Fiat Punto 1.8v spark plugs

galwaydude18

Guys just wondering where are the spark plugs on a 02 1.8v Fiat Punto Located? Are they just to the right hand side of the Air Filter? There is a row of four leads there? Just want to be sure before I change them and pull off the leads..

itarumaa

Just follow the leads and take one lead at time out, do not take them all, because if you forgot what way they needs to be connected back you might be in trouble.

Actually I find this question a bit scary, I hope that you know what you are doing:)

alias no.9

itarumaa wrote: »

Actually I find this question a bit scary, I hope that you know what you are doing:)

I find it very scary too. The plugs are threaded into the cylinder head, just like any other car. Is this your first time doing something like this? If so, ask somebody who knows what they're doing to help you.

galwaydude18

I have read all the online instructions on how to do this. I just wanted to be extra sure I was pulling off the correct leads.. So am I correct that in that is the right leads I will be pulling off?

alias no.9

Are the leads equally spaced across the cylinder head, a few inches apart? Maybe if you take a pic and post it here, people could answer you with more confidence.

galwaydude18

Here are the pictures.. I now see that I need to remove the air filter that is in the picture to get at the spark plugs but there appears to be a wire going through a hole in it..?? What do I do with this wire?

alias no.9

OK, just as I suspected, you've got the wrong end of the leads. That whole air filter box is going to have to come off the top of the engine to get access to the spark plugs.
I'm not sure what wire you're talking about. You really should get a friend who knows what they are doing to be there to give you a hand.

galwaydude18

here is the cable that I am on about.. Do you know what this cable is? Can i remove this cable and reinsert it without causing any damage?

kadman

Where is the other end of the cable going, its a heavy looking cable, might be the accelerator cable. Pics of each end are needed. On the earlier puntos the airbox is only held onto the throttle body with 2 nuts, and the accelerator cable is not removed.

kadman

colm_mcm

No offence, but it appears you haven't a clue what you're at. it only takes you cross-threading one of the plugs to turn this DIY job into a major headache. please ask someone who has done this before to help you.

galwaydude18

Ino what cross threading is thank you very much! Ino to only remove one plug at a time and one cable lead at a time.. I'm just looking for advice on this cable and what it is...

colm_mcm

that cable may be the throttle cable.

galwaydude18

Ok well if its the throttle cable how do I take the air filter housing off then? There are two bolts holding the unit in place but this cable is preventing me from taking the entire unit off to access the spark plugs. I'l try get more pics up in the morning for you

colm_mcm

I replaced the plugs on the 16 valve version of that engine and don't remember it being overly complicated. take the top of the air filter housing off first and see where you are then. i'd imagine you can just unhook that cable.

cjt156

colm_mcm wrote: »

No offence, but it appears you haven't a clue what you're at. it only takes you cross-threading one of the plugs to turn this DIY job into a major headache. please ask someone who has done this before to help you.

+1

Awaits "Anyone have a trailer to tow a scrapped '02 Punto" thread.

Seriously; every post just reiterates how far out of your depth you are. Get someone mechanically minded to help you through this.

alias no.9

The cable is unlikely to be fixed in a way that you can't take the air filter box off. Before you start, do you have the right tools? Torque Wrench, Spark Plug Socket, etc... Do you know the correct torque settings for refitting the spark plugs? Do you know anyone at all that has some notion of what they are doing who could be there to make sure everything goes to plan? It'll only take a half an hour but could save you hours of heartache and lots of money. You must surely know at least one person who would be prepared to give you a hand in return for a pint or two.

galwaydude18

Ya I have all the correct tools for the job.. I acutally have to buy an extension bar to do the job.. I have a deep socket for the sparkplugs.. I got the air filter box off today no problem. The wire actually isnt fixed to the box.. There is a rubbber grommet around the wire and all you have to do is pull it out, loosen two bolts. release a spring at the front of the box and it comes off no problem.. I saw the plugs.. Followed the end of the wires and they they were spaced a few inches apart.. I put all back together again and there was no proble with the.. Will buy and extension bar for the socket tomorrow and change the spark plugs then..

x in the city

Make sure you put on the HT leads in the correct order, else the firing order will be all wrong.

galwaydude18

Dont worry I will only be taking the HT lead off one spark plug replacing the spark plug and then put the lead bak on and doing that for rest of them as well..

colm_mcm

It's impossible to get the leads wrong, they're all different lengths. unless you unplug the leads from the coil pack.


Out of interest, is there a particular reason for changing the plugs?

galwaydude18

No reason apart from the guy who I bought the car off didnt have a FSH. He bought it second hand and he never serviced it. I got the brakes done before christmas.. Going to do the oil as well as the spark plugs while I am at it. Will get the water pump and timing belt done in the next week or two also as the guy I bought the car off didn't know if it was ever done and there is over 85000miles on it now so want to get it done for peace of mind.. There are no tip ex markings anywhere saying it was done at a certain milage..

klaus23

The plugs are sitting in the top of the block, you need to take the air filter box off (the big black thing that says FIAT), then remove one plug/HT lead at a time, remove and replace the plug. You should have a torque wrench and a Haynes manual to tell you the required torque to turn the plugs to.

Make sure the engine is completely cold when you're doing this or you'll damage the leads and probably the threads/plugs also. When removing the plug/HT leads grip them as far down as you can, don't pull at the wire.

Finally, if you're having trouble and would like a hand free of charge I could help you sometime next week, I'm in Galway as well.

Don't mind these armchair experts flaming you, that's the nature of this forum and the Almera drivers that inhabit it.

klaus23

galwaydude18 wrote: »

Will get the water pump and timing belt done in the next week or two also as the guy I bought the car off didn't know if it was ever done and there is over 85000miles on it now so want to get it done for peace of mind.. There are no tip ex markings anywhere saying it was done at a certain milage..

You don't necessarily have to bother with the timing belt, it's a non-interference engine. This means that if the belt goes, the pistons won't slap into the camshaft and cause damage. If you want to have it done for piece of mind fire away, but if you're not keeping the car for long you could chance it and keep the price of recovery and throwing a new belt on to one side.

Has it ever had head gasket failure? They tend to do them somewhere between 60k-80k and if it's ever had the head off, it will have got a new cambelt as well.

galwaydude18

Ya its had head gasket failure.. I dont no the extent to which the repair work was done but I was told it cost 500euro to fix. I just changed the spark plugs today and also the oil.

Just one question I put in almost three litres of oil into the engine.. I filled the oil filter up as well before I put the new one on and dipped my finger in the oil and put a fine layer around the filter before putting it on.. When I turn the engine for a minute or two and then turn the car off and pull the dipstick out there is oil in between the min and max and a bit above but when I clean the dipstick and reinsert it and check it again there doesn't appear to be oil on it even when I wipe it ??? Did I not put enough oil in? The hand book says 2.5litres and about .3 of a liter in the filter??? Am I wrong?

Thanks for you offer klaus23

colm_mcm

leave the engine off for a few minutes before you dip it for oil, it takes a while for the oil to drain from the engine back into the sump.

galwaydude18

ok then thanks. I will try it again in the morning and let you know...

galwaydude18

well checked it this morning and there was no oil on the dipstick?? Why would that be?

T-Maxx

No wonder you can't find the spark plugs - if it says 1.8v then it runs of a battery...:pac:

colm_mcm

T-Maxx wrote: »

No wonder you can't find the spark plugs - if it says 1.8v then it runs of a battery...:pac:

LOL

(we all secretly know it's a 1.2 8 valve)

I'm guessing you didn't put enough oil in. keep topping up in small amounts.

galwaydude18

My mistake t-maxx... lol... Ok but fi put too much oil into the engine and more than it says in the handbook then that would be bad for the engine??!!!

rufio306

as said just keep topping up in small amounts, and leave it to settle for a few minutes after each top up, you should be able to see it on the dipstick though if you have 3 and a half litres in there, is the car parked on a level surface?

colm_mcm

galwaydude18 wrote: »

Ok but fi put too much oil into the engine and more than it says in the handbook then that would be bad for the engine??!!!

So is not puitting enough in!

If you have too much in, just let some out by turning the sump plug,

galwaydude18

Ok well I put im more oil by small amounts yesterday and got the oil on the dip stick... Thanks to everyone for yer help... At least I will be 110% sure the next time i need to do them jobs on the car..

Stevie Dakota

Well done!

cjt156

Nicely done; sorry if I seemed harsh earlier. Most of us start out clueless and curious armed with a crappy Chrome-Vanadium spanner set and hopefully do more good than harm. A Haynes manual for your model (if it exists) is a real asset.

galwaydude18

Thats ok cjt156.... I'm glad that I now know how to change spark plugs... I have changed the oil in a van before so knew how to do that already.. The next thing I would like to learn how to do is change the brake pads.. Mind you they dont need to be done for a while yet as I only got new brake pads and discs installed the day after I bought the car..

klaus23

galwaydude18 wrote: »

Thats ok cjt156.... I'm glad that I now know how to change spark plugs... I have changed the oil in a van before so knew how to do that already.. The next thing I would like to learn how to do is change the brake pads.. Mind you they dont need to be done for a while yet as I only got new brake pads and discs installed the day after I bought the car..

They're pretty straightforward, wheel off, calliper off with two screws on the back and possibly a pin. Cabletie or secure your calliper so it doesn't fall or dangle and damage your brake hose.

I can't remember if with these you have to remove the hub bolt to get the disc off or just undo a screw to remove the disc. Once you've got the disc off and the pads out of the calliper give everything a scrub with a wirebrush (wear a mask) and then push the piston in the calliper back so you can get the pads in, and then refit disc, then the calliper, then the wheel.

A Haynes manual will talk you through the steps and will also provide the torque settings for all your bolts.

It might seem daunting at first but do it once and you'll be able for it on almost any car.

If the discs were changed when you got the car you'll get away with just doing the pads this time. Get some nice uprated ones while you're at it.