can everybody list a way to test for a spark on the spark plugs please... some people have told me to put the spark plug on the negative part of the battery and then crank the car and see if it fires. i dont think this is right and i dont want to blow the egi fuse... also someone said to hold it near ground? hold what part of the plug near ground the tip or the part that the socket wrench goes on... also does the screwdriver trick show spark? thanks in advance

 

the screw driver trick shows if the coils are firing.. if you want to see if the plugs are sparking then take em out and leave em plugged into the wire and lay it on the shock tower area and try and start the car if it throws a spark then yea its firing if not then its not

 

Keep the spark plugs away from the battery. The battery vents hydrogen gas under normal use, and while this gas disperses very quickly, you don't want to the victum of a freak accident.

By far the best way I have seen to test for spark is to use a spark tester. It's basically a spark plug with an alligator clip attached to the ground electrode. Available for $5 from any auto parts store.

 

Do this with a spare spark plug in the hole, as fuel spitting out the now vacant spark plug hole and ignite!

Remove spark plug...
Replace spark plugs into end of spark plug wire...
Ground the THREADED part of the spark plug to a ground point - I usually use one of the strut tower studs as it's easy to access; just pull the black rubber cover off the top of the strut.
Crank the car and watch the center to see if it sparks...
This is easier if you have a helper.

THe problem with the other methods described is that you're not really testing the spark plugs itself.  Yes, they will confirm spark if it's firing through the spark plug wire, but if the spark plug is dead or fouled, you really can't tell.


-Ted