Spark plugs and high tension wires — common part (Opel Ascona C)

1. Proper spark plug operation is critical to efficient engine operation. It is necessary to use only spark plugs approved for your engine (see Specifications). Then, provided the engine is in good condition, you do not need to deal with the spark plugs more often than their current maintenance requires. Cleaning spark plugs is rarely required, and it is better not to resort to it if you do not have special equipment, since you can easily damage the spark plug electrodes.

2. Spark plugs must be replaced at intervals specified in the section "Routine maintenance" at the beginning of this Guide.

3. To remove the spark plugs, open the hood and pull the spark plug wires off the spark plugs. You should grab the rubber cap, not the wire. Remove the heat shields from the spark plugs, which may be a very tight fit (to remove them you will need pliers or a screwdriver, which is used as a lever). Be very careful not to damage the spark plugs.

4. Use a brush to remove dirt from the recesses of the spark plug holes in the cylinder head, as it may get into the combustion chambers when removing the spark plugs.





5. Remove the spark plugs using a spark plug wrench. Be careful not to tilt the key, as this may damage the ceramic spark plug insulator.

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6. A thorough inspection of the spark plugs can tell a lot about the condition of the engine.

7. If the spark plug's heat cone is clean and white, without any dark coating, this is a sign of a too lean mixture or a spark plug that is too hot (a hot spark plug slowly transfers heat from the electrode, a cold spark plug quickly).

8. If the heat cone is covered with a light brown to gray-brown coating, this means that the mixture has the correct composition and the engine is most likely in good condition.

9. The size of the spark gap is of great importance. If it is too big or too small, the spark plug's performance will be greatly reduced. For correct spark gap value see. v Specifications at the beginning of this chapter.

10. The gap size is adjusted by bending the side electrode. Do not attempt to bend the central electrode under any circumstances, as this may damage the insulator.

11. There are special tools available for adjusting the spark plug gap.

12. After inspecting the spark plugs, screw them back into place by hand so as not to damage the threads.

13. Tighten the spark plugs to the required torque. If you don't have a torque wrench, just tighten them (it is better to have the spark plugs under-tightened than over-tightened).

14. When connecting the ignition wires, make sure that they are connected in the correct order (1-3-4-2). Cylinder No. 1 is on the camshaft belt side.

15. Ignition wires do not require routine maintenance. It is enough to keep them clean and wipe them regularly. Every 10,000 km, each wire should be removed one by one and its ends cleaned of the white coating formed as a result of corrosion.