18 18:27:35 · update #2
tune up
2007-09-18 18:20:17 · answer #1 · answered by tooladdict76 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you may not have the amps needed to start the car from the battery. If the battery is old it will sometimes push less amps at times and more other. Also you are correct in thinking it could be a sensor, it may be the firing sensor not engaging all the time. If the car runs fine after you start it and does not sputter or miss than your plugs are fine. But you may want to change them anyhow if it has been a long time since they were changed. Feel free to add some details and i'll check back and see if i can help anymore.
It needs plugs but has it ever had a new battery. You can take it to advance auto parts and get a free diagnostics run on it and they can tell you if you have a bad sensor. It actually could be a lot of different things or combination of many like a fuel pump getting weak, your fuel filter clogged up, air flow sensor, wiring issues, if your vehicle has never had a fuel filter, a battery, or new plugs you need all of them.
The three items you mentioned are rather expensive depending on the vehicle. You can look them all up on line and get a price estimate on the part but unless you have a friend or relative to help you replace them if you yourself do not know how then labor will cost as much if not more than the part.
2007-09-19 01:20:48 · answer #2 · answered by souless one 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say the starter or fuel injector is your prob. Bad spark plugs sound more like the engine misfiring when the car is running. I had a pont grand am and i had to change the starter and the spark plugs after about 100k. Change your air filter too, its cheap.
If your car made a ticking noise and didn't start, its probably the battery.
Oh and unless you know what you're doing, don't try to change the spark plugs yourself. If you break one off in your engine, it will cost you big bucks to get it fixed.
2007-09-19 01:25:33 · answer #3 · answered by atjetcmk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once had a problem with my plugs and was ready to take it in for a tune up becuase I didn't have the time to work on it myself. I did decide to check on it for a sec just before taking it in. Turns out it was just a loose plug wire. I pushed it back onto the plug and all was well. I must have hit a good bump and knocked it loose.
I got lucky though. It's usually not an easy fix. If you don't usually work on cars I would suggest you get someone experienced to help you change them or you have them changed at a garage. The gap needs to be set and you have to be careful not to strip the "sockets." You could be in for more trouble than you have now if you tried to do it yourself and you have no clue what you are doing.
OH...and check out the plug wires themselves. I had another problem like this in my cav one time. The plug was a bit long and was resting on the exhaust manifold. It burned a hole right into the plug wire. I would just be driving right along and BAM the car would die...because the metal on metal was causing it to "short out" and stall.
Just a few thoughts. Good luck!
2007-09-19 02:28:54 · answer #4 · answered by just me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on how many miles since you last changed the plugs(25000 miles or more)you could most likely start with the plugs. Overall the investment will be less than having someone check it out for you and it won't be a bad idea even if it turns out to be something else. There are so many sensors that are on your car that it also could be any one of them.
The very best would be to have a RELIABLE and HONEST mechanic put it thru a computer check.
2007-09-19 01:28:11 · answer #5 · answered by DIAL 911 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
starter or battery would be the most likely things but it could be a lot of things. Probably not spark plugs. The signs of those going would be a loss of power while driving. You don't have as much power going up hills and stuff. You feel a decline in performance. They're easy to check though so you should check them maybe every 6 months or so for the hell of it.
2007-09-19 01:21:38 · answer #6 · answered by Laura D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would pull spark plugs and inspect, if they are black or oily or deposits on them i would replace. while you have plugs out do compression test, all cyls. should be above 140 lbs. and within 10 lbs. of each other. if that checks out ok then have injectors cleaned, without adding addative to tank. also, if any sensors were bad, there would be a check engine light on or flashing on and off, in most cases. if check engine light is doing that, have the computer for the engine scanned and that will tell witch sensor is malfunctioning. if you bought a repair manual it would give step by step diagnosing and you would not through all kinds of expensive parts at your car. good luck
2007-09-19 03:40:51 · answer #7 · answered by marcyhaek 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well there are a number of things which can cause your vehicle to not start. automotive troubleshooting begins with two basic questions: 1) is there spark ? 2) is fuel being delivered?
its really too complex to tackle right here without actually having the car in front of me. i recommend (if you are confident you have the aptitude) going to your local auto parts store and buying the "haynes" ao it yourself repair manual for your particular make/ model/ year. there are other brands of the manuals such as "chiltons" but i would stick with the haynes. it has a very comprehensive symptom-most likely cause troubleshooting section that i think would answer your question now and questions to come. and it costs only about 15- 20 bucks
2007-09-19 01:32:38 · answer #8 · answered by nvrsbr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you don't remember the last time the spark plugs were changed, it's probably time (since the car has 115,000 miles on it). That is cheap and easy, just do it and if it fixes the problem that's great. If not, it probably needed to be done anyways.
2007-09-19 01:28:25 · answer #9 · answered by Qbert420 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a spark plug socket and a set of feeler gauges. Pull the plugs one at a time and look them over to see if they are oily or wet from gas.
I'm sure that you are due for a new set. So get a set and replace them one at a time. That should help your car start.
good luck
2007-09-19 01:23:39 · answer #10 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The information supplied is minimum, you should post the engine size. Assuming your engine is a V6 check your fuel pressure regulator: disconect the vacuum hose to it and run the engine for 10 seconds, look at the fuel pressure regulator. Is it getting wet with gasoline? then your problem is there.
Complete diagnostic must be performed with a fuel pressure gauge to test the fuel pump.
2007-09-19 01:36:12 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋