'88 Civic starting problem

So, once again Bosch does it again.

JT

 

Someone ought to compile statistics on how many times
non-OEM plugs have been reported here to be behind
starting/running problems. It might make the case easier to
argue.

Once again, another simple solution behind a major problem,
too.

 

Someone ought to compile statistics on how many times
non-OEM plugs have been reported here to be behind
starting/running problems. It might make the case easier to
argue.

Once again, another simple solution behind a major problem,
too.

 

Unfortunately, the Bosch reputation (regarding sparkplugs) ranks below
that of Champion, a brand that I have avoided for many years.

I always use AC, MOPAR etc in my vintage cars.

Regarding modern tin, Bosch plugs fail easily. Let 'em get wet once,
just toss 'em and start over again hopefully selecting another brand.

No Bosch for this guy (well, their wiper motors are ok..)

JT

 

Unfortunately, the Bosch reputation (regarding sparkplugs) ranks below
that of Champion, a brand that I have avoided for many years.

I always use AC, MOPAR etc in my vintage cars.

Regarding modern tin, Bosch plugs fail easily. Let 'em get wet once,
just toss 'em and start over again hopefully selecting another brand.

No Bosch for this guy (well, their wiper motors are ok..)

JT

 

I put a set of Bosch Platinum-2 plugs in my 94 GSR at ~57,000mi,and it
starts and runs fine.It's been about 2 months now.
The old plugs looked OK.

How can new spark plugs be "bunk"?
Were those the plugs that were in there when he acquired the car?
Maybe old plugs,or gaps boogered? Maybe grease on the insulator?

 

I put a set of Bosch Platinum-2 plugs in my 94 GSR at ~57,000mi,and it
starts and runs fine.It's been about 2 months now.
The old plugs looked OK.

How can new spark plugs be "bunk"?
Were those the plugs that were in there when he acquired the car?
Maybe old plugs,or gaps boogered? Maybe grease on the insulator?

 

Did they show a purply-blue spark when tested out of the engine? That's the
key. If, in a dark garage (or at night), the color is anything but purply-
blue, then it's weak. And whay is it weak, well, it appears to depend on a
number of factors.

Good question. It's a certain number of startups, but I don't know the
number.

Thanks for the attribution, but I think you and your friend pretty much
solved this one on your own.

You also appear to have had multiple problems, some of which exacerbated
the effects of others. This makes remote troubleshooting difficult.

This thread (and the issues it has highlighted) has given me a couple of
more ideas for the "start problems" page, which is in the middle of an
extensive rewrite.

 

Did they show a purply-blue spark when tested out of the engine? That's the
key. If, in a dark garage (or at night), the color is anything but purply-
blue, then it's weak. And whay is it weak, well, it appears to depend on a
number of factors.

Good question. It's a certain number of startups, but I don't know the
number.

Thanks for the attribution, but I think you and your friend pretty much
solved this one on your own.

You also appear to have had multiple problems, some of which exacerbated
the effects of others. This makes remote troubleshooting difficult.

This thread (and the issues it has highlighted) has given me a couple of
more ideas for the "start problems" page, which is in the middle of an
extensive rewrite.

 

They were the plugs that were already in the original engine, which HAD been
running before we took it out. They were nice and clean and like I said,
"bench-tested" fine. The plugs that came in the replacement engine were
extremely fouled, which is why we swapped them out in the first place.

 

They were the plugs that were already in the original engine, which HAD been
running before we took it out. They were nice and clean and like I said,
"bench-tested" fine. The plugs that came in the replacement engine were
extremely fouled, which is why we swapped them out in the first place.

 

It was a nice thick blue spark visible even outside in the bright daylight (but
still under the shadow of the hood).

Well, if nothing else, the link you provided to that schematic was key

Heh... it makes local troublshooting difficult too! But I know what you mean, a
lot of times when you're there in front of it, you may see or hear or notice
something else that gives a clue you won't get remotely. I have the same
problem all the time doing remote (phone/IM/email) computer support - something
that may take an hour on the phone could be figured out in 5 minutes sitting at
the machine.

Cool.

 

It was a nice thick blue spark visible even outside in the bright daylight (but
still under the shadow of the hood).

Well, if nothing else, the link you provided to that schematic was key

Heh... it makes local troublshooting difficult too! But I know what you mean, a
lot of times when you're there in front of it, you may see or hear or notice
something else that gives a clue you won't get remotely. I have the same
problem all the time doing remote (phone/IM/email) computer support - something
that may take an hour on the phone could be figured out in 5 minutes sitting at
the machine.

Cool.

 

Sorry, but I've seen numerous Bosch (plug) horror stories in a variety
of makes/models of vehicles.

JT

 

Sorry, but I've seen numerous Bosch (plug) horror stories in a variety
of makes/models of vehicles.

JT

 

Hey !
you guys are pretty good !
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

How many thumbs have you got?

 

So,the "new" plugs got fouled,too. Not the plugs fault.

 

So,the "new" plugs got fouled,too. Not the plugs fault.

 

I've been running Platinum 2's in my '87 Accord for over a year now without a
problem of a need for a cleaning - last time I checked them, they still looked
near-new. *shrug*