Of late, my 1.6-litre automatic car requires a second crank to start. It used to start with only one crank. I change the spark plugs regularly. What could be the problem?

A car engine starts readily when the following things are in order: the correct air-fuel mixture ratio, the correct amount of sparks at the right ignition timing and sufficient engine compression.

Wear and tear can lead to difficulty in starting. But it is still normal for the engine to require more than one crank to ignite - as long as there is no long continuous cranking required.

Apart from frequent checks to ensure that the spark plugs are in good condition, you may also wish to check if their specifications are within the car manufacturer's recommendation.

If the problem persists, take your car to a workshop with diagnostic equipment for checks.

Automobile Association of Singapore