Plug Change

[bentoutofshape]

Originally Posted by jwight

Plug change procedure from smart USA site: smart USA Owners Portal - Spark Plugs

Locals gave me the same link/directions early this morning.
The info listed above is still lacking for my taste. I'd wynd? up spending a few hours using 4 letter words with what info is given. I don't like to take chances with my daily driver.

Oh, i took the car to the dealer and they tried to overcharge me by $50

[WhiteNBlack08]

Originally Posted by bentoutofshape

Locals gave me the same link/directions early this morning.
The info listed above is still lacking for my taste. I'd wynd? up spending a few hours using 4 letter words with what info is given. I don't like to take chances with my daily driver.

Oh, i took the car to the dealer and they tried to overcharge me by $50

I changed mine at 30K(not that they needed to be changed), and it took about 30-40 minutes. Hardest part was getting the bolts out of the coil packs. Not enough room for a ratcheting box end, and you can only move the wrench a few degrees at a time. Getting the plugs out is easy, as long as you use a 3/8" drive ratchet and the appropriate extension.

My plugs looked fine, in fact I kept them. I'll probably check the gap on the current set at 30K, but I doubt I'll change them.

[bentoutofshape]

Someone was talking about raising the car off the ground to tilt the engine.

Oh, did someone list what tools were needed?

[SmartDigger]

So, I f I lift the car with a floor jack and my hitch , it will tilt the engine some?

[Godfather]

I'd suspect if it tilts it's broke.

[josephpampliega]

The spark plug I am using on mine is the Denso SC20HR-11 (3444) Extra Long Life Iridium Plug (100K miles) used as OE on most of the current Mercedes Benz models. They are about $12 each.

For 100K mile Platinum Plugs you can use the Bosch YR7MPP33 which is the other alternative OE plug on most of the current Mercedes Benz models. They are about $11 each. Personally I did not try this on the smart as I preferred the Denso Iridium.

Both crosses over in terms of heat range and fitment to the NGK PLKR7A which is being mentioned is this thread.

Next time I am changing the plug will be at 100K miles.

I have two different Mercedes Benz which have the same motor and one came with the Bosch and the other the Denso plugs.

I hate getting under the hood as much as possible. Everything I use from lubricants to spark plugs is for extended life due to the mileage I accumulate on my vehicles.

[MNMadMan]

I finally got around to changing plugs today on my little red roller skate. Its an 2008 smart with 55,000 miles on her. I know, more than a few miles past the recommended change time. I put on over 30k a year on the ol girl and meant to do it earlier.
Thanks to this forum and MichielSpark, I decided to use the SXU22HDR8 plugs as a replacement. Following the directions that started this thread, I was able to change the plugs in about an hour. Not the easiest change Ive ever done on a vehicle. But not that bad either.
The old plugs looked good. Light brown in color. But the spark gap looked a bit wide. I dug out my trusty gap gauge and took a look. 2 plugs were at .050 and one was at .045
So she was due for new plugs. The new plugs seem to work just fine.

Thanks again to MichielSpark and the rest of you that shared on this forum. I really appreciate it

[seumas]

Thanks to the instructions in the first message it was a snap. Much thanks. The only difficult one was the plug to the right. Getting that little 10mm retaining bolt out was a pain, I could get a small 10mm wrench in there and get it started but it was still to tight to take out with my fingers. So, I got a strong pair of needle nose pliers that have the tip bent almost 90 degrees and that was able to get in and get a few more turns to make it removable by hand. Took about 30 mins total time. And on the other two bolts I used a 10mm socket with a 1/4 inch ratchet. Not the wrench.

It's not the mind blowing difference you'd expect from reading some of the reviews about the iridium plugs, but there is definitely an increase in acceleration. My smart runs smoother now and feels like it did when I first drove it off the lot.

I took a pic of my old plugs, but I do not have enough posts to insert a link. Maybe I'll post right after this one

[seumas]

http://www.seumas.org/plug.jpg


this is a closeup of one of my old plugs, I hope it's detailed enough.

[SmartDigger]

looks like it was time to change them.