passive101

I have a 2004 and I'm getting an error code for a misfire in cyclinder 3. I figure changing the spark plugs is the easiest to see if this solves the problem. Car has 212k miles on it and no idea when the last owner changed them.

autozone says the car came with DOUBLE PLATNIUM. They sell autolites for $6.50. It looks like they have Bosch Iridium for $9.50. the cost difference doesn't matter that much to me. what usually works the best in this car?

FRSam

NGK’s for Honda’s. I used iridium’s in my ‘01.

passive101

Cool. I'll see if they have one of those. Any idea how long of an extension I need to change them?

FRSam

I did mine with a 6" extension and needing basically all of it. Really easy job. I've owned a bunch of cars since I sold it last year and it's still by far the easiest one I've done.

passive101

Easiest one you've done? Thank God I should be able to do this project then. I'm handy enough to break things 🤣

Colin42

Just be sure to start them by hand, a chunk of rubber fuel line is good for this.

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

or, if you feel like being fancy, they make a "spark plug socket" that is essentially a deep socket with a rubber insert. You'll need a 5/8" deep socket for your car. They'll be like $8 at autozone

as far as spark plug brand, I'd stick to NGK or Denso

passive101

I got a spark plug pulling socket from AutoZone. It has a magnet in it but no rubber. What is the rubber supposed to be for?

This brand is duralast?

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

so the plug don't fall from the tool and ruin the electrodes gap

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

magnet does the same thing -- keeps the spark plug in the socket until you take it out. Forgot they make magnetic sockets, too

passive101

Alright at least I got the right thing. I lost my spark plug gapper so I'll going to get a new one. Do these iridium ones get gapped to the same number as the regular ones?

Do I need to blow the area out with a can of air? I saw someone on YouTube do that.

FRSam

I've never gapped my spark plugs (but yes, they'd be gapped the same) or blown out the holes. Maybe I'm just lazy but I've never had a problem that way.

BrotatoChip

If the spark plugs don't fix the misfires, I would guess it's clogged EGR runners in the intake manifold. Pretty common issue with that many miles. This is all assuming your engine has EGR.

crajnai

Never Bosch. Ever.

Denso or NGK only.

passive101

What is EGR?

BrotatoChip

Exhaust gas recirculation.

xRiCeBoYx

iTrader: (22)

Doesn't hurt to check the gap. Should be .044" (same as OEM gap), and they should be pre-gapped to that. Iridium electrodes are a lot more brittle, so if you do need to adjust the gap, proceed with caution. I had to re-gap one iridium spark plug in the life of my 2002 Civic, and the gap measured .049. To close the gap a little, I put the spark plug in my spark plug socket with a 12" extension, and, with gentle force, rolled the electrode on a chunk of pine 2x4. Worked slowly and checked every so often.