Broken Spark Plug Electrode

[Chris Collins]

I just brought home some new NGK Irridium spark plugs for my '93 Camry. After inspecting them closer, two of them appear to have broken electrodes. Here is a picture for your inspection:



I'm definitely replacing them tomorrow. Inspect your new plugs the next time you buy them!!!

Chris

[DFBonnett]

Good catch! Your post illustrates perfectly why all plugs should be checked and the gap verified before installation.

[Digger1]

^^^^^^Ditto!

Lot's of people seem to have this blind trust in the system and assume the gap will be correct on their new plugs out of the box.

Wrong!

[marc780]

thanks for the heads-up on spark plugs! While we are on the topic of defective parts - i work in a shop, and i've been working cars for 30 years and i've noticed a disturbing trend in the last few years regarding replacement parts. It used to be a new or rebuilt part was good to go right out of the box and a bad part was rare. Nowadays more and more it seems that an awful lot of parts are defective! A lot of starters and alternators are defective out of the box, i've had this happen once with an autolite alternator (brand new, not rebuilt) and also starters and a lot of other stuff.

Now i have my parts tested, if possible before i install them. And I have realized its no longer safe to assume that the part you put in will be good so i plan accordingly. that is, save the receipts; make sure the place you buy from will replace defective electrical parts so you are not stuck with it. Dont put all the parts back on and finish the repair only to come out and find the parts no good when you try to start it next morning, etc.