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Basic plugs & ignition tune up!
Bad plugs can hurt your performance and it can save you many dollars by knowing what the problem is! One quick and easy way is to upgrade your ignition system. This begins with an upgrade, followed by changing your wires and ignition coil. First step is to open the hood and take a look at your vehicles ignition system. What kind of condition is it in? Are your wires frayed or disintegrated? If they are, those are obvious signs that replacement is in order. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended intervals and instructions. There is no better tool than a good socket wrench for changing your spark plugs. Refer to the following points to assist you with this project: Do this job before you start your engine for the day. Spark plugs are typically well set into the engine block and require some touching of the block. You don’t want to do this when it is HOT. Have all the essential tools gathered before you get to work. A set of mechanic gloves will provide you with some protection and makes for a cleaner job. Do not attempt to remove the wires by pulling on them. Rotate the boot 90-180 degrees before attempting to pull them off with a Wire Puller. Rotating helps break the covers loose without tearing the fragile wires within. Do not pull on the wire. Mark the wires with a piece of tape. Number them from 1 to however many cylinders you have. This makes putting the wires back much easier. You cannot just simple re-attach the wires in whatever order you’d like. Clean all debris or moisture from around the old spark plugs with some sort of air pressure. This helps to prevent any engine damage. Visually inspect the condition of the old tips to see if there is an indication of some type of engine problem. Ones with carbon buildup can cause overheating, converter failure, rough idle and other problems. A crucial step not to be avoided is to set the proper gap. People have the tendency to take them directly from the box and into their block. Gapping correctly will give you the intended performance will also help extend the life of your purchase. Use an Ignition Spark Tester with an Adjustable Spark Gap for the best results. The tester can test for no start conditions and for spark strength. The adjustable gap feature allows for spark gap requirements from 0 to 40,000 volts. A gauge background makes spark easier to see for accurate measurement. An alligator clip securely fastens to ground. Screw assembly adjusts spark gap quickly and easily. It now includes safety shield. The new plugs should be installed by hand. This makes sure that the fine threads are lined up properly and the spark plug is set correctly. If this proves to be difficult, try to use a piece of hose to slip over the end of them to extend your reach. It’s important to adhere to the manufacturer’s torque recommendations when you torque the plugs. Reconnect the wires in the order in which you removed them. Failure to do this correctly could result in damage to your vehicle, or your vehicle simply will not start. And finally, if oil has covered any parts of the plug or boots make sure to clean them well. A clean plug and boot will extend the life of both of them. Keep wires off of manifolds and other hot areas, or away from areas which may damage them. All cars have routing brackets to clip the wires into to keep them from getting burned by the exhaust or cut by the engine metal. I built this site using all the tools from Solo Build It. Click on the Site Sell target below to see how you can too!
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