A few weeks ago on our Destination Kia blog we discussed the different kinds of vehicle maintenance that is safe for you to do on your own and the following weeks we’ve been covering how to actually do those pieces of maintenance. This week: Spark Plugs. Changing your spark plugs is a relatively simple and quick process that can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes depending on how many plugs you have. It costs around $15 to do this yourself (the price of new spark plugs). Here is how to do it:

1. Locate the spark plugs by following the thick, rubbery wires under the hood of your car. Depending on the number of cylinders in your engine, you will find four, six, or eight spark plugs.

2. Start at the end of the row of spark plugs, pull the wires off the plugs by grasping the wire as close to the engine as you can then pulling or wiggling it a bit. Only pull off one wire at a time.

3. After you get the first wire off, attach a spark plug socket and extension to a ratchet. Set your ratchet to loosen, slide it over the plug as far as it will go, then remove the old plug.

4. Install the new plug by screwing it in by hand then tightening with a wrench.

5. Reattach the spark wire plug. Then repeat with each spark plug, one at a time.

So now you know! Granted, it’s winter weather out there and is getting pretty cold, so if changing your spark plugs yourself feels like more work than it’s worth, you can definitely stop by Destination Kia and we’ll be happy to do that for you! Or if your vehicle requires work more complicated than changing your spark plugs, we’ll be more than happy to help with that too. Destination Kia is here to help!