Spark Plug Recall - Will Honda still do them on Ap1's?

[JTNY]

Hi guys, I just wanted to know, I have a '02 AP1 that seems to fall within the VIN# range for the spark plug recall. I have about 75K on my AP1 and would like to know if I can take them to Honda for replacement?

And are they just changing out the plugs only? The easiest would be for me to get new plugs but if Honda can replace them for free why not?




TIA
Jon

[batguano]

Recall? I have not heard about that.

[repiv]

This recall pre-dates the sparkplugs with the stainless steel crush washers. It was put in place because the non-SS sparkplugs didn't seem to hold torque in all cases. Honda brought out the recall to do 2 things.
1. To replace all non-SS plugs with SS plugs.
2. To increase the torque from 13 to 18 lb/ft.
Some cars experienced cylinder #4 failure as a result of the plug backing out.
All owners of such cars were sent a letter back in the year 2001 and later. When the recall was done, the service tech would place a dot that was punched into the VIN on the firewall by the battery. This dot was punched over top of the "1". You should both check if this was done and also check to see if the plugs are, in fact, of the newer "SS" variety and what torque they are put in with. To go after Honda for a set of plugs on a 7 year old car with 75K is just a bit far fetched however, if you don't have the new plugs and don't have the recall letter, you can always ask. If the car has gone 75K with those old plugs without a problem means they weren't an issue. It's time to change the plugs anyway. They don't cost all that much from any online seller (like sparkplugs.com) and it might save the service guy a good laugh.
There is a good chance that a 7 year old car would already have had its plugs changed by now anyway and possibly with non-OEM plugs, unless, of course, you are the original owner, in which case, you should have been sent the recall letter long ago. If you do have non-OEM plugs in it when you go to the dealer, this may be even more embarassing.

[small_tyme98]

I've got about 70k miles on my car now and i am planning on changing the spark plugs pretty soon here.

If we buy the plugs from Honda, how will we know if they are the stainless ones? I remember reading somewhere that the OEM plugs are NGK Laser Platinums, part # PFR7G-11s.

Can anyone tell me whether or not that is the correct part number for the updated plugs?

[repiv]

I've got about 70k miles on my car now and i am planning on changing the spark plugs pretty soon here.

If we buy the plugs from Honda, how will we know if they are the stainless ones? I remember reading somewhere that the OEM plugs are NGK Laser Platinums, part # PFR7G-11s.

Can anyone tell me whether or not that is the correct part number for the updated plugs?

part # PFR7G-11s
That's the give away. The "S" on the end tells you it has the stainless steal crush washer. I don't believe you can even get the PFR7G-11 anymore.
The other current OEM spark plug is the Denso PK22PR-L11S. Remember, the other part of the recall was the increased torque. Use anti-seize. And ALWAYS check the gap before putting them in. They don't always come with the required gap.

[My_yella_s2k]

. To go after Honda for a set of plugs on a 7 year old car with 75K is just a bit far fetched


and it might save the service guy a good laugh.


If you do have non-OEM plugs in it when you go to the dealer, this may be even more embarassing.


:rofl:
this happened to me last week...
was sooo hard not to laugh....
plugs are due every 7 yrs OR 105k miles....

like Dave said, if the head didnt lose compression in 8 years - its ok ;)

[starchland]

Of equal importance is the Oil Jet Bolt for the early Ap1 cars

[repiv]

Of equal importance is the Oil Jet Bolt for the early Ap1 cars

This is particular so if the engine is supercharged or turboed. However, if operated in the average way that N. Americans operate an S2000, the first generation banjo bolts are quite adequate. It was never truly documented that even in Europe, that the driving style there would benefit from the banjo bolt upgrade. Honda did the recall in Europe purely as a precautionary measure. They replaced the old "2-hole" bolt with the new "4-hole" bolt. This provided for a more effective oil spray under each cylinder. No such recall was issued for N. America.
Doing the upgrade is just for insurance, even in a FI modified engine. And as far as insurance goes, most of the time, you don't need it, but once in a while, you do. There have been many examples of supercharged early S2000s that never upgraded to the new bolts and they never had a problem. And the vast majority of those early S2000s with the old bolts are still running well today. It all depends on how the car was driven and what it was used for and how well the owners maintained them.
In this sense, I consider the spark plug recall to be far more important for N. American cars.

[JTNY]

repiv thanks for all the help! I just fogged the cylinders this past weekend and forgot the check if the plug had the "S" on the end. In any case they seem ok but I think I will put another 100 miles then chage them out when it comes out of hibernation.

WIll prob order my parts from handaaccessories.com $13/each