How to Replace Spark Plugs 2002-06 Nissan Altima 2-5L
Created on: 2017-08-25
New Spark Plug from 1AAuto.com How to repair, install, fix, change or replace rusted, corroded, or stuck spark plugs on 02, 03, 04, 05, 06 Nissan Altima
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step 1 :Removing the Engine Cover
- Remove the four 5mm Allen bolts from the engine cover
- Lift the cover off
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step 2 :Removing the Ignition Coils
- Push in the clip and disconnect the connector
- Remove the 10mm bolt from the ignition coil
- Lift the ignition coil up and out
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step 3 :Removing the Spark Plug
- Loosen the spark plug with a 5/8" socket and extension
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step 4 :Installing the Spark Plug
- Insert the spark plug into the socket
- Tighten the spark plug into the engine by hand
- Torque the spark plug to 15-21 foot-pounds
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step 5 :Installing the Ignition Coils
- Insert the coil into the engine
- Tighten the 10mm bolt to the coil
- Connect the connector
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step 6 :Reinstalling the Engine Cover
- Place the cover over the engine
- Tighten the four 5mm Allen bolts
Tools needed
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5mm Hex Wrench
Socket Extensions
Torque Wrench
5/8 Inch Spark Plug Socket
10mm Socket
Ratchet
Use a 5mm Allen key to remove the plastic engine cover. There are one, two, three, four bolts holding it on. Lift that off and put it aside.
These are your four ignition coils. I'm going to show you how to remove this one, procedure will be exactly the same for the other three. Start by pushing this clip in and wiggle the connector out. Use a 10mm socket and ratchet and use a retaining bolt. Put that bolt aside. Grab it on both sides, and kind of wiggle it, because there is a boot that goes down over the spark plug. It's got a little suction to it. Pull it out and that's how you remove the coil.
Your spark plugs are located down in the head through these access holes. Before you remove the spark plugs from the holes, to make sure there's no debris in there, if you've got access to compressed air with a blow gun, you should blow the holes and blow out any debris so you don't have any fall into the cylinder with the spark plug pulled out of there. These ones are actually pretty clean, so we're in good shape.
We can use a 5/8 spark plug socket. It has the little rubber holder in here that's going to grab onto the electrode end. It'll allow me to pull the spark plug out of the cylinder head once it's loose. We can just do these one at a time. Pull one out, replace it with the new one, move on down the line. Your old spark plug we pulled out, it's pretty dirty and sooty and it's got a bit of a fuel odor. The car actually had a check engine light for a random misfire. So it seems like it's time for a tune-up.
This is our new spark plug from 1AAuto.com. It is an exact match for the one that came out of the vehicle. It's ready to go and be installed. The electrode is nice and fresh and it's not worn out. This will really help the car out and basically be like driving a new car again.
Take our new spark plug, place it into the spark plug socket. That's why it has the little rubber holder in there so it doesn't fall out while you're trying to install it. Just going to install it by hand so it doesn't get cross threaded. Once I've swapped out all of them, I'll come back and torque these. Thread it down until it stops. Move to the next one. With the plugs threaded in just hand-tight until they stopped, I'll now torque them. The torque is 15 to 21 foot-pounds. I'm going to set my torque wrench at 17. We'll torque them down.
This bolt hole is just a metal insert into this plastic valve cover, so we're not going to over-tighten those. We'll tighten them very carefully so slide the coil down, push it over the spark plug, and let it sit in there. Get the bolt started. Just using my wrist to tighten it. Right when I feel it get tight, I'm going to stop because I don't want to pull the serrated insert out of the plastic valve cover.
Reinstall the connector, and repeat this procedure for the rest of the coils. Reinstall the engine cover, reinstall your four bolts. These bolts are just going into aluminum, just holding on a plastic cover. Not a lot of torque on these. Job is complete.
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