Changing spark plug or ignition coils

ANSWER : Hi there. Try using a pair of small needle nose pliers to pull off the rubber boots from the spark plugs. As you pull, twist the rubber boots to break them free. If you cannot get the rubber boots off, then try using some mineral oil on the boots to aid them off, then clean off the oil with soap and water with degreaser. If you need further assistance with removing the boots from the spark plugs, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : Changing spark plugs at 46000 isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but mostly I say that because it will keep them from seizing to the cylinder head. Most late model cars like yours can run a set of plugs for longer than that. As for the coils, If the car is not misfiring, I don’t see why you would want to change them and neither does the maxcare company. If the car IS misfiring, then the check engine light will come on and it will set misfire codes. So I don’t see why it would be necessary to do it just yet. If you want to get a third opinion on that, you can contact Your Mechanic to have a technician come out to your home or office to check out your BMW and tell you just what it needs.

ANSWER : Hi there. If the light is coming on then shutting off and returning on, then if the issue is for the same coil, there could be an issue with the wiring on the coil plug. Check the wiring on the coil plug and see if the wires are split, broken, or burned. If there is nothing wrong with the plug, then the main engine harness has an issue / short and may need replaced. If you need further assistance with your ignition system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : If you have a Check Engine Light on, first check for those codes to determine what engine management thinks is going on. If no trouble code, check the ignition fuse behind the driver side kick panel (carpeted panel at foot level on the left – for left-hand drive vehicles). If the engine is spinning quickly, and doesn’t appear to be meeting any resistance (as a motor with good compression would have), you may have a broken timing belt. If so – STOP, call a professional mechanic, like a certified technician from YourMechanic for help.

ANSWER : Hi there. Although what you are listing above is not necessarily a service we offer, it is possible to have one of our mobile mechanics come to your location to help you with this issue. To start, I would recommend setting up a spark plug removal service, then contacting the customer service sales professional that works with you to explain exactly what you need. When this has happened to me, I bite the bullet and purchase a new spark plug and new spark plug socket, as it’s very difficult to get it unstuck without damaging the socket.

ANSWER : Hi There,
I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the vehicle to first determine what the cause of the misfire is if this has not already been done. Engine misfires can be caused by many different problems and are generally caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in some cases, a combination of both. Spark related problems generally will result from things like ignition coils, crankshaft position sensor, spark plugs, spark plug wires or ignition modules not working properly. When the misfire results from a fuel related issue, this is commonly related to a lean fuel condition (lack of sufficient fuel supply to the motor). Fuel related misfires can be caused by many different things such as low fuel pressure, faulty or dirty fuel injectors, a faulty O2 sensor, a dirty or failing mass air-flow sensor, a faulty or dirty idle air control valve or a vacuum or intake leak. When the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is insufficient, this results in an ignition (spark) that is igniting a less than balanced load of fuel and air. This results in a misfire or an explosion in the cylinder that is much less powerful than the other cylinders. This creates a loss of power that resonates throughout the motor additionally causing other problems with ignition and fuel timing. Due to the number of different things that may cause an engine misfire, the quickest and easiest way to diagnose this type of problem is to hook the vehicle up to a scanning tool which will download any potential fault codes that may have registered in the vehicle’s computer as a result of the poor running condition. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your misfiring problem.

ANSWER : Since you have 100,000 miles and if you have not serviced the transmission or tune up items I would recommend having them serviced. A coil can go bad if it has to overcome worn out plugs or wires and is common cause of coil failure.

ANSWER : Hi there. The overall quote you received is about average for a local shop or dealership to offer these services. I would highly recommend if you have these services completed, to have them itemize every service they intend to offer, then compare it to the maintenance schedule tool we have on our website.