Spark plugs are the most ignored maintenance item on most cars in Trinidad. People change oil, replace batteries, fix brakes. Nobody thinks about spark plugs until the engine starts misfiring or the fuel economy tanks.

When to Replace Spark Plugs

Copper plugs last about 30,000 km. Iridium or platinum plugs can go 80,000-100,000 km. Check your owner's manual for the recommended interval.

Signs you're overdue: rough idle, hesitation on acceleration, worse fuel economy than usual, or the check engine light comes on with a misfire code. If your mechanic pulls a plug and the electrode is worn to a nub, you've been running on borrowed time.

In Trinidad's heat, spark plugs don't necessarily wear faster, but they do have to fire through slightly thicker air-fuel mixtures when the intake air is 35°C and saturated with humidity. Fresh plugs with the correct gap make a difference in how clean the combustion is.

What to Buy

Match the plug type to your engine. If the manufacturer specifies iridium, don't downgrade to copper to save $40 TT. The precise electrode on an iridium plug delivers a more consistent spark, and the smaller diameter means less voltage needed to fire.

If you're not sure what your car takes, we can look it up at the shop.

HID and LED Lighting

Trinidad's roads are dark. Outside of the major highways, street lighting is inconsistent at best. Factory halogen headlights on most vehicles are adequate but not great.

HID (High Intensity Discharge) kits put out significantly more light than halogens. A proper HID kit in 6000K gives you a clean white light that illuminates the road surface, lane markings, and pedestrians much better than the yellowish halogen output.

Some things to know before upgrading. Not every HID kit is the same. The cheap kits from online shops often have poor beam patterns that blind oncoming traffic. A quality kit with proper projector lenses directs the light where it belongs: on the road, not in other people's eyes.

LED bulbs are the newer option. Less heat output than HID, faster startup (no warm-up time), and generally longer lifespan. Both are solid upgrades over halogen.

Where to Get Them

The Car Bar stocks HID kits and quality spark plugs for most vehicles popular in Trinidad. We'll make sure you get the right bulb size and plug type for your specific car.

Bournes Rd and Angelina St, Port of Spain. +1 868-219-4645.