Ok - there is such a thing as a dumb question - and this very well may be it...

I am a novice mechanic trying to do more stuff on my beloved MINI...

Just installed new sparkplugs and coil on my car. Didn't start first time, but did second time - awesome... now I'm thinking I'm going to get a job with McLaren as pit crew...

Take the car round the block, get the revs up, and I get a check engine light and lose power above ~1500 rpm (fluttering). I limp back home and see that the #1 spark plug boot has popped loose.

So my question - I didn't hear a pop/click when I put the boots in (like the cable ends pop onto the coil). Are the boots meant to pop into place? Do I need to push hard? Was a bit paranoid about torqueing the plugs, after all I read on stripping threads, and so didn't want to push hard on the boots.

Yes, I really am that much of a novice mechanic

 

By the way I am using the wires from Way Motor Works: http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-ignition-package.html

They seem looser than the stock, but then again, they aren't 11years old and have new dielectric grease on them.

 

Yes, push on firmly. You should feel the female terminal seat on the spark plug male tip. Then look at the rubber seals at the top around the plug wells. They should all be the same depth. Hope you used a torque wrench to 18-20 lb.-ft. then re-check the torque after a few hundred miles.

 

Yup, torqued to spec (although 20ft/lbs felt like it hardly tightened them at all). Rubber seals are all flush. Pushed firmly on the top after orienting the wires to the horizontal through the crack in the rubber.

Didn't deal that much of click from the female terminal on the plug though. Hmm.

I only put a small amount of dielectric grease on the inside opening of the boot. Is this how others do it?

Thanks for your reply - I appreciate it

 

Yep, that's fine. Did you re-seat and clear the code?

 

Tried to clear the code by holding reset while turning ignition to position 1 etc.. also tried to start it up 5 times to reset it.

No joy... still get solid yellow "Service Engine Soon" light.

Is there another way, or does that mean the problem persists?

 

Nope...
You need a odb2 reader to clear the code....
If the code is active, the light will usually be flashing as it stores the code...
If all is OK, the light should go out after a few trips....but it will take much longer for it to drop out of the memory.....

 

Thanks Zippy. I have a cheapo OBD2 bluetooth and Torque Pro. Will see if that can clear it. If not, will take a trip to Autozone tomorrow.

Appreciate the advice from you both