156 spark plug change

"SteveH" <steve.RemoveThis@italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1hl22r7.u7qiqoocxj5fN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>R D S <rsandr.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Is it an easy job changing the plugs on a 156 (2002, 2.0TS)?
>>
>> I ask as I cant see them and if it likely to be hassle I will fire it off
>> to
>> the garage.
>>
>> Cheers,
>
> Easy, once you've removed the plastic engine cover.
>
> Just don't take off more than one plug lead at a time, or you'll never
> work out how it all goes back together.
>

Are they round the back? I couldnt see HT leads either.
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

R D S <rsandr RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:

> "SteveH" <steve RemoveThis @italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1hl22r7.u7qiqoocxj5fN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
> >R D S <rsandr RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> Is it an easy job changing the plugs on a 156 (2002, 2.0TS)?
> >>
> >> I ask as I cant see them and if it likely to be hassle I will fire it off
> >> to
> >> the garage.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >
> > Easy, once you've removed the plastic engine cover.
> >
> > Just don't take off more than one plug lead at a time, or you'll never
> > work out how it all goes back together.
> >
>
> Are they round the back? I couldnt see HT leads either.

Eh?

<thinks>

If you need to ask, you'd better take it to a responsible adult and ask
them to do it for you.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

"SteveH" <steve.RemoveThis@italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1hl23ls.jx8ge51jmbessN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>R D S <rsandr.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> "SteveH" <steve.RemoveThis@italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:1hl22r7.u7qiqoocxj5fN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>> >R D S <rsandr.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> Is it an easy job changing the plugs on a 156 (2002, 2.0TS)?
>> >>
>> >> I ask as I cant see them and if it likely to be hassle I will fire it
>> >> off
>> >> to
>> >> the garage.
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >
>> > Easy, once you've removed the plastic engine cover.
>> >
>> > Just don't take off more than one plug lead at a time, or you'll never
>> > work out how it all goes back together.
>> >
>>
>> Are they round the back? I couldnt see HT leads either.
>
> Eh?
>
> <thinks>
>
> If you need to ask, you'd better take it to a responsible adult and ask
> them to do it for you.

Chortle, I am capable of changing a spark plug, a quick look under the
bonnet in the pissing down rain and it wasn't obvious where they are.

I have been driving diesels for years, have things moved on from the plug
lead?

A few years ago I would happily spend half of my Sunday hunched over the
bonnet, but no more.

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

R D S <rsandr.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:

> >> Are they round the back? I couldnt see HT leads either.
> >
> > Eh?
> >
> > <thinks>
> >
> > If you need to ask, you'd better take it to a responsible adult and ask
> > them to do it for you.
>
> Chortle, I am capable of changing a spark plug, a quick look under the
> bonnet in the pissing down rain and it wasn't obvious where they are.
>
> I have been driving diesels for years, have things moved on from the plug
> lead?
>
> A few years ago I would happily spend half of my Sunday hunched over the
> bonnet, but no more.

They're under the bloody plastic engine cover.

Jesus, this is hard work.....
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

R D S <rsandr.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:

> > Whatever, I can't remember plug sizes on the 16v TSparks, but they're in
> > the same place - between the camshaft tunnels. Where they've always been
> > on twin-cam engines.
>
> Well you've saved me the bother of my next question, 'wheres the bloody
> camshaft then?'
> I hadn't realised there were two of them!
>
> Ill give it a do tomorrow, its misfiring like a bitch, the engine light is
> either lit or flashing depending on its mood, ever the optimist I am hoping
> it wants plugs!

That's not plugs. That's going to need the ECU fault codes reading to
find out the cause of the problems.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

R D S <rsandr.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:

> > Whatever, I can't remember plug sizes on the 16v TSparks, but they're in
> > the same place - between the camshaft tunnels. Where they've always been
> > on twin-cam engines.
>
> Oh, and plugs £10 each? WTF?

Long-life Platinum tipped, changed on 72k mile intervals.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

"SteveH" <steve DeleteThis @italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1hl24ea.cu1bx5d1u44dN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>R D S <rsandr DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > Whatever, I can't remember plug sizes on the 16v TSparks, but they're
>> > in
>> > the same place - between the camshaft tunnels. Where they've always
>> > been
>> > on twin-cam engines.
>>
>> Well you've saved me the bother of my next question, 'wheres the bloody
>> camshaft then?'
>> I hadn't realised there were two of them!
>>
>> Ill give it a do tomorrow, its misfiring like a bitch, the engine light
>> is
>> either lit or flashing depending on its mood, ever the optimist I am
>> hoping
>> it wants plugs!
>
> That's not plugs. That's going to need the ECU fault codes reading to
> find out the cause of the problems.

(replied to email in error)

Error codes are misfire cylinder 1,and camshaft position sensor, althogh the
CPS has been replaced.
I thought i'd do the plugs then take back to the garage if neccesary.
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

R D S <rsandr DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:

> > That's not plugs. That's going to need the ECU fault codes reading to
> > find out the cause of the problems.
>
> (replied to email in error)
>
> Error codes are misfire cylinder 1,and camshaft position sensor, althogh the
> CPS has been replaced.
> I thought i'd do the plugs then take back to the garage if neccesary.

Clear down the ECU before going any further.

Disconnect the +ve lead from the battery and hold it against the -ve
terminal for 20-30 seconds.

Re-connect +ve lead and see what happens. This should drain and re-set
all settings and codes from the ECU.

Once you've done that, the car will either be running OK, or will be
giving the current error codes on reading the ECU.

It doesn't sound like a plug fault to me, unless they're approaching the
change interval.

The new CPS could also be faulty / not correctly fitted.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

"SteveH" <steve.TakeThisOut@italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1hl24sv.r8n5n31pa27w7N%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>R D S <rsandr.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > That's not plugs. That's going to need the ECU fault codes reading to
>> > find out the cause of the problems.
>>
>> (replied to email in error)
>>
>> Error codes are misfire cylinder 1,and camshaft position sensor, althogh
>> the
>> CPS has been replaced.
>> I thought i'd do the plugs then take back to the garage if neccesary.
>
> Clear down the ECU before going any further.
>
> Disconnect the +ve lead from the battery and hold it against the -ve
> terminal for 20-30 seconds.
>
> Re-connect +ve lead and see what happens. This should drain and re-set
> all settings and codes from the ECU.
>
> Once you've done that, the car will either be running OK, or will be
> giving the current error codes on reading the ECU.
>
> It doesn't sound like a plug fault to me, unless they're approaching the
> change interval.
>
> The new CPS could also be faulty / not correctly fitted.

Would that cause the misfire, in the past it just reduced the rev limiter to
2500.

I will do as you say in the morning, with fingers crossed.
This will teach me to buy a car on Ebay.
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

R D S <rsandr.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:

> > It doesn't sound like a plug fault to me, unless they're approaching the
> > change interval.
> >
> > The new CPS could also be faulty / not correctly fitted.
>
> Would that cause the misfire, in the past it just reduced the rev limiter to
> 2500.

There's a whole multitude of things that could cause a misfire. A plug
is one of 'em, but with the TSpark system it shouldn't be that
noticeable unless both plugs have failed.

It could well be a coil pack failure. Although that would, ISTR, affect
more than one cylinder (can't remember if there's 2 or 4 coil packs on
the TSpark lumps). But it does sound more like a coil pack than a plug.

> I will do as you say in the morning, with fingers crossed.
> This will teach me to buy a car on Ebay.

Heh.

It's going to be something cheap to fix, once you've worked out what's
at fault.

What mileage is the car on? - has the cambelt been changed? - what else
was done on the cambelt service if it's been done? (I have the plugs and
belts done at the same time)
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

"SteveH" <steve.RemoveThis@italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1hl2550.1cekv06spkp3cN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>R D S <rsandr.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > It doesn't sound like a plug fault to me, unless they're approaching
>> > the
>> > change interval.
>> >
>> > The new CPS could also be faulty / not correctly fitted.
>>
>> Would that cause the misfire, in the past it just reduced the rev limiter
>> to
>> 2500.
>
> There's a whole multitude of things that could cause a misfire. A plug
> is one of 'em, but with the TSpark system it shouldn't be that
> noticeable unless both plugs have failed.
>
> It could well be a coil pack failure. Although that would, ISTR, affect
> more than one cylinder (can't remember if there's 2 or 4 coil packs on
> the TSpark lumps). But it does sound more like a coil pack than a plug.
>
>> I will do as you say in the morning, with fingers crossed.
>> This will teach me to buy a car on Ebay.
>
> Heh.
>
> It's going to be something cheap to fix, once you've worked out what's
> at fault.
>

Yeah, but Ive already funded a new piston, camshaft, CPS and various other
sensors, it is turning into a dear hobby.

Still love the car though.
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

R D S <rsandr.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:

> > It's going to be something cheap to fix, once you've worked out what's
> > at fault.
> >
>
> Yeah, but Ive already funded a new piston, camshaft, CPS and various other
> sensors, it is turning into a dear hobby.
>
> Still love the car though.

Ahh. In that case.... clear the ECU, hope it temporarily makes the
problem go away, and flog the car.

Failing that, if it's still playing up, take it to auction. Seriously,
they're complex things, these TSpark lumps, and it sounds like you've
got a complete dog there, I'm afraid.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change 

"SteveH" <steve.RemoveThis@italiancar.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1hl25hg.1php2c01hycf84N%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>R D S <rsandr.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > It's going to be something cheap to fix, once you've worked out what's
>> > at fault.
>> >
>>
>> Yeah, but Ive already funded a new piston, camshaft, CPS and various
>> other
>> sensors, it is turning into a dear hobby.
>>
>> Still love the car though.
>
> Ahh. In that case.... clear the ECU, hope it temporarily makes the
> problem go away, and flog the car.
>
> Failing that, if it's still playing up, take it to auction. Seriously,
> they're complex things, these TSpark lumps, and it sounds like you've
> got a complete dog there, I'm afraid.

Knew I should have got a diesel!
 >> Stay informed about: 156 spark plug change