Tightening the plugs correctly can be tricky sometimes. As you bear down on the plugs, they feel like they are going to strip out. That feeling is just the sealing washers crushing. You need to go quite a bit tighter.

If you use a torque wrench, especially a click type, make sure you don't turn it too fast. This can cause a under torque condition too. My advice to you: use a plain, small 3/8th's rachet and tighten it till it won't turn anymore. Don't worry it's not going to strip out (as long as your name isn't Clark Kent).

And recheck them after 100 miles.

 

Sorry to hear of your woes. Several months ago, I made a post to say that I checked my plugs and every one of them measured between 6-8 ft#'s and I tightened them all. At the time, it didn't seem my post had an impact on anyone. Nobody ever listens to me.(notice the little tear on my unhappy face?)

 

That was my thoughts as well. I'll bet that engine was bouncing around good on the motor mounts.

 

How do we dot it, just pull out the rubber wire and tighten them with a torque wrench???????

Do I have to disconnect anything before??? I have never done a tune up on my own car.

I have a torque wrench, how much do I torque it to?

Thanks.

 

When will anyone join me ?

GSR-00
Typer-00
S2000-01
S2000-01

he he he all brand new! only one at a time though!

 

I would suggest being very careful! there is no rubber wire... these cars have a coil on plug design(as others have mentioned) and apparently the coil is fragile. My dealer had to replace one of mine when it developed a misfire(#2 cyl) due to a loose plug. At the time I also commented on this board that there seems to be alot of loose spark plugs...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sev
[B]How do we dot it, just pull out the rubber wire and tighten them with a torque wrench???????

 

Hey "SPARKEY"
Glad you got this tighten out!

El'

 

Greg,

Sorry to hear about the engine problem. I'll check the torque on mine this weekend. It's great news to hear you you'll get it fixed under warranty. Hey now you can break it in just before packing it away for the winter.

RHES2K (Steve)

 

OK, to answer the questions...

Vibration? Hmm, it's possible, but it's slim, IMO. I will only know if it is gone when I get the car back next week. We will see. I do doubt it as it feels far more drivetrain related, but I am most certainly willing to be wrong. The thing about the spark plug is that it could have done all of its damage after it came out of the head...which had to be right after we got on the interstate. Of course, there may have been other damage that I don't know about that could have cause such a vibration...but there are harmonics that transfer vibrations to totally different parts of the car. So, I could be totally wrong...I'm the first to say that I really don't know if the vibration will be there or not after all is said and done.

Also, one thing that I forgot to mention. The retainer on one of the valves in #1 was broken...I am going to assume that it was the heat from detonation that broke it. Additionally, there were no threads in the head for the plug, but the plug had threads on it...oddly enough.

One of the things that sucked (among the many) was that who in their right mind would think that when you car stalls that a spark plug came out?! I mean really, I can't imagine saying, "Ooops, my car just crapped out, let me see if a spark plug popped out!"

Never!

As far as making sure your plugs are tight enough...I agree 100% with Roceye...you DON'T need a tq wrench for this. I have put zillions of spark plugs in cars over the years and never once have I used one for spark plugs. His advice is just right...but if you do have a tq wrench, for peace of mind, you may want to go ahead and use it. I would also suggest a smaller wrench that has a needle instead of the kind that clicks. You will also need a deep socket with a pretty long extension. Perhaps someone with a Helms manual can answer that (I ashamedly do not have one...but I have friends that do!... ) I haven't tq'd my spark plugs, but all you should have to do is pull the wire...(don't worry about disconnecting anything else, Sev)...fit the spark plug socket on the plug and tighten to 13 ft/lbs.

I don't know the mm of the plug socket...but you generally need a special type of socket just for spark plugs.

xviper...man, I wish I had known you posted that. I was talking with Brad (meat) about this and he said that some had mentioned loose plugs before...I had either forgotten or missed entirely any mention of the topic. You KNOW I would have been out there tightening those damn things had I known.

Anyway, I posted this so that you may avoid what I have just gone through. It's a real bummer, but I am 110% thrilled that Honda stepped up like this. They didn't question it, they just did it. Big kudos to them...!

So, again...TIGHTEN YOUR DAMN SPARK PLUGS! Also, when you do, post back to say if they were loose or not. I'm very interested to learn this...and I'm sure that Honda would be too!