How to change spark plugs on 1.6L Hyundai Engine

Has your Hyundai / Kia check engine light come on? Is it flashing? Are you wondering why your Hyundai Accent check engine light blinking? You may have had an engine misfire due to bad spark plugs or ignition coils like I did. These are fairly straightforward to fix and do not require much time; however, they can lead to engine damage if you do not fix them, especially your catalytic converter.

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To be sure, plug in your OBD2 scanner tool to figure out the engine misfire’s code (if you don’t have a scanner, you can go to a local auto parts store, and they will do it for you free).

The YOUCANIC Full System Scanner can read and clear fault codes through every control module on a vehicle.

Once you have determined that it is a cylinder misfire, it is time to change the spark plugs and/or the coils. Spark plugs generate the spark to ignite each combustion event within the car’s cylinders to give the car power (which is why you might feel you have less power).

Spark plugs that come with your vehicle are made to last about 100,000 miles usually but will sometimes wear out more quickly. They are cheap and range in price from $2-20 depending on how long you want the replacements to last. So try and replace these first (do all of them simultaneously).

• Mechanic Toolset
• 1.6L Hyundai Engine Spark Plugs

To do so, follow the instructions below (and see the attached video):

1. Turn off your car. Open the car’s hood and disconnect the negative terminal of your battery by loosening the nut that secures it.
2. Remove the engine cover by loosening the four 8 mm hex nuts and set aside.
3. Remove the wire harness bracket by removing the three 8 mm hex nuts and setting it aside.
   • Tip: Cleaning up any debris in this area before removing the ignition coils is good. You do not want anything falling into the cylinder, causing many problems for your engine.
4. Remove the ignition coil connector by pulling out the lock pin and pushing in the tab to release.
5. Remove the ignition coil by removing the 8 mm hex nut that secures, pulls out, and sets aside.
6. Remove the spark plug by using a spark plug socket. These 10-inch attachments make it easy to unscrew the spark plugs down in the cylinder and come with a rubber attachment, making it easy to pull out.
   • If you don’t have the spark plug socket with the rubber attachment, you can use a magnet to pull the spark plugs after you have finished unscrewing them.
7. Make sure your spark plug has been either pre-gapped to specifications, or you will need to gap them to specifications yourself.
8. Replace old spark plugs with new ones.
   • Tip: Do not overtighten spark plugs 15 Nm or 10 ft-lbs is good.
9. Replace ignition coils and secure with 8 mm hex bolts
   1. Tip: Do not overtighten hex bolts. Often they are made of aluminum and will break if you over-torque them. Tighten just enough to secure the coil.
10. Reattach the ignition coil, connect it to the ignition coils, and secure it by pushing the lock pin.
11. Secure the wire harness with the three 8 mm hex bolts
12. Replace the engine cover and secure it with the four 8 mm hex bolts
13. Reconnect the negative terminal of your battery

After replacing the spark plugs, turn on your Hyundai / Kia engine. If you have fixed the problem, the check engine light should stop blinking, and the engine should run more smoothly when it idles, and you will have recovered power.

The check engine light may persist for a few days but should go away. If this does not solve your problem and you are still getting a blinking check engine light or any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you will likely have a defective ignition coil. You now know how to replace these, and they usually cost anywhere from $15-40/coil. Fixing this problem is straightforward, saves money, and improves your car’s performance.

We hope you find the How to change spark plugs on 1.6L Hyundai Engine guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Hyundai.