anyone know anything about spark plugs?

[someonesgirl]

I believe i need to change my spark plugs as the engine seems to be not firing properly when i try accelerating.....I have a fiat punto....does anyone know how i do this and if its easy?

[fairy-dust]

http://www.ehow.com/how_110_replace-spark-plug s.html

Hiya, I found this website which is really helpful with car related matters and explains things simply.

[someonesgirl]

ohhh...cool thanx

[Cockney_si]

This could be a problem located elsewhere like a worn distributor cap or failing HT leads or there may be a problem with a vacuum hose from the distributor cap if they are still used on dizzy caps now....Or it could well be a spark plug is causing the problem.

Best to take the car to a garage to get it looked at to be on the safe side.

[someonesgirl]

im bored of taking it to garages.....theres something wrong with it every month!! the power steering is broke as well! someone said that may be �600 to fix! and i have no money at all and am leaving work for maternity leave in 3 days so my pay will barely cover my mortgage! I know they are cheap to buy so i was planning on changing or cleaning them and hoping this solves the problem! I know its a gamble, but its the cheapest option right now! Also, if i take it to a garage, i have to stand around in a smelly garage being 9 months pregnant and having people stare at me!

[bill preston]

as cockney_si has said .. it coulb be a mulitple of things so i would take it into a garage? it may save you time and money in the long run!

[someonesgirl]

maybe i will take somebody with me for moral support!

[bill preston]

do you not have a mobile mechanic in your area? they would come to you and you could be comfy in your own home.

[fairy-dust]

wat year and size is ur car?

[someonesgirl]

a mobile mechanic?? do they exist? i have never heard of that.....i hope so! Do they charge to have a look? Its a fiat Punto 2001 5door

[bill preston]

what area do you live in?

[Toureman]

You are going down the wrong route to solve your problem.

It is no use thinking it might be that, you buy parts fit them and you still have the problem, it could cost less to take it to a garage, they will find the problem and fix it.

It could be one part that is faulty, don't keep replacing parts that are not faulty, spark plugs can last for years and rarely cause the symptoms you describe.

Don't believe all the answers you get, ie, your car will not have a distributor.

[someonesgirl]

i live in cardiff.

I suppose youre right toureman but, being a lady, i often find that garages tend to try and rip you off rather than solve your problems, hence i bought a car for �2000 that ive only had for less than 6 mths and already ive spent �130 on brake pads and discs, power steering has broken, theres a hole in the passenger side floor which they sealed carpet over so you cant tell its there until it rains lots and the carpet gets sodden, the headlight went on a side where theres a fuse box in the way so it was a nightmare to change, and now this with the engine jerking.......i literally have no money left from my savings (which were for the baby) as ive had to renew breakdown cover and pay other bills so the thought of another bill makes me want to cry to be honest!!

[bill preston]

i just googled this one?

there are plenty more.

[someonesgirl]

ohhhhh....cool thanks for that

[slave-plater]

in theory changing spark plugs , is not a major task, but the metal threads on the engine, can be "cross threaded" , on reving/replacing spark plugs, not something you want to happen... also the spaerk plugs may need to be gapped, see a fiat punto manual , or any manual to seee . whatr this means ........ and you will need a good quality spark plug spanner socket , and extenssion , bar as a tool , the spark plug spannes they sometines include in the tool kit with the car , are inadequate.... lost of things to consider ...

[derekpara]

Why not try a mobile engine tuner. He (she?) will come to your home or work and analyse your engine electronically, using a Crypton seup. This will diagnose exactly where the fault lies. He (she) will the tune the engine for maximum efficiency. I have used the for years - especially with older cars and it's well worth the money. Cost ? about �30-�40.

Try Yellow Pages for mobile engine tuners.

[david1702198]

this car doesnt have a distributor its electronically controlled from the ecu via 2 coil packs, one postive and one negative which have been known to fail on the mark 2 punto but beware these cars are notorius for ecu trouble which results in the ecu needing either rapaired or renewed. if it is the plugs its not too difficult they are under the air filter at the back of the rocker cover . little fiddly though. air filter needs to come off.

[david1702198]

oh and by the way if its one of the coil packs that need replacing you will have to clear the trouble codes from the ecu before you start the car

[someonesgirl]

oh god. i will just take it too a bloody garage then! i hope its not the ecu, as im sure thats the same fault i had with my last car (corsa). they said that it was the computer in the engine or something and that it would need to be replaced which would cost around �250+. with the �600 for the power steering i might aswell have bought myself another car! im so sick of cars breaking on me. how do other people manage to have cars that work all the time? I only bought the stupid thing cos i thought it would be a nice family car, and it came with an mot (so i wouldnt have to pay for anything on it until i was back in work!), and cos i had no choice cos my other car got nicked by kids and written off. And now ive blown my savings for my baby on a Sh1t heap that is ending up costing me more money!!! Im so angry today.....

[jimmy654]

http://www.10w40.com/individual/100091.asp