[bearded_ed]

Hiya,

Does anyone know the torque required for the 1.4 Multiair spark plugs please?

 

[Marek K]

Yes. My 2020 USB Service Manual actually has information on the 1.4T.

It's 33 ft-lb. Er, 45 Nm. (* edit* No, it's not. See Posts #9 and #10 below.)

To tell you the truth, with 40 years of changing my own spark plugs, I've always just done it by feel. Tighten until they're ratchet-tight, then tighten a bit more.

 

[bearded_ed]

Yes. My 2020 USB Service Manual actually has information on the 1.4T.

It's 33 ft-lb. Er, 45 Nm.


To tell you the truth, with 40 years of changing my own spark plugs, I've always just done it by feel. Tighten until they're ratchet-tight, then tighten a bit more.

Excellent, thank you for this! Which manual is that out of interest?

 

[Marek K]

Excellent, thank you for this! Which manual is that out of interest?

You're welcome.

It's from Mopar Tech Authority:

Buy Mopar Approved Service Information (techauthority.com)

Not real cheap, but not unreasonable. I believe they'll ship overseas.

It's on a USB drive:

And so well copy-protected that it totally disables all computer copy features when it's plugged in. I can't download anything; I can't even cut-and-past or do Print Screen. I can only take literal photos of computer screen with my cell phone camera, and post them like I did above...

I've got a 2021 Trailhawk, but the latest Service Manual available is for 2020. It's worked so far.

 

[bearded_ed]

You're welcome.

It's from Mopar Tech Authority:

Ahh yes I did see the thread about this! Does look like it does the job, and frankly I'm impressed they make it available at all. If I end up with any bigger jobs, I will probably look to purchase.

 

[Marek K]

Does look like it does the job

Two downsides, beside the copy protection... First, I really dislike software-based repair manuals. I'd much prefer having a hard-copy manual that I can open up in the garage and refer to with clear drawings.

Second, there aren't any electrical diagrams -- unlike the Bentley Manuals for our VW Mk5's.

 

[m4ca]

I agree with @Marek K "torque" for the spark plugs. For decades it was always "about that much". Enough to keep it from backing/blowing out but not enough to break or strip anything. I also agree with the pain in the backside the usb manual is. I have to open a different browser (firefox) to surf while having the manual open in chrome. The other day when looking at something in the manual there was a link for a special tool. However, you couldn't open the link nor copy it. I guess I won't buy their special tool.

There are some wiring manuals on USB. For 2017 there is only the service manual. Search for 2018 yields a wiring diagram but no service manual. For 2019 you can see both.

 

[darthcuda01]

Two downsides, beside the copy protection... First, I really dislike software-based repair manuals. I'd much prefer having a hard-copy manual that I can open up in the garage and refer to with clear drawings.

Second, there aren't any electrical diagrams -- unlike the Bentley Manuals for our VW Mk5's.

I agree having a print out is much better when doing big jobs I'd rather have dirt and oil on a piece of paper I can toss (or recycle) rather than my phone or tablet which can become dirty/damaged.

 

[georgef]

Yes. My 2020 USB Service Manual actually has information on the 1.4T.

It's 33 ft-lb. Er, 45 Nm.
View attachment 2396356079

To tell you the truth, with 40 years of changing my own spark plugs, I've always just done it by feel. Tighten until they're ratchet-tight, then tighten a bit more.

That torque spec if for the spark plug TUBE, not the spark plug, 33 ft-lb sounds high for spark plugs.

 

[Marek K]

That torque spec if for the spark plug TUBE, not the spark plug, 33 ft-lb sounds high for spark plugs.

Oh, you're right. I didn't see "Tube."

Hmmm... I don't see spark plug torque anywhere in the USB Service Manual under the 1.4T engine.

For what it's worth, I did find it for my 1.3T engine -- 13 ft-lb or 18 Nm:

(That's interestingly quite a bit less than for our 2009 Mk5 VWs -- there it's 18 ft-lb or 25 Nm...)

Not sure if I'm gong to stick with my method of "tighten it until it feels right"...

 

[bearded_ed]

@georgef @Marek K

Well spotted on the tube bit George! I hadn't notied that at all.

Pleased to report I didn't snap the plugs in half though.... Cos they're in at 42NM!

Speaking of spark plug tubes. I'm certain 2 are leaking slightly. I had lightly wet threads on two of the plugs which actually did corelate with misfire codes that I had. None of the plugs looked in great condition tbh and were well overdue a chage.
I can't find the damn tubes anywhere in the UK, will shortly call a couple of local dealers and see if they can get them for me.

 

[Marek K]

@georgef @Marek K

Well spotted on the tube bit George! I hadn't notied that at all.

Pleased to report I didn't snap the plugs in half though.... Cos they're in at 42NM!

Speaking of spark plug tubes.

I hope you're saying they were in there at 42 Nm... So a gorilla obviously out them in "until they felt right"...

And what the hell is a spark plug tube? As far as I know, spark plugs always thread into the cylinder head...

 

[bearded_ed]

I hope you're saying they were in there at 42 Nm... So a gorilla obviously out them in "until they felt right"...

And what the hell is a spark plug tube? As far as I know, spark plugs always thread into the cylinder head...

Well.... They're definitely in there 🙈

Yeah so, where you actually put the spark plug down into the head, is inside a metal tube. Which itself is threaded into the head.

So if you were to take the valve cover off, you'd see the tubes. Trouble is there's a special tool that I can't figure out, looks like it just sits in the top of the tubes and somehow pulls them out.

Tubes are marked in blue, plugs are inside those. If the threads of the plugs are wet. But not the top (under the ignition coil), then it's gotta be the tube leaking.

 

[Marek K]

where you actually put the spark plug down into the head, is inside a metal tube. Which itself is threaded into the head.

Is that common on other engines? Or just your 1.4T?

And is there any risk of unscrewing the spark plug tube, when you're just intending on removing the spark plug?

 

[bearded_ed]

Is that common on other engines? Or just your 1.4T?

And is there any risk of unscrewing the spark plug tube, when you're just intending on removing the spark plug?

Well my own car, a BMW E82 125i with the N52 engine has got tubes too. But they're kinda just push fit. The annoying thing with this engine is that they're threaded. And well, there's not actually anything to grab on to!
For clarity this is my girlfriends car and we've had it for about a year and a half now.

Don't worry, there's absolutely no way you could accidentally take the tube out!

 

[Marek K]

So did you ever figure out the spark plug torque on your 1.4T?

Feeling guilty, I looked through my 2020 USB Service Manual again. In the 1.4T section, there's a link supposedly to spark plug torque; but that mistakenly links to specs for the 1.0T engine (so 0.999 liter displacement, and three cylinders!!). And there's no spark plug torque listed there.

Regarding spark plug tubes, it looks like they're a feature of your 1.4T; not generally of Renegade engines. Here's removal of the spark plugs on your 1.4T -- I think you can see the tops of the tubes, with the spark plugs themselves well down inside them:

And here's your cylinder head, with the head cover removed -- those seem to be the tubes at my red arrows:

In contrast, here's the cylinder head on the 1.3T like mine -- looks like the collars that the spark plugs go down into are integral to the head itself:

 

[bearded_ed]

So did you ever figure out the spark plug torque on your 1.4T?
In contrast, here's the cylinder head on the 1.3T like mine -- looks like the collars that the spark plugs go down into are integral to the head itself:
View attachment 2396356156

Never did figure out what it is supposed to be nope! My BMW is also 25nm like that Golf you mentioned before. So I've probably done them up rather tight aha.

Yeah it does look like your 1.3T is just part of the block! Which in my opinion is a much better design as one less point of failure. Been quoted £26 per tube, so £104 for the set and no idea how I am going to get them in or out as I don't have the tool!!

 

[Marek K]

Been quoted £26 per tube, so £104 for the set and no idea how I am going to get them in or out as I don't have the tool!!

So what happened that you have to replace the tubes?

Do you have the procedure? From what I can tell, the tubes (referred to in the Service Manual as "ignition coil sleeves") are removed after removing the valve cover -- which you may note is 28 steps into the procedure:

Note that the Manual says to use "a suitable tool." That tells me that there isn't a specific Mopar tool to do that; I have no idea what "suitable" is -- the 1a tool kind of looks like it's an extension of some sort with a hex top... Do you just have to grip the "ignition coil sleeves" to turn them...?

 

[bearded_ed]

So what happened that you have to replace the tubes?

Do you have the procedure? From what I can tell, the tubes (referred to in the Service Manual as "ignition coil sleeves") are removed after removing the valve cover -- which you may note is 28 steps into the procedure:

Note that the Manual says to use "a suitable tool." That tells me that there isn't a specific Mopar tool to do that; I have no idea what "suitable" is -- the 1a tool kind of looks like it's an extension of some sort with a hex top... Do you just have to grip the "ignition coil sleeves" to turn them...?

Yeah there's a lotta bits and bobs to get out the way but nothing too concerning. It's basically a simple valve cover job to be honest, much easier and better access than on my own car!

As for the "Suitable tool" it's officially this I think. But can't find it in the UK or even Europe to buy. And frankly for $100 I don't want to buy it!!

Mopar Tools 10280A Spark Plug Tube Remover/Installer - Tillman Tools

Best Deals on Mopar Tools 10280A Spark Plug Tube Remover/Installer at Tillman Tools - mechanic supplies, tools and body shop parts

www.tillmantools.com

 

[Marek K]

As for the "Suitable tool" it's officially this I think. But can't find it in the UK or even Europe to buy.

Could be. Though when Service Manuals say to use a specific tool, they're usually happy to specify what the (often proprietary and expensive) tool it is; even when generic tools or substitutes would work. Like here on my 1.3T; the intake hose is secured with a common Clic-type clamp; they specify a pair of Mopar 10288 hose clamp pliers, which go for almost $70; when a generic $10 pair of Clic pliers would do just as well:

For the spark plug tubes, the Service Manual just says to use "a suitable tool," without even specifying what it's supposed to do. That tells me that many tools other than the 10280A would work...

I'm looking at the image of the 10280A:

It doesn't really look like the tool in the image in Post #18. That one looks hollow, while 10280A looks solid. Though they both have the hex top for a socket. And what's that wider part supposed to do inside the tube?

Or have you figured it out already?

And, yes, from that 10280A listing, it does look like the tubes are specific to the 1.4T engine...