Do-it-yourself replacement of candles “Nissan Qashqai”: instructions and photos

Any car without exception needs regular maintenance. As a rule, this concept means the replacement of engine oil and filters. However, this is not a complete list of activities that are carried out during TO. A very important operation is the replacement of spark plugs.

Serviceable candles directly affect the stability of the engine, as well as power and fuel consumption. In today's article, we will look at how to replace such elements on the Japanese Nissan Qashqai crossover.

Replacement interval

How often are spark plugs replaced on the Nissan Qashqai? In the countries of Western Europe, the following interval is indicated – 60 thousand kilometers. However, such a period of operation is relevant only in the case of installing platinum candles.

As for lately, here the interval is somewhat different. This characteristic is due to more severe operating conditions and lower fuel quality. So, according to the service manual, the replacement of spark plugs on the Nissan Qashqai 1.6 and 2.0 should be done every 15 thousand kilometers. But in reality, the resource of candles quite reaches 30-40 thousand kilometers. Therefore, most owners adhere to the following interval. The replacement of candles on the Nissan Qashqai 2.0 and 1.6 is carried out every 30 thousand kilometers.

Also, a similar operation must be performed after buying a car in the secondary market, if the former owner cannot provide evidence of how long ago the replacement was made.

signs

It happens that the candle turned out to be of poor quality or defective. In such a situation, its resource will be many times less. How to determine that the candle is faulty? In the event of a malfunction, it will periodically skip a spark. In fact, the driver may notice the following signs:

• Reduced engine power (because one or even several cylinders are not working).
• Increase in fuel consumption. The mixture that entered the chamber does not burn out due to the lack of a spark, but simply flies out into the pipe.
• Long engine start (both cold and hot).
• Dips with a sharp press on the accelerator pedal.
• Unstable operation of the engine at idle, “triple”.

If at least one of these signs is observed, this is already a reason to think about the serviceability of the spark plug. But we also note that similar symptoms may be due to the ignition coil. To make sure that the candle is working, you need to unscrew it, connect the wire and lean it against the metal part of the engine (for example, the valve cover). Next, you should ask the assistant to twist the starter. If there is no spark, this indicates a malfunction of the candle. They need to be replaced as a complete set.

What to choose?

Today on the shelves of automotive stores you can see a variety of spark plugs. The dealer recommends using original products. This is NGK PLZKAR6A-11. It is worth noting that the original model has specific characteristics – a long skirt and a small hexagon size (14 millimeters).

The cost of the original kit is high, so many install analogues. These include platinum candles “Bosch”, “Champion”, and also “Denso”. Is it possible to use iridium candles on the Nissan Qashqai? Experts note that such elements work absolutely adequately on a Japanese engine. Among these, it is worth noting the FXE20HR11 products from Denso.

Can spark plugs without platinum or iridium coating be used? Unfortunately, in the case of the Nissan Qashqai, savings will not work. The fact is that ordinary candles simply will not fit into the engine, as they have a different size.

note

When replacing spark plugs on the Nissan Qashqai 1.6 and 2.0, you must also prepare the intake manifold and throttle gasket. During the replacement, these elements will be dismantled. And it is impossible to install them on an old gasket, since the previous tightness will not be ensured.

Instruments

Since such an operation involves the dismantling of the throttle and intake manifold, we need a set of heads for 8-10 with an extension and a ratchet. You will also need a spark plug wrench for 14 (preferably with a magnet) and a torque wrench.

You will also need a minus screwdriver. By the way, you can make a candle key with your own hands. This will require a tubular wrench for 14. A long bolt is welded to its end. And then the key can be rotated with a conventional head with a ratchet wrench.

Getting Started

On a Nissan Qashqai car, do-it-yourself replacement of candles must be done after the engine has cooled down. So, open the hood and remove the decorative engine cover. It is held on by two bolts that can be found along the edges of the emblem.

Then access to the collector and other elements will open. But you need to start by dismantling the rubber pipe, which is located between the throttle valve and the air filter housing. How is the replacement of candles carried out on the Nissan Qashqai? Then the collector itself is removed. It is held on by several bolts.

The first five attach the manifold at the very bottom to the cylinder head. And the sixth bolt connects the manifold to the valve cover. It can be found near the oil filler neck. The seventh screw is located under the throttle assembly. Previously, such a node is recommended to be removed. How is the throttle fixed? It is mounted on four bolts.

Having unscrewed them, carefully separate the gasket of the throttle assembly. Then you can safely unscrew the last manifold bolt.

Helpful advice

When replacing spark plugs on the Nissan Qashqai 2.0 and 1.6, it is recommended to inspect the condition of the throttle. If it is dirty, then it is better to clean it. To do this, you need a carburetor cleaner. Before re-installation, carefully clean the remaining deposits and dry the damper.

What then?

So, all the manifold bolts are unscrewed. Now you can get it out by first removing the oil dipstick. Then we will see the ignition coils. From them you need to remove the connectors and unscrew the fixing bolts. It is necessary to dismantle the ignition coils in order.

Then we pick up the candle head at 14. We unscrew the candles themselves. If the key is not magnetic, you can get them with a rubber seal from the ignition coil. New candles are screwed in place of the old ones. Pay attention to tightening torque. You can not turn candles by force. The carving in the head is very delicate. To accurately calculate the moment, it is necessary to tighten with a torque wrench. The force should be about 19-20 Nm. If there is no special key, you need to twist with one hand. There is no need to use force here.

It also happens that the candle bites at the beginning. In such a situation, it must be unscrewed. Otherwise, you can damage the threads in the cylinder block, and in the worst case, part of the chips will enter the combustion chamber. After installing the candles, the assembly of the nodes is carried out in the reverse order.

Install the manifold only after the gasket surface has been thoroughly cleaned. Tightening must be done from the center to the edges in turn. Also, do not forget to install the gasket on the throttle assembly, connect the coils. On this, the replacement of candles on the Nissan Qashqai has been successfully completed.

After assembly, you need to make a test run. If the car refuses to start, most likely the coils were connected incorrectly. They need to be swapped. With the correct replacement of candles, the Nissan Qashqai should start with a half turn. At idle, work should be stable, under load (on the go) there should be no jerking.

Is there a difference between a 1.6 liter and a 2 liter engine?

Such power units belong to the same series, therefore they have an identical design. Accordingly, there is no difference between the algorithm for replacing candles on a 1.6 and 2.0 engine. The above instructions are suitable for both Nissan Qashqai engines.

Conclusion

So, we examined how spark plugs are replaced on a Nissan Qashqai car. As you can see, such an operation can be done by hand. However, it is important to carefully tighten the candles, observing all tightening torques. Timely replacement of candles on the Nissan Qashqai is the key to stable engine operation.