Inspection of spark plugs (Honda Accord 3)

Check the spark plugs for deposits and wear. If you are not going to replace them, you need to clean the spark plugs thoroughly. This can be done with either very fine sandpaper or a small flat file. Do not use a wire brush. Remember that any dirt (and a brush leaves traces of metal) will reduce the effectiveness of the spark plug. The spark plugs can be cleaned on a special spark plug cleaning machine, which can sometimes be found at service stations. If the spark plugs are cleaned, the electrodes must be given a flat shape (with a file). Use a special file, not an emery block or something similar, since emery leaves dirt (dust, deposits). The electrodes must be processed completely flat with sharp edges; rounded edges can reduce spark plug voltage by up to 50%.



Check the spark plug gap before installing it. The ground electrode (the one with the L-shape and connected to the body of the plug) should be parallel to the center electrode and a wire gauge of the specified size should fit into the gap with little resistance. The correct gap for all Accords and Preludes covered in this book is 1.0-1.1 mm.

NEVER (!) adjust the gap on a spark plug with platinum tips.

Always check the gap even on new spark plugs; each specific spark plug may require a different gap for use in different engines. Do not use a flat gauge when measuring the gap, as the measurement will be inaccurate. A wire-type tool kit for working with the spark plug gap usually includes a bending tool. Use this to adjust the side electrode to get the desired distance. Do not bend the center electrode under any circumstances. Also, some care is required not to bend the side electrode too much or too often; it can break (become weak) and come off completely inside the engine, requiring the cylinder head to be removed to remove it.

(The text can be found on the website «www.hondabook.ru»)