i bought new spark plugs for better performance and gapped them right and installed them but i do not have a torque wrench and can't find any info on how tight to make it??? i think i overtightened it and it doesnt run as good as before now and i dont know how to fix it without knowing how much to tighten it...if anyone can tell me or know where to find the info that would be great.
2006-11-04 05:25:28 · 10 answers · asked by mr_fury666 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Goldwing is dead right. They only need to be done up tight, not super tight. So if you don't have a torque wrench wind them in until they're seated then do up only about half a turn more. Tighten them too much and you can strip the thread in the cylinder head (specially on an alloy head) and that's not cheap to fix. And what Goldwing said about plug type: Dead right again! Take out one of the new plugs and compare it with an old one. Never mind how long it is on the upper part, it's the part from where the gasket seats to the end that matters. If the new one's longer from the seat to the tip of the electrode, take them all out and get new ones the right length. If it looks bent then it's been bashed by the piston crown and so it's definitely the wrong size. In that case, don't drive the car to the garage -- don't even start the car! You can do very major damage to your pistons if you use the wrong length plugs.
And by the way, don't always go by what it says on the pack the plugs come in, in reference to what cars they fit. These things don't take into account every variation in engine type. Most good parts supplies have a reference book (or something on computer) that shows the exact plug type (and therefore size) for each motor. So ask them to check it for you just in case.
And in relation to the engine not running so good -- did you make sure you put the plug leads back on in the right order? I mean, if you did the changeover one at a time then it should be okay, but if you pulled all the leads off, maybe you crossed over a couple. On a four cylinder the thing will barely run and it'll backfire like crazy, on a six it'll be bad (and backfire, most likely,) but it'll still go.
A common firing order on 4-cylinders is 1-3-4-2, with '1' being the front plug (nearest the alternator end usually if it's an east-west motor). On a six or V8 the order varies a lot more, so if you think the order's maybe messed up you'll have to check for a website by searching 'firing order' and your car's engine type. Or call a garage and ask a mechanic. Any good mechanic can recite most common firing orders in their sleep :)
You also should check that all the plug lead caps clicked on properly. If one is loose you'll only get intermittent spark to that plug and the engine will run poorly.
Hope this helps!
2006-11-04 05:56:58 · answer #1 · answered by Apollonia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible to get bad wire or bad spark plugs or the wrong spark plugs. It is not that common through, it is more common to get the wrong spark plugs or mix up the spark plug wires. But you can not miss wire just one spark plug wire, and with the coil packs per cylinder one would really have to work to miss wire it. So I am assuming that you have a Ford Explorer with a rotary distributor, and either a 6 or 8 cylinder engine. Tell your husband the problem and have him recheck his work. Get out your owners manual and make sure you have the right spark plug for your vehicle. Verify that the spark plugs are proper and securely fitted, that the spark plug wires are securely fitted, and that the wires are wired to the right plug. depending on what year of ford you have this should be very easy to do but you will have to know the firing order. Get a repair manual from the library or look it up via the Internet normally the firing order will have a diagram that show how the spark plug wire run. If all seems in order or this is beyond our ability then visit a reputable garage or ford dealership. You do not want to drive if avoidable, you may cause more severe damage. Best of Luck
2016-05-21 23:18:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I wouldn't worry about how tight your spark plugs are It's not a big deal Unless you are really strong. Although you can tighten them to the point where they will strip the threads out resulting in costly repairs. Most cars these days have aluminum heads. So snug them up tight but don't be all Incredible Hulk on them. As far as performance. The Plugs you bought might be bunk or your car might just not like the plugs. Cars are weird like that, they have their own personalities. I get Bosch Platinum +2 or +4 spark plugs for my car. You don't have to gap them. I got better performance and better gas mileage. Also if your car has a distributor, get a "Brass contact" distributor and "Brass Contact" Rotor because brass lasts longer and it conducts electricity better.... And even further still you could get a Bosch Oxygen sensor and boost performance even further. .
2006-11-04 06:00:23 · answer #3 · answered by Cholo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The plugs should be installed good and snug. If the car isn't running right you should check the insulators on the plugs for damage, make sure the wires are on the correct plug and also check the wires for damage. Overtightening the plug could damage the threads in the cylinder head.
2006-11-04 05:35:10 · answer #4 · answered by renpen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy a torque wrench. A stripped head can be very expensive. Some times over $1000. As for the plugs, not all plugs work good in all cars. I've had bad luck with Bosch platinum plugs in my car (Nissan). The cheapies worked better.
2006-11-04 06:53:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well you didn't say what size plug. One that is put in with a 5/8th socket or a plug you install with a 13/16 socket
Anyway 13 lbs for a 5/8ths
16-18 foot lbs for 13/16
Also check the length
If the one you put in is longer the the one that was in it before, the piston has hit it and has now closed up your gap.
2006-11-04 05:32:44 · answer #6 · answered by goldwing127959 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different spark plugs will not give you better performance. Use platinum versions of the ones recommended. Check the plugs again. If you're having problems because they're too loose, they'll be loose enough to unscrew by hand.
2006-11-04 11:56:47 · answer #7 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you think you overtighten them, one or two might be cracked if it doesn't run right. Overtighten doesn't really do anything, but usually pulling to hard at an angle cracks the plug
2006-11-04 06:28:39 · answer #8 · answered by kayef57 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possible problems:
1.- Wrong plugs
2.- One or more plugs not tight enough
3.- One or more plugs are not threaded right
4.- Cables not connectect right
5.- It's just your impression that the car is runnig worse
2006-11-04 05:42:48 · answer #9 · answered by Wrench Man 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just snug it up and your good to go
2006-11-04 05:32:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋