Adjusting and replacing spark plugs on a Toyota Corolla: step-by-step instructions

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Reading time: 5 min Category: Corolla operation

• Symptoms of malfunction
• Factors affecting spark plug wear
• Replacing spark plugs
• How to distinguish the original from analogues
• Basic method
• Permissible gaps between electrodes
• Conclusion

Spark plugs are engine elements that are inexpensive, but all of its operation greatly depends on them.

The essence of their work is to ignite the fuel in the cylinder with an electric discharge.

The electronic engine control unit is programmed to allow the spark plug to produce a spark at a certain point in time. If there is carbon deposits or deposits on it, then it is much more difficult for a spark to occur, and there will be gaps in the ignition, which will significantly affect power and fuel consumption.

Symptoms of malfunction

In order to determine whether it is time to replace, you need to pay attention to a number of factors, such as:

1. Increased fuel consumption.
2. Deterioration in acceleration.
3. The engine does not start the first time.
4. At idle speed the unit shakes.
5. The Check Engine light is on.

All these symptoms are typical of worn spark plugs. It is not advisable to wait for one of them to manifest itself in order to make a replacement. There is a regulation according to which these incendiary elements are changed.

• 40 thousand kilometers – for classic ones;
• 120 thousand – for platinum and iridium.

For Toyota Corolla it is better to install the second type of these spare parts. Their cost is twice as high, but the resource and quality are three times better. Approximate price: 2000 rubles per set.

There are two types of spark plug defects:

1. Insulator failure. This problem is typical of cheap analogues. Due to poor quality material, under the influence of high temperatures and current load, the insulator cannot withstand and cracks.
2. Misfire. The most common type. Occurs due to carbon deposits or oxidation due to incandescent electric current. In addition, with longer runs, the distance between the electrodes increases.

Article number and cost of the original ignition coil for Corolla 150 and its analogues

The branded ignition coil has catalog number 9091902266. The cost of a new product ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. There is also the opportunity to purchase the product from auto dismantling yards. Since the residual life of a used coil is unknown, experienced owners recommend purchasing analogues from third-party manufacturers. A list of the best options is given in the table below.

Table - Ignition coils for Corolla 150 from third-party manufacturers

Factors affecting spark plug wear

1. Fuel. Low-quality gasoline is the main enemy of spark plugs. Because of it, a strong soot forms, which is difficult to break through with a spark. For normal operation of the ignition system, a minimum of 95 gasoline is recommended.
2. Driving style. Aggressive driving puts enormous stress not only on the piston group, but also on the ignition system. The higher the engine speed, the more often the ignition elements generate a spark, and therefore wear out faster.
3. Brand. Like any spare part, original ones will last many times longer than fakes. Spark plugs are inexpensive items that you shouldn’t skimp on, because their poor condition can have a detrimental effect on your car’s engine.

List of works during maintenance 4 (40,000 km)

Repetition of work provided for by TO 1 and TO 2, as well as the implementation of additional procedures. Namely:

Replacing the air filter. As an original filter, a filter with article number 1780121050 is used. The price is 1200 rubles.

Replacing brake fluid and hydraulic clutch (for cars with manual transmission). Any type of DOT4 is suitable for replacing TJ. The volume of liquid poured into the system is slightly more than one liter. The cost of the original brake fluid DOT 4, “Brake & Clutch Fluid”, art. 0882380112, 1 liter volume – 1000 rubles.

Replacing spark plugs.

Checks are the same as during maintenance 2, plus monitoring the level of transmission fluid in the gearbox.

1. Checking the level and adding oil to manual and robotic gearboxes.
2. Checking the level and adding oil in the automatic transmission.

List of works for mileage 50,000, 70,000, 90,000 km

All work regulations provided for by Maintenance 1 - engine oil change and all related procedures.

Replacing spark plugs

To do this, first of all you need to remove the plastic motor cover, which is secured with two 10mm nuts.

In the photo below you can see four chips that stand on reels. Let's disconnect these chips.

Important. When disconnecting the chip, you need to pull on its plastic base, and not on the wire.

Now you need to unscrew the bolts that hold the coils. There are only four of them, each with a bolt. Size: 14.

Next, we simply take out the coils themselves, which are no longer fixed in anything.

Now we need a 14mm head with a long lever. We insert it into the hole in which the coils were located and use it to turn the candles counterclockwise. You will have to insert the tool over a relatively long distance, and from there you need to get the candle. Therefore, it is recommended to use a magnetized head or long tweezers.

Important. Be careful when clamping the spark plugs: you may strip the threads.

We take a new candle and perform all the steps in reverse order.

Below is a video that clearly shows how to change these elements on a Toyota Corolla 1.6, produced from 2006 to 2012:

Corolla maintenance regulations

Toyota Corolla E150 appeared in 2006. The base platform, as on the previous generation Toyota E120, was the Toyota MC platform. The car was equipped with two engines: 1.4 l - 4ZZ-FE (power 97 hp) and 1.6 - 1ZR-FE (124 hp). MultiMode robotic gearbox .

After restyling in 2010, the car began to be equipped with 1.33 liter engines - 1NR-FE (101 hp) and 1.6 liter (124 hp) and a six-speed gearbox or a four-speed automatic U340E, instead of a robotic one . However, this did not in any way affect the frequency of maintenance of the machine, but only the cost and consumables used.

For the Toyota Corolla E150, in the overall picture of maintenance, the first four can be distinguished; further adventures are cyclical, that is, a repetition of previous periods.

The Toyota Corolla E150 maintenance schedule table is as follows:

How to distinguish the original from analogues

Since 2007, on the domestic market of ignition elements there is a huge number of fakes that look exactly the same as the original ones, but have a quality that is much worse. There are several subtleties in order to distinguish the original from fake candles:

1. There should be no bubbles on the white insulator.
2. The inscription on the insulator should not be erased with a fingernail.
3. There should be no small chips on the edges, as, for example, in this photo:
4. Side engraving should be applied evenly. Watch the engraving mark while rotating the candle in your hands. Here's an example of a fake:
5. The ring should not unscrew.
6. There will be small burrs on the threads.
7. The electrode gap will not be centered.

Basic method

For this we need a measuring device (multimeter). We set its sensitivity to 20 kOhm. We connect the first pole to the contact at the beginning of the candle, and the second to the contact at the end. In counterfeit ignition elements, the resistance will be zero or have low values, while the readings of the original ones will be approximately 5 kOhm.

Spark plugs that do not have resistance emit increased radio interference, which may cause the on-board computer to not work correctly.

List of works during maintenance 1 (10,000 km)

Changing the engine oil. Engine oil poured into the Toyota Corolla E150 must comply with the ACEA standard: A3, B3 and B4, according to API: SL/CF. The type of oil should be selected depending on the climate in which the machine is operated, standard: SAE 0W-30, 5W-40. Toyota engine oil “ENGINE OIL 5W-40” is poured from the factory, the catalog number of the package for 1 liter is 0888080376. The price is 700 rubles. The same oil with a canister capacity of 5 liters 0888080375 will cost 3100 rubles.

Replacing the oil filter. For a gasoline engine, the original filter will be Toyota 90915-10003. Price 560 rubles.

Replacing the sealing washer of the drain bolt in the crankcase. The original ring has the article number - 9043012031, costs 100 rubles.

Replacing the cabin filter. When replacing the cabin air purifier filter, the original filter will be from Toyota 87139-30040. Its average cost is 480 rubles.

Checks during maintenance 1 and all subsequent ones:

1. Cooling system hoses and connections.
2. Fuel lines and connections.
3. Covers for constant velocity joints.
4. Hydraulic clutch (for vehicles with manual transmission)
5. Front and rear suspension
6. Wheels and tires.
7. Hydraulic brake system.
8. Braking mechanisms.
9. Brake hydraulic pipelines and their connections.
10. Accumulator battery.
11. Headlights.
12. Glass and headlight washers.
13. Cabin ventilation air filter.
14. Seat belts, locks and attachment points to the body.
15. Locks, hinges, hood latch, body fittings.
16. Drainage holes.

Permissible gaps between electrodes

The distance between the electrodes in the spark plugs is a very important parameter for any engine. A normal distance ensures stable operation of the engine without misfires, excessive fuel consumption and deterioration in dynamics.

If the distance between the electrodes is very small, for example 0.7 millimeters, then such a candle will not work effectively. The spark will be powerful, but its length will not be enough to ignite the fuel.

Too much gap will cause the spark to be so weak that it will not be able to ignite the fuel either. Due to this distance, the spark may be directed not towards the contact, but towards the insulator and pierce it onto the housing.

For Toyota Corolla spark plugs, the maximum permissible distance between the electrodes is 1–1.1 MM. This is a standard that applies to all vehicles. To measure this distance, special probes are used. These devices are metal sheets with a certain end width. The probe is inserted into the gap between the electrodes, which allows you to measure the distance. If the sheet sits closely between the electrodes, then the distance is acceptable, but if it does not fit or fits, but there is still space left, then vice versa. It is enough to simply tap the electrode from above so that it comes close to the plate, after which the distance adjustment can be considered successfully completed.

What are they needed for?

Spark plugs are understood as special devices that allow ignition of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of different types of engines. As a rule, based on their classic version, the mixture ignites through an electric discharge running between the electrodes located at the end of the spark plug. We won't talk about the building itself. You can study it from the inside yourself. To do this, you need to look at the picture below. Its structure is not complicated and therefore does not require explanation.