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Technical Fiat Punto 1.2 8v Spark Plug Location

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Technical Fiat Punto 1.2 8v Spark Plug Location

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Rodzki

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Hi all,

I am a complete noob when it comes to car mechanics, so recently i have decided to bite the bullet and learn about what i'm actually driving (and hopefully can save a bit of money by doing minor work, and also by having an understanding of how the car works etc.)

i know that this is probably the most basic question of all... could anyone please tell me (or even better show me a picture) of where the spark plugs are located on a 2001 1.2 8v Punto ELX

i've looked at the Haynes Manual but i can not find anything that looks like the spark plug leads shown on the manual, i've had the hood up and taken a few pictures, and even taken the air filter off to get a better idea of where they are located. but i'm still clueless... one minute i'm thinking its one thing then another minute i'm thinking its something completely different!

I've attached a few pictures to indicate what i've been looking at and would be really grateful if you could nudge me in the right direction please

http://img832.imageshack.us/i/defo1.jpg/
http://img843.imageshack.us/i/defo2.jpg/
http://img20.imageshack.us/i/defo3.jpg/

Also really sorry if this has been covered in another thread - i've used the search function and looked on several threads! but i couldnt find anything :(

thanks,
Rodzki
 
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That black lead in front of the yellow injector plug on the first picture is one of your spark plug leads. You will see that it has a ridge on the actual spark-plug connection that you grab to pull the lead away to access the spark plug.
 
Yep, them 4 black leads going into the back of the engine are the HT leads. Don't pull at the lead to get them out or you'll break them. You need to get your hand as low as you can to pull them out. If not been touched a while they can be VERY stuck!

You then need a spark plug socket (I presume you have one) and the spark plug just screws out.

When putting a new one in don't tighten too much or when the engine heats it can crack the block.
Tighten it untill a bit of effort is required then quarter of a turn more. It's all you need! (y)
Make sure leads go back in the same order
 
And a little Haynes trick for putting the plugs back in: Get on old length (~20cm) of fuel tubing and push the spark plug cap into it. Then use the hose to initially insert and screw in the spark plug. If it is cross-threaded, the tube will slip rather than make a mess of the threads. Once you have done i a few times, you can feel by hand using the spark socket and a regular extension, but this technique is good while you get the knack.
 
The big point is never tighten anything as much as it can be tightened. A bolt or nut or sparkplug will feel free while its running in, but will go stiff as the threads go tight. AT this point turn it carefully and you will feel the threads lock with a slight springy feel. Stop now!

Dont force it until it wont force any more - thats the quick way to stripping the threads - a common mistake with many newbies.

Some special bolts have to be done with a torque wrench. Some say that includes spark plugs.

To be honest, spark plugs are not the ideal things to learn on. Any mistakes can be VERY expensive. Ideally get a mechanic friend to show you.
 
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WhiteSei said:
The big point is never tighten anything as much as it can be tightened. A bolt or nut or sparkplug will feel free while its running in, but will go stiff as the threads go tight. AT this point turn it carefully and you will feel the threads lock with a slight springy feel. Stop now!

Dont force it until it wont force any more - thats the quick way to stripping the threads - a common mistake with many newbies.

Some special bolts have to be done with a torque wrench. Some say that includes spark plugs.

To be honest, spark plugs are not the ideal things to learn on. Any mistakes can be VERY expensive. Ideally get a mechanic friend to show you.
Click to expand...
They are also one of the simplest things aswell. That's where I started! (y)
 
Spark plugs are simple until things go wrong.

Its only a simple threaded plug - easy innit? Someone who's used to doing these things will feel a thread going wrong - a newbie wont. Who's to say some twonk hasn't already crossed one of the plugs at some time but got away with it. Along comes a sensible new guy, hits that damaged thread and turns it just that bit too much. Oops.

https://www.fiatforum.com/punto/243027-spark-plug-cross-threaded-what-next.html
 
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Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the helpful comments, i opened the bonnet earlier this evening to get an idea of what you guys have been saying and i found the first spark plug one nearest to the oil dipstick. So at the moment i'm glad i know what i'm looking for when looking for the remaining plugs.

Gonna buy some Spark Plugs, a Feeler Blade etc. so i can get stuck in this weekend.

When i pulled the lead off the spark plug, and put it back on i wasn't 100% sure that i put it back on properly. but i pushed it as far as i could and managed to drive around with no strange engine noises, so i assume that i replaced the lead correctly.

thanks again guys,

Tom
 
The black silicone of HT leads won't necessarily be a tight fit; if you look inside the end of one there is a 'socket' sort of thing. It is this that creates the connection between the coil pack and the end of the spark plug. Normally you can feel a slight 'click' as it engages.
 
You don't NEED a feeler gauge. 99% of spark plugs come gapped already to what you need (y)

Also sometimes you'll know if you dont get a good connection with the HT lead. The socket bit that attaches sometimes slides down the cable a bit, just needs pushing back up. Only really happens if you catch the wire abit when pulling them out.
The other 3 HT leads tends to make a slight *pop* as they go back into place. The one you found is the easiest and the quietest :p
 
Cheers guys,

so if nip down to halfords and buy these spark plugs.

NGK 426 Spark Plug x4 Cat code: 779462-0

they'll have a gap of 0.9mm? (as stated on Haynes).
 
Why not go to Fiat and be sure to get the right plugs. But the only time I've known an ECU or ignition module to get spiked (on a bike or car) is when both plugs on one coil are disconnected. There's no way for the energy to go so it can spike back into the low tension.
 
just out of curiosity whats the worst case scenario when the ECU gets spiked? reset or complete unit needs replacing?
 
bredsticz said:
Yep, them 4 black leads going into the back of the engine are the HT leads. Don't pull at the lead to get them out or you'll break them. You need to get your hand as low as you can to pull them out. If not been touched a while they can be VERY stuck!

You then need a spark plug socket (I presume you have one) and the spark plug just screws out.

When putting a new one in don't tighten too much or when the engine heats it can crack the block.
Tighten it untill a bit of effort is required then quarter of a turn more. It's all you need! (y)
Make sure leads go back in the same order
Click to expand...

just changed the first one.... any tips on unsticking the other 3 leads.... very very stuck
and wont budge

thanks
 
Rodzki said:
just changed the first one.... any tips on unsticking the other 3 leads.... very very stuck
and wont budge

thanks
Click to expand...

Hi sorry about the brief message, i was stood in front of my car on posting the message on my phone!

Did as you guys said, popped off the air filter fitting, pulled off the ht lead off the far left spark plug (near dipstick) and attached the spark plug fitting to it... after wrestling with it for a while (as the previous person tightened the plug probably 3 full rotations of a rachet turn) - so it was probably overtightened in the first place - i managed to loosen the spark plug!

The only downside of this (probably my own fault as the engine wasn't totally cool when loosening the plug, the ceramic started to break off and i was hoping that none of it fell down the hole i managed to collect all the debris up and popped my spark plug in, and tightened it all up. i fired up my engine and didn't hear any loud pops or bangs so i was fairly happy with myself! ready to tackle the next 3 plugs and failed miserably as i couldnt remove the fittings from the spark plugs. i tried using wd40 to loosen it up, wiggling the lead groove from side to side, in rotations, and lots of force - But absolutely no joy at all.

i know that bredsticz said this can become stuck... but i didn't realise that they would become this stuck! have any of you guys got any tips on how to remove the ht leads from these remaining three plugs?

i was thinking about two options - but they'd almost certainly result in buying new leads and fitting them.

1) pliers and gripping and pulling them off... but probably will crimp the connection rendering the leads useless

2) stanley knife the whole lead off and just buy some new leads and fit them

i would prefer an option other than them two as i'm a tightarse (haha)- i know its only about £27ish but if it can be avoided then :)

thank you all for your help so far!
Tom
 
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