2. Spark plugs must be replaced at the intervals specified in section "Routine Maintenance" at the beginning of this Guide.
3. To remove the spark plugs, open the hood and pull the ignition wires off the spark plugs. You should grab it by the rubber cap, not by the wire. Remove the heat shields from the spark plugs, which may have 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 candles.
4. Use a brush to clean dirt from the recesses of the spark plug holes of the cylinder head, because it can get into the combustion chambers when removing the spark plugs.
Pic. 4.4. Connecting the ignition wires to the distributor cover: A. Distributor with mechanical contact breaker; B. AC Delco contactless distributor; C. Bosch contactless distributor.
5. Remove the spark plugs using a spark plug wrench. Be careful not to tilt the key as you may damage the spark plug's ceramic insulator.
6. A careful inspection of the spark plugs can tell a lot about the condition of the engine.
7. If the heat cone of the plug is clean and white, without a dark coating, then this is a sign of the mixture being too lean or the plug being too hot (a hot candle slowly transfers heat from the electrode, a cold candle transfers heat quickly).
8. If the heat cone is coated with a light brown to gray-brown coating, the mixture is correct and the engine is likely in good condition.
9. The size of the spark gap is of great importance. If it is too large or too small, the performance of the spark plug will be greatly reduced. For the correct spark gap, see Specifications at the beginning of this chapter.
10. The gap size is adjusted by bending the side electrode. Do not try to bend the central electrode under any circumstances, as... this may damage the insulator.
11. Special tools are available for sale to regulate the spark gap of spark plugs.
12. After inspecting the spark plugs, screw them 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's better for the spark plugs to be undertightened than to be overtightened).
14. When connecting the ignition wires, check that they are connected in the correct order (1-3-4-2). Cylinder No. 1 is located 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, you should remove each wire one by one and clean its ends from white deposits formed as a result of corrosion.
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