Engine misfiring occurs when one or more cylinders don’t correctly ignite and generate combustion. There are various reasons for this problem, but a misfiring engine needs to be examined and the cause repaired by your Mazda dealer ASAP. If an engine continues to misfire, it will cause a variety of problems, from increased fuel consumption to engine failure. These are some of the reasons for a misfiring engine.
Worn Spark Plugs
Combustion is a series of controlled explosions that produce the energy that allows a gasoline-powered vehicle to move. This process requires a precise mixture of air and fuel which is then compressed in the cylinders and ignited by the spark plugs. For this process to work correctly, you must have sufficient air and fuel, and the spark plugs must fire correctly.
A spark plug is attached to each cylinder in your engine and ignites the compressed fuel-air mixture at a precise time. Spark plugs can wear out, and they can also be damaged by the failure of other engine components. If a worn or damaged plug doesn’t ignite the fuel-air mixture correctly, you’ll hear strange sounds from your engine and experience a lurching feeling from the engine. We can easily test your plugs and replace any worn or damaged ones.
Failing Alternator
Your alternator generates electricity for all your car’s systems and components. A new alternator produces more than enough power for your car, but it slowly loses this ability as it ages. After approximately eight years, your alternator may not produce enough power for all your car’s systems.
When the alternator can’t supply enough power for your car, your computer will have to allocate the available power according to the needs of the individual systems. This can result in the plugs not receiving enough power to ignite the fuel-air mixture, and the mixture could burn instead of exploding. Our technicians can test the electrical output of your alternator and install a new one if required.
Damaged Intake Manifold Gasket
Fuel and air mix in the intake manifold, and they must mix in a precise ratio of 14 parts air to one part fuel. The intake manifold gasket is a seal that fits between the intake manifold and the cylinder heads and prevents contact between the two sections. We routinely examine this gasket and all other gaskets and seals in your engine during your regular scheduled services.
If this gasket has become worn or damaged, air will leech into the manifold from the cylinder head. This increases the ratio of air to fuel and will produce a lean fuel-air mixture. This mixture won’t have enough fuel to ignite correctly, and this will cause misfiring. We can fix this problem by replacing the gasket.
If you’re engine misfires, call our service department at Flood Mazda.
Image via Pixabay
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
