What happened? I took my 4 wheeler to have the oil changed and it started running bad and now it won't start?

Question

I have a 4 wheeler that was running great...start right up, had lots of power...then I took it to have the oil changed and they also changed the spark plug. After that it has a hard time starting...won't stay running now and runs real rough. We took it for a drive and it was running bad and now it won't start! It went from sounding great to won't start! We pushed it back up on the truck and got it home and checked the spark plug. Its black...already! For a new spark plug. Can anyone tell me what this means

Answer 1

possibly the incorrect plugs were installed or incorrectly gaped. a black plug is a plug that is fouling or not firing. take it back to the shop that did the work.

Answer 2

Dear Marcia,

   Louis seems to have the best answer so far.   The

plugs may be the wrong length.  If the plugs are two

long, they may clobber a hole in the piston and allow

oil to seep (or gush) up into the cylinder.  You may have

lost a piston ring(It breaks and allows oil to creep up)!

Is this machine like a four-wheel motorcycle?  Do

you have the old plug?  You said Plug, not PLUGS.

Remove plug and put your thumb over the hole.  

Have someone crank the engine.  It should "poof"

your thumb off of the cylinder head.   Or use a

compression tester.  Buy a new plug, hook up the

plug wire with the plug laying on the engine or frame

where there is no paint and crank the engine,  does

It spark?  No spark, no run.  If you get spark

and you get "poof", put a little gas in the spark plug

hole.  Replace the spark plug, wire,  and try to start

the engine. It should at least "Pop".  

How well do you know the mechanic who changed

your oil?  If he is a "good guy" you might take

it back to him and explain how it acts.  If you're

not sure, you might take it to another mechanic

and explain.  If he screwed it up, you may have

to sue.  Do you have any friends who know about

this kind of thing?  

One thing you should do is change your own oil

and the spark plugs too. If you are playing with

the toys, you should know how to feed and care

for them.   It isn't hard to do, and is kinda fun.

Surgeons gloves will help keep your hands from

looking like a grease pit.  Buy GOOD tools (not

the cheap c**p that some sales people will try

to push off onto a lady).  It may help to take a

man with you.  Any FOOL can learn to do this

stuff------I did!