Just bought a 09 base Fit with 110,000 and planing to do some maintenance..
Im going to do valve lash soon.I don’t have to remove the cowl to get to the spark plugs if the intake is off is that correct?

 

You're probably right, but I would recommend removing the cowl. It's not bad, once you get the hang of it. And it'll save you some headaches later.

 

@Tinknocker Personally, I would not be able to remove the coil packs and the spark plugs without removing the cowl.

Removing the cowl is not difficult. It's just a pain in the tush.

 

The cowl is somewhat dependent on your ability to work a bit by touch and having the right tools , a good selection of socket extensions < 8" long with a wobble end helps.
A magnetic mirror and a good light help a ton. It typically would take a hour-2 or so first time, after you've done it you'll find it easier the next time. Get the service manual
A thin wratchet and short sockets for the coils helps.

 

No disrespect, my good amigo, but I am not that talented. Even with the cowl off, you are still working 50% blind because the intake stuff is all facing away from you. ... Spark plugs are easy to cross-thread. ... That little screw holding on the coil pack in place can be a pain. ... The whole shebang is not my favorite design.

 

I've been doing it a long time, lot of practice on VW bugs as a kid,, LOL I use touch more than feel to properly thread in plugs. I also do stuff like use a nylon chamber brush to clean the spark plug holes and I use a dab of conductive anti seize. (You can find it from commercial suppliers of electrical equipment. ) I have a 2003 911 that I restored in my garage and there is no short cuts on them, its all by feel for coil packs and plugs.. or I can drop the engine ( not as bad as it sounds but its a process) .. I use magnetic sockets for the coil pack screws. and a tiny 1/4 in drive socket wrench. First fits were 07 and 08 and they were definitely easier than the GE The socket you use to do the plugs matters, I have one that is german that has a spring to hold the plug in and the socket is checkered on the top 1/3 so you can use fingers to start it in. It's a BMW tool. (Go figure, I bought it years ago and the price was evil)

Latest fit is my daughters 2010 and I'm about to do the valves on it, which is the perfect time to so the plugs and coils. Funny coincidence, both the Honda and the 911 use Hitachi Coil packs and they almost look interchangeable..

 

To sum it up: practice removing the cowl. Get used to fiddly 10mm bolts on 8" extensions and breaking plastic clips. It's annoying, but so is cross-threading your sparkplugs or plenum bolts.

 

I just hate messing with plastic clips. Will be taking it all apart so I can get in there and see as much as I can.
thank you

 

I was thinking of leaving off one of the cowl bolts — the one that forces you to remove the wiper motor to remove it. Everything under the Fit hood is over-fastened anyway. It's amazing. Good, but amazing.

 

FWIW ,, My first fit I replaced all the plastic christmas trees with Stainless riv nuts and stanless button head machine screws (Allen wrench style)
Never had any more loose under tray issues.

 

That is a great idea !

 

So I took the cowl off and did the work. Only one clip loss due to breaking.
#3 spark plug was not very tight. Other than that simple job.

 

Glad to hear it wasn't too bad.
Did you adjust the valves too?

 

Yes I did. A few of the exhaust valves were a little tight.

 

Hell yeah.