acurabum

My TL-P 02 with 90k miles got a new transmy last month and after fine tuning
i.e. clean TB , seafoam , adjust TB cable , oil change ...my car run very smooth and perform almost like a new car ....then figure that the only thing to change now is plugs so did change them last week but I was disapointed with the NGK Iridium plugs ( ZFR5FIX-11)
The car performs poorly , less response and power , MPG get worse .... :whyme can not figure it out why ..

So today decide to go back to the old original plugs and the performance is back ..while changing the plugs I notice the new Iridium were running a bit rich .... Did you guys got the same feeling after changing to Iridium plugs ...

I will keep my old plugs for now , maybe another 10k miles or so ...but for sure will not go back with the Iridium .
Double Platinum (original ) = 16$ and Iridium = 8 $ ....I still think we got what we pay for .

Nuckz23

iTrader: (2)

Did you reset the ecu? If not then maybe the ecu needs time to adjust to the change.

Gfaze

$16?!?! You can buy the NGK Laser Platinums for $9.99 at any Kragen/Schucks/Checker auto parts. I haven't had any bad experiences with the NGK Iridiums.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Gfaze you have the NGK iridiums? Im going to get some next week and how much was it total for all of them?

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Maybe you can try resetting your PCM? Pull fuse #13 on the passenger side fuse array for a minute or so.

JDM Inspired

Hold on, wait a sec, you have an option of pulling out a fuse???, which will reset your ECU and improve your MPG????

Come to think of it, i did have a similar problem like you stated in your first post AcuraB!!!

01tl4tl

Something is wrong with the car- or your process- no way its running rich on the new plugs unless there is a problem!!
They are the called for replacement- platinum is stock -gen3 comes with iridium so its ok to use in gen2
NGK Iridium IX should cost 7 bucks each at local parts store- $50 for the set of 6 and a dollar tube of thread anti-sieze

coils are easily and frequently damaged thru mishandling during plug change
then they fail a month later--code will tell

Did you seafoam first-following the diy and putting it in the main vac port at the TB housing attchment to manifold,,do the full hot foot drive after to get rid of the loosened crud- then a week later install the plugs?
First timers should repeat foam in gas tank and manifold vac port in a month or 2000 miles to complete the cleaning

Get the codes read- may have a coil problem
Inspect each plug- any damage to the end wire of one?
Were they all soaked wet black rich?
Were all the connectors on tight?

check your work before you blame the part

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Don't know about officiating the MPG improvement claim, but if your old plugs were dirty as heck and your PCM compensated by throwing more fuel at it, once you put in new plugs, it seems to me like now it's wasted fuel. I guess over time, the PCM adjusts based on long-term O2 readings anyway, but if you just reset, it might be like starting "fresh". Speculation.

01tl4tl

the 2 ways to reset the ecu- engine computer, are
disconnect the neg battery cable
which requires input of radio security code afterwards
OR
gen2 fuse #13 right passenger side, says clock and is the secret backup power to the ecu
pull it and you force a master reset and relearn
If you do certain major mods to the car- like UR pulley- it must be done

after a cleaning and full tune it wont hurt it to learn how to run on clean pistons and valves with fresh parts

90k miles it may need the egr ports cleaned on the intake manifold
Not in the book maitenance, but fsttyms1 can verify its need every 75k miles!!!

01tl4tl

OP- you may be noticing the new trans is programmed differently

Do its break-in mileage gently and see how the car mpg improves as the parts all blend together in a smooth transitioning unit

JDM Inspired

your the MAN BRO!!!

And i didnt do the port cleaning....but will now!!

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Interestingly enough, kind of sounds like my old experience....New trans, seafoam, [possibly other stuff], = decline in performance. Who knows.

acurabum

Yes I did reset the ECU twice by pulling the fuse #13 right passenger side ... It run smooth for the first day but the next day the performance gone . Each time it last only 1 day ........

Were plugs all soaked wet black rich? ... Yes they are a bit soaked wet black rich and smell fuel when I remove them .

I did scan and no codes at all ... so not a coils problem ....

How do you explain the performance is back after I went back to my old Double Platinum
By the way according to NGK.com our original plugs are Double Platinum ...........

acurabum

Did you do anything to your car or just learn to live with it ??
For now I'm happy with the performance that my old plugs give me .

Billy Sacco

Yeah just like I replied in other thread I installed iridiums with no issue and they are still running great.

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Well, I had a long thread going which unfortunately will remain unresolved. The difference is that new plugs didn't make that big of a difference. From the initial point of installation, almost seemed like the performance had improved, but shortly after, it was back to the same stuff. Shame I couldn't figure it out.

peasy

whats PCM stand for??

01tl4tl

power contol module

I would check the TB cable adjustment as being too tight
Things were ok till you did that! if to tight it wont seal right and let the plugs get soaked
Check your work again!!
and vac lines are connected!

peasy

thx

mestizoracer310

I forgot.......when's the interval for a spark plug change?

Gfaze

$7.99 each so $47.94 + tax.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

hmm maybe I should grab them from there i was going to get them offline for 42 with free ship but might as well get them from Kragen

01tl4tl

the book says plugs with the 105 service, but many find that anytime over 60k miles and its ready for plugs
100 percent performance is the goal