Trapper Posted January 29, 2012 Posted January 29, 2012 (edited) How hard is it to change spark plugs on a 53 plate 1.6 petrol Focus? I was half way home from a food run when the engine management light started flashing and the whole car started shaking at anything under 20mph. Not to mention it sounded like crap and smells of petrol. The ECU is telling me cylinder 3 is misfiring, so I assume it's the plugs. They haven't been swapped out in at least five years. The loss of power was so dramatic I thought the car had gone into limp home mode, until I discovered it doesn't have it! I can't remember the last time I prayed so much to a diety I don't believe in to get home, my breakdown cover expired and I haven't renewed yet! Edited January 29, 2012 by Trapper typo
synaesthesia Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 No more difficult than any other car as long as you've got the tools which in this case will be a long socket set and the relevant deep socket for the sparkplugs. Whilst you're at it open the distributor cap (other end of the leads) and give it a brush out.
steveg Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 No more difficult than any other car as long as you've got the tools which in this case will be a long socket set and the relevant deep socket for the sparkplugs. Whilst you're at it open the distributor cap (other end of the leads) and give it a brush out. I may be wrong, but don't pretty much all modern cars no longer have a distributor? Also whatever you do don't drive it with a missfire, as this can dump petrol down the exhaust which can destroy the cat, which isn't cheap! Steve
glen_j Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 i doubt its the plugs, they won't cause the engine management light to come on, going from experience i'd say its the coil pack (the device that replaced the distributor) these do fail from time to time
synaesthesia Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 I may be wrong, but don't pretty much all modern cars no longer have a distributor? Also whatever you do don't drive it with a missfire, as this can dump petrol down the exhaust which can destroy the cat, which isn't cheap! Steve Dammit, I'm getting old 53 plate though... not sure. *goes back to whispering sweet nothings to his 13 year old Honda.* *even worse, realises there are kids in this school younger than my car*
Chris_in_notts Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 i'd bet my last pound on that being the coil pack, if your lucky they will be individual for each cylinder and you want have to replace all 4 as they normally cost a bomb.
Chris-W- Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Dammit, I'm getting old 53 plate though... not sure. *goes back to whispering sweet nothings to his 13 year old Honda.* *even worse, realises there are kids in this school younger than my car* My 52 plate 1.6 Focus has got a coilpack, so I'd be amazed if a 53 plate didn't! Also, I had a similar problem in my old Fiesta, cause of problem: coilpack.
glennda Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Head gasket? Head gasket would cause the engine to eat water and oil - doesn't tend to cause mis-firing.
Jay_Jay Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 Agree with others, most likely cuplrit will be the coil pack
DJ-Jonesy Posted January 30, 2012 Posted January 30, 2012 IT could be the ingintion coils, this recently went on my other halfs seat ibiza. exactly the same issue. Some said it was correct that new cars no longer have dizzy caps they have been replaced by Ignition Coils. I replaced all 3 plus sparks in for £100 in under an hour soo pretty simple job.
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