Honda Civic/Acura Integra

since 1994 release

Repair and operation of the car

Check of a state and replacement of spark plugs

Tools necessary at replacement of spark plugs

1. The candle head — Is equipped with the special soft insert excluding a possibility of casual damage of the porcelain insulator at a candle reversing. 2. A dynamometer key — without being obligatory, provides a reliable guarantee of correctness of effort of tightening of spark plugs. 3. The ratchet drive — Is used in a set with a candle head and a dynamometer key. 4. The extender — Depending on model and a complete set access to spark plugs can be limited by its auxiliary units in various degree therefore use of extenders of the corresponding form and design will allow to facilitate implementation of the procedure considerably. 5. The tool for measurement and correction of interelectrode gaps of spark plugs — Is issued several types of this sort of tools – make sure that the tool is completed with the probe corresponding by the size to gaps of candles of your car.

In most cases replacement of spark plugs requires existence of a special candle head (with a soft insert inside) complete with the ratchet drive, and also a set of extenders of the drive of a key and the tool for check and correction of interelectrode gaps (see an illustration above). For a safe detachment of tips of VV of wires from shafts of spark plugs the special tool is also issued though its application and is not strictly obligatory. Use of a dynamometer key will allow to achieve the correct effort of tightening of candles.

It is the most correct to keep constantly in the car a set of replaceable spark plugs with the correct image the adjusted interelectrode gap. Upon purchase of new candles you watch that they met for the parameters the requirements of the engine of your car. Necessary information is provided in Specifications to the present Chapter, and also on VECI label fixed under a cowl (in case of discrepancies preference should be given to requirements of the last).

PERFORMANCE ORDER

1. Wait for full cooling of the engine, only after it start a reversing of candles. Not to waste in vain time, use a pause for check of a condition of a replaceable set of candles. 2a. The interelectrode gap of a candle is checked by introduction to it of the corresponding probe of the measuring instrument (see an accompanying illustration) and has to conform to the requirements given on VECI label (it is alternative see the Head Elektrooborudovaniye of the engine). The probe has to with an easy resistance slip between side and central electrodes of a secha. 2b. Correction of a gap can be made by means of the special adaptation which is usually a part of the measuring instrument – turn in appropriately side electrode of a candle (see an accompanying illustration). If the side electrode is located not precisely over central, correct its situation as appropriate. Make sure of lack of cracks and other damages to the porcelain insulator of a candle. Existence of any sort of defects of the insulator is inadmissible. 3. On the Integra models uncover spark plugs (see an accompanying illustration). At the cold engine disconnect VV a wire from a spark plug of the first cylinder (see Check of a state and replacement of VV of candle wires, a cover and the runner of the distributor (each 48 000 km of a run or times in 24 months)). Pull only for a tip, and not for a wire at all! It will be reasonable to use the special tool. 4. In the presence of near at hand source of compressed air, use it for removal of garbage from candle niches of the engine (the ordinary bicycle pump will be suitable for this purpose also not worse). When using compressed air do not forget to put on goggles! 5. Spark plugs on the considered models are deeply drowned in candle niches therefore their reversing requires the key drive extender. Having put on a candle head, connect the drive and, accurately rotating a collar counterclockwise, turn out a candle (see an accompanying illustration). 6. Verify the turned-out candle with the card of states given on a photographic insert that will allow to estimate the general condition of the engine qualitatively. Before rolling new candles slightly grease their carving part with the anti-taking sealant (see an accompanying illustration). 7. Manually acquire one of new candles in the corresponding opening in the engine. Having made sure that the candle is not warped in a carving, tighten it with the required effort (in the presence of near at hand dynamometer key). For simplification of the procedure of a nazhivleniye of a candle pull on its shaft a piece of a flexible fuel hose (see an accompanying illustration). At the same time the probability of failure of a carving as at the slightest zakusyvaniye the hose will begin to be turned simply is excluded. 8. Before connecting to the VV spark plugs of a wire perform the Check of a State and Replacement of VV of Candle Wires procedures, covers and the runner of the distributor (each 48 000 km of a run or times in 24 months). 9. Connection of VV of a wire is carried out by rotary progress of its tip – the last has to sit down on a candle shaft densely. 10. Repeat the procedure for the remained spark plugs, performing all operations serially in order to avoid violation of an order of connection of VV of wires. 11. On the Integra models establish into place a cover of candles.

Card of a condition of spark plugs

Normal state of a candle Symptoms: Gray-brown color and easy wear of electrodes. The Kalilny number of candles corresponds to type of the engine and its general state. Recommendations: When replacing candles establish candles of the same type.

Wear Symptoms: A rounding off of electrodes with a small congestion of deposits on the working end. Color is normal. Leads to difficulty of start of the engine in cold damp weather and to increase in fuel consumption. Recommendations: Change candles on new, the same type.

Coal deposits Symptoms: Availability of soot indicates reenrichment of fuel-air mix or weak intensity of a spark. Causes admissions of ignition, complicates start and results in instability of operation of the engine. Recommendations: Whether check the air cleaner is hammered whether fuel level in the float-operated camera is not too high, whether the air gate is jammed and whether contacts are not too worn-out. Try to use candles with longer insulator that increases the resilience to pollution.

Peploobrazovaniye Symptoms: Soft deposits of brownish color on one or both electrodes of a candle. A source of their education are the applied additives to oil and/or fuel. Excessive accumulation can lead to isolation of electrodes and cause admissions of ignition and unstable operation of the engine at acceleration. Recommendations: At bystry accumulation of deposits change maslootrazhatelny caps that will prevent hit of oil in combustion chambers. Try to replace fuel brand.

Oiling Symptoms: Oiling of a candle is caused by wear of maslootrazhatelny caps. Oil gets to the combustion chamber through worn-out guides of valves or piston rings. Causes admissions of ignition, complicates start and results in instability of operation of the engine. Recommendations: Perform mechanical recovery work and replace candles.

Short circuit of electrodes Symptoms: Waste of products of combustion gets to interelectrode space. Firm deposits accumulate, forming a crossing point between electrodes. Leads to refusal of ignition in the cylinder. Recommendations: Remove deposits from interelectrode space.

Overheat Symptoms: Porous, white insulator, erosion of electrodes and lack of any deposits. Leads to reduction of service life of a candle. Recommendations: Check whether the kalilny number of the established candles conforms to requirements of Specifications, whether the ignition advancing corner is correctly exposed, whether too poor fuel-air mix moves, whether there is no leak of vacuum of the inlet pipeline and whether valves are jammed. Check also the level of a cooler and whether the radiator is corked.

Too early ignition Symptoms: Electrodes are melted off. The insulator has white color, but maybe is polluted owing to admissions of ignition or hit in combustion chambers of foreign particles. Can lead to an engine exit out of operation. Recommendations: Check kalilny number of the established candles, an ignition advancing corner, quality of mix (whether it is not too grown poor) whether the cooling system is corked and whether the lubrication system normally functions.

Electroconductive luster Symptoms: The insulator has yellowish color and the polished appearance. Speaks about sudden temperature increase in combustion chambers at sharp acceleration. Usual deposits at the same time are melted off, taking a form of a varnish covering. Leads to admissions of ignition at high speeds of the movement. Recommendations: Replace candles (colder, at preservation of a manner of driving).

Detonation Symptoms: Insulators can be chopped off or burst. Also inaccurate technology of adjustment of a candle gap can lead to damage of the insulator. Can lead to damage of pistons.

Mechanical damages Symptoms: Can be caused by hit of foreign materials in the combustion chamber or arise at blow of the piston about too long candle. Lead to refusal of functioning of the cylinder and to damage of the piston. Recommendations: Remove foreign particles from the engine and/or replace. As service life of candles usually makes 15 000 km, it is enough to clear of them through each 8000 km of a run.