What are signs of bad spark plugs or spark plug wiring or bad connection? I have been hearing a snapping noise when I accelerate, and 3 times my lights and power steering just cut off. Any ideas?? Thanks alot. Also, a local garage told me they couldn't change my plugs bc they needed a special tool to put them at the right angle or something. Does that sound right? The I read that it is easy to change on an 8, so I don't know what to believe. Please help. Thanks

 

get your alternator and battery checked. where are you located? what year is your car? used or new? what maintenance has been done by you previously? what modifications have been done to the car? anything at all changed from stock?

 

special tool?
nope, not necessary. It is easier if you have a swivel joint on the ratchet but if the car is up on a lift, I don't see it being necessary. I'd try a different shop.

I'm leaning towards Zoom's theory that there is an electrical issue somewhere and the Alternator / battery is a good place to start.
Is there any aftermarket wiring in the car? (stereo, alarm, keyless start, etc)

 

I'm in Greenville sc. It's an 04' With 68000 miles. Regular oil changes but i recently installed an after market exhaust and someone said maybe the spring nuts came loose causing me to loose power and maybe the clicking is the pipes hitting each other. I'm thinking it sounds like a fouled plug? Maybe not though. No aftermarket wiring done at all. I only hear the clicking sound when I give it gas and it starts to be sluggish for a second. Then it goes away. Weird

 

It is common for a bit of a rattle when you get on the gas as the SSV opens ......it is caused from a momentary lean condition Mazda says...so if it isaround 3500RPMs and goes away right away that is likely it.............

It also gets worse with poorer gas quality..so if you got a crappy tank of gas......refill it somewhere else and see if it gets better...and add the first station to your suspect gas list

 

I can do the spark plug change in my backyard ... in the other words the garage u went to is total garbage, time for another one.

yes, you should check the pipe and see if everything is good. don't tighten it all the way. the spring need some room to move.

Your battery might be dying.

Its easy to check Alternator output, doesn't take me more than 20 seconds.

 

After listening again, I'm starting to think it's more of a grinding type of noise. Not really a click click click. More like a cruh..cruh cruh..cruh sound. (I guess that's how i would spell it ha) and the sluggish behavior and the cruh sound go hand in hand never one or the other...I have no idea what it could be

 

Question, when was the last time u did a plug, coils and wires change ?

Answer, Anything more than 25K (my standard) miles, change it all. you can save the wires for 50 or 75K.