How do I check that my spark plugs are working? How do I see if they spark. Ultra-noob questions, but please help.

 

pull one of the plug wires and stick a screwdriver up in it then stick the metal shaft of the screwdriver nice and close to a shock tower bolt and have a friend crank the car over. If you've got spark then the shaft of the screwdriver will arc over to the shock tower bolt.

please don't grab the shaft when you do this or you'll get a nasty *** shock. just jam the screwdriver up in the boot and hold the boot at the top while doing this.

 

or you could just get a known good spark plug, pull off a plug wire, insert the known good plug, and hold it next to....let's say a bolt on the radiator support.

crank it and look for spark. same risk as previous.......ZAP.

 

bah! screwdriver method is better and more fun if you ask me

 

Whats a shock tower bolt? =P

 

If i go with b16's method, I should be safe by just holding onto the rubber part of the plug wires, correct?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PUSHER &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Whats a shock tower bolt? =P</TD></TR></TABLE>

***

strut tower, strut tower...eesh...I gotta quit thinking in terms of my old mustangs haha

and yes, both our methods are safe as long as you don't touch anything metal while you are doing it. the screwdriver method gives a MUCH better and easier to see spark though...

 

actually, the eg and ek civics do have SHOCK tower bolts, not strut. struts turn with the steering wheel. the double wishbone suspension uses shocks and they don't rotate with the steering. the 2001+ civic has mcpherson(sp?) struts instead of the double wishbone suspension (a step backwards as far as handling goes).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PUSHER &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If i go with b16's method, I should be safe by just holding onto the rubber part of the plug wires, correct?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B16b2b &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yes.</TD></TR></TABLE>

you've just managed to kill a man...I hope you're happy...

 

nah, im still alive... but have other problems now.... When I took off my injectors to see if they were working I didnt replace the necessary parts. So now I have a nice leak on my 4th injector. I'm now trying to take the fuel injector and rail off and was wondering how im supposed to get the plugs off of the injector? I see some metal piece/clip thing around it but dont know if I should take that off. Thanks.

 

I know to get the injectors out of a D16y7 you have to pull the fuel rail.

 

yes, you should take the metal clip off...that's what holds the tab to the injector.

be careful when you do it so that you don't break it or the clip...

 

YAY, one of my o'rings on one of my injectors is missing a good chunk. That would explain the awsome leak i'm having. Honda dealership, here I come... tommorrow.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stackz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

you've just managed to kill a man...I hope you're happy...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

i'm still living.......