J Job 22. Check/clean/gap spark plugs. Q Job 23. Change spark plugs.
GENERAL. On all Tipo and Tempra petrol engines the spark
plugs
face forwards, allowing easy working access.
Carefully remove the
spark plug caps, being
careful to pull only on
the cap and
not the HT
lead. If you can't be
sure
to remember which
HT lead
belongs to
which spark plug,
number them from one
end
of the engine to the
other.
22B. If the electrodes of the
plugs look rounded and worn,
replace
the plugs. See page
154
for details of 'Reading
Your Spark Plugs. Nip' the
cap
tight with pliers, so that it
can't come loose.
Spark plugs 'tire' and lose efficiency over a period of time,
even if they look okay. See Job 22 for information on their
removal and replacement. Use good quality Champion or FIAT
plugs of the correct specification.
• Job 24. Check/dean HT leads and distributor
cap.
See SAFETY FIRST! at the start of this section and
Chapter 1, Safety First!
IMPORTANT NOTE: On latest models, there is no conven-
tional distributor and, for those cars, none of the
following should be attempted. Illustration to Job 28C
illustrates the type which should NOT be worked on
except for wiping off the outer surface, with the engine
not running.
Remove each plug lead from the spark plugs, pulling only on
the plug caps, not on the HT cables. Also, remove the large HT
lead from the coil and take off the distributor cap, either by
popping off its spring retainers if the distributor is on the side
of the engine (front of engine bay
-
see illustration 25A) or by
undoing the two retaining screws.
24A. On later
cars (Digiplex
ignition -
distributor
mounted
horizontally on
end of cylinder
head) unclip and
remove the
22A. Unscrew the plug
using
the correct type of
spark plug socket. Take
care
to keep the
spanner strictly in line
with the plug so as not to
crack the electrode.
22C.
it
is
essential
that the
plug is
gapped
correctly.
See Chapter 3,
Facts
and Figures.
Use a
feeler blade
of the
correct
thickness, sliding it
between
the
electrodes. It should
be a firm
sliding fit.
Use a
gapping tool
or
carefully wielded pliers to bend the curved electrode
towards
or away from the centre electrode. Take GREAT CARE
not to
damage the insulator near the tip of the plug.
H INSIDE INFORMATION: The spark plugs screw into
aluminium, which is easily damaged if the spark plugs do
not
engage their threads properly. Screw in the plugs by
hand initially
-
by, say, two or three turns
-
before using
the plug spanner. A light smear of copper grease on the
plug
threads will enable them to turn more freely and
also
make them easier to remove next time. Finally,
don't over-tighten the plugs
-
firm hand-pressure on the
spanner is sufficient. D
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT
spray water dispellant or
apply lubricant to any part
of an electronic ignition
distributor. (It's okay to
clean the cap, as described,
however.)
shroud. Clean the
cap and cables of
either type with a clean rag, applying a little aerosol water-
dispellant spray to help shift oil and grime.
24B. Check each of the HT posts (a) inside the cap for burning
or damage, and the central carbon brush (b) to ensure that it's
not worn down and that the
spring loading is okay. Clean
the dust cover (c) and rotor
arm, and check the tip (d) for
burning.
