Help with spark plugs PLEASE!!

8028 Views 20 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Alex V., Jul 22, 2016

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · Jul 20, 2016 (Edited)

So I decided to change my spark plugs, now i followed all intructions properly or so I think. I made sure the area was clean before hand , I took out the old spark plugs. now before putting in the new ones I checked to make sure the gap was at 0.28 some had to be changed ( always check even if its pre gaped )..I dont have a torque wrench, just a regular one, so I installed the spark plugs first with hand tight then turned about 1/4 or 9 to 11 on a clock using a rachet. I put some di eletretric grease as well, the only thing I didnt do was put anti seize because i've read many things on good or bad so decided not to go with it. I installed everything back, I made sure the springs where straight and not sideways. I started the car everything seemed find at first actually great car felt and ran better I WAS FEELING GOOD AND HAPPY...BUT THEN.... The next day, turn on my cruze check engine light came on and it didnt feel as good, turbo sounded weaker, car wasnt accelerating as fast and brake pedals felt weak as well and if I parked my car and waited there was a very contant little shaking, even a very faint whitles sound started coming from the engine (at least it seemed like it). BTW I put in the ac delco 41121 gaped at 0.28 and Chevy Cruze 2011 LTZ RS 1.4T

can anyone point out what I did wrong? or what should be my next step? or is their a way to see if my spark plugs are running correctly like if they work?

Thanks in advance guys

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

BrandoFisher117

· #2 · Jul 20, 2016

Hey Jesse - What year and trim is your Cruze?

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 20, 2016

Hey, it's a LTZ RS 2011

BrandoFisher117

· #4 · Jul 20, 2016

Jesse.moreira06 said:
Hey, it's a LTZ RS 2011

Oh yea, duh. We just had this discussion...

Anyway, I found a post on the Hesitation.....GONE thread that may help.

http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/34-gen1-1-4l-turbo/21850-hesitation-gone-111.html

With help from @jblackburn, "Pull off the spark plug cover and see if the hissing noise is coming from the round disc at the top right of valve cover. If so, your PCV valve went out (they all do) and needs to be replaced. It is covered under powertrain warranty."

Patman

· #5 · Jul 20, 2016

Are you sure your coil pack is installed correctly and none or the springs in the plug boots are bent. Remove the coil pack check the springs and boots and reinstall.

Reactions: 2

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 20, 2016

BrandoFisher117-Perfect thanks, I'm going to check exactly where the hissing sound is comming from to see if it is the PCV.

Patman- Thanks, I'll try again and hopefully it solves the problem, just curious everytime i tried installing my coil pack I would put pressure down and it would rise back up until I would screw it in, is this normal?

jblackburn

· #7 · Jul 20, 2016

Patman- Thanks, I'll try again and hopefully it solves the problem, just curious everytime i tried installing my coil pack I would put pressure down and it would rise back up until I would screw it in, is this normal?

Yes.

Whistle sound sure sounds like a vacuum leak (check oil cap and oil dipstick to make sure they're fully seated as well).

Reactions: 1

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 20, 2016

jblackburn said:
Yes.

Whistle sound sure sounds like a vacuum leak (check oil cap and oil dipstick to make sure they're fully seated as well).

Would this make a continuing sound? because it was making the hissing sound last night while car was on park but is no longer making the sound now?

obermd

· #9 · Jul 20, 2016

Jesse.moreira06 said:
Would this make a continuing sound? because it was making the hissing sound last night while car was on park but is no longer making the sound now?

Depends on the size of the leak. If it's big enough the sound will be at too low a frequency to be heard.

Christopher_2

· #10 · Jul 20, 2016

I always go back to where I was at last and check my work. Take the plugs back out and make sure you didn't break something on accident. Maybe a sparkplug backed out.

Reactions: 2

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 20, 2016

I just finshed checking my spark plugs, and i had gaped them all to 0.28, but when I re checked them they where all much lower, they were, 0.22,0.24,0.26 and 0.26 is this normal? i re gapped them all back at 0.28 and made sure everything was inserted correctly. I did in fact have one spring bent which i fixed and placed straight. I put everything back together, car seems to be accelarating fine, but still a low turbo sound as well as the brakes dont feel as tough and if I'm driving and get to a red light it does not shake but when it's on park for a period of time ( 5 min or more) it starts to shake not alot but enough to feel it.

Should I try gapping my spark plugs higher to maybe 0.32? I've read some poeple have gaped their plugs to 0.35 and their cruze performed better? or should I concider getting new spark plugs EX : NGK BKR8EIX Iridium IX Spark Plug ??

as for the hissing/whistles, I cant hear it anymore nothing at all. I had heard it last night from the engine but can no longer.

I ordered a ODB2 for my cruze to check why my check engine light is on, I will only be receiving it on Monday cuz of the shipping.... Darnnn and I payed for express shipping.

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jblackburn

· #12 · Jul 20, 2016

I just finshed checking my spark plugs, and i had gaped them all to 0.28, but when I re checked them they where all much lower, they were, 0.22,0.24,0.26 and 0.26 is this normal? i

No. Usually gaps grow.

Should I try gapping my spark plugs higher to maybe 0.32? I've read some poeple have gaped their plugs to 0.35 and their cruze performed better? or should I concider getting new spark plugs EX : NGK BKR8EIX Iridium IX Spark Plug ??

No.

I put everything back together, car seems to be accelarating fine, but still a low turbo sound as well as the brakes dont feel as tough and if I'm driving and get to a red light it does not shake but when it's on park for a period of time ( 5 min or more) it starts to shake not alot but enough to feel it.

Still sounds like a vac leak

I ordered a ODB2 for my cruze to check why my check engine light is on, I will only be receiving it on Monday cuz of the shipping.... Darnnn and I payed for express shipping.

Advance Auto/Autozone/what have you will pull codes for free.

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 20, 2016

jblackburn said:
Advance Auto/Autozone/what have you will pull codes for free.

unfortunately, We dont have a autozone here in Montreal (Canada) , here it'll cost you between 75$-100$ cnd, just to check a check engine light.

and just curious for a vac leak is their a way to check this? to really know if somethings leaking? and can I fix it myself ?

Thanks

jblackburn

· #14 · Jul 20, 2016

Jesse.moreira06 said:
unfortunately, We dont have a autozone here in Montreal (Canada) , here it'll cost you between 75$-100$ cnd, just to check a check engine light.

and just curious for a vac leak is their a way to check this? to really know if somethings leaking? and can I fix it myself ?

Thanks

Start here.

Reactions: 3

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 20, 2016

jblackburn said:
Start here.

Thanks, I will take a look at mine and see if its the problem.

and do you happen to know how to check if all spark plugs are running correctly?sparking?

jblackburn

· #16 · Jul 20, 2016

You'd have a constantly flashing check engine light (misfire) and very inconsistent power delivery (probably severe jerking) if one of them wasn't firing.

You can take the whole coil pack out and try grounding it to the head while having someone crank it if you want to see for yourself, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Reactions: 1

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 20, 2016

okay good to know, so it must be another problem then like you said maybe vacc leak i'll check that out and see if it is, because my car isnt doing any severe jerking and the check engine light is constant, its shaking alittle but only when parked for a surten period of time. I've actually noticed when changing my spark plugs, my A/C works better gets cold faster and when fan turns on doesnt make this big monster sound where people were turning their heads to look at your car... like it did before, then again is this a good thing that my fan got quieter?

jblackburn

· #18 · Jul 21, 2016

Jesse.moreira06 said:
okay good to know, so it must be another problem then like you said maybe vacc leak i'll check that out and see if it is, because my car isnt doing any severe jerking and the check engine light is constant, its shaking alittle but only when parked for a surten period of time. I've actually noticed when changing my spark plugs, my A/C works better gets cold faster and when fan turns on doesnt make this big monster sound where people were turning their heads to look at your car... like it did before, then again is this a good thing that my fan got quieter?

You may have more than one issue going on here. Causes for a screaming fan can include A/C refrigerant pressures too high, an improper reading from an engine or intake air temp sensor, or low engine coolant (check the tank on the drivers side and make sure it's got coolant in it).

Jesse.moreira06

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 21, 2016

So it seems all is find with my cruze, car seems to be accelerating better, no shaking what so ever..yesterday I thought my car was loosing power thats how very little shaking was going on when parked. No hissing sound, check the video you sent me and nothing came up no sound at all. I still have my check engine light on just going to wait for my OBD2 scanner to come and delete the check engine light and hopefully it does not come back.

It almost seems like the spark plugs took 36 hours to actually start working properly, car actually seems to be running better now then it was with the old plugs.

next step for me, is a coolant flush and front brake change/brake fluid flush next weekend..It'll be my first time doing either or, I've been watching many videos and reading alot but anyone have some tips to make my life easier?

carbon02

· #20 · Jul 21, 2016

There's also been reports of loose spark plugs making noise. I haven't touched plugs yet, but I believe the plugs have a crush washer to seal vs. the tapered design.

There have been people comment that reinstalling the plug with the existing crush washer once removed didn't seal that well. It's worth trying a new plug and seal before jumping into different vehicle components.

Reactions: 2

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