Question about spark plugs and gaps...

[DrumminBoy]

My car ('92 civic) hasn't been running for about a month, and I had a friend suggest installing new spark plugs after telling him the problem. I put them in, but now I'm worried I messed the gap up (pre-set) by just dropping them into the engine instead of using a magnetized socket. Do you think this would ruin the plugs? btw, the engine will turn over but won't start.

 

[Pepsi90919]

er...how did you tighten them exactly?

 

[Vette73]

If your car won;t start, its not the plugs.

At worst one might be bad abd you car would still start or at least spit and hiccup.

Check to see if you are getting fuel then spark. One of them is probable nopt working. After that start tracing it back.

 

[tommywishbone]

You're OK. It takes a pretty hard hit exactly on the tip to change the gap. Happy motoring.

Edit: As Marlin 1975 said, it's either fuel or spark. If you're getting a spark at the plug... it's a fuel flow/feed problem.

 

[DrumminBoy]

Thanks for the info guys, I was also thinking it may have something to do with the fuel. I recently moved to FL and have been using lower octane non-ethanol gas, which I've never used before, and there was very little left in the tank (on E) when I let it sit a few days before it wouldn't start. I might try a healthy dose of some fresh gas tomorrow and see what that does...Thanks again