To the best of my knowledge, that is correct. There continues to be debate regarding the use of anti-seize, of which I am sure you are aware. Beyond that, I cannot state with certainty that your Canadian Fits (O, Canada! I love Canada. ) are identical in specification to USDM.

Happy trails. Come visit us. We have many great and historical roads in Southern California.

 

I'm always glad to see an update on this topic. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

Thanks skidsteer226, good to have that confirmation.
As I get near to the Tribunal hearing I know I need as much as possible in writing, and for specs a copy of the printed information from Honda or other recognised source is best.

For the original 13ftlb Pyts provided the original Bishko service manual page which is great.

For the current 20ftlb I have screen shots of the Haynes Youtube video 'Honda Fit 07-13 - How to replace the spark plugs' video which shows the spec in big block letters. The only thing I can't find on the video is the date to prove it came out around when the Tech Line Summary Article came out (or later).

 

3 weeks to go to a tribunal hearing for compensation, and just to throw a cat among the pigeons I got something different today. It takes away one of my arguments if its right.
Went to my local Honda dealer in Australia and asked them what the spark plug torque spec is to do the job myself on my son's old GE8 Jazz. Gave them the VIN to define the right engine, L15a7 and the service manager tells me the torque is "18-20 Nm and then a bit more"...(13-15 ftlb). That's straight out of their current service specs.

So why is it differrent -- 27Nm (20ftlb) on the Haynes youtube video, and the spec found elsewhere?

Now I know there was one other posted Australian spark plug blow out, Dxs post 116 on this thread, so it does happen here. But why is the torque spec still the original in Australia, or close to it ?? I didn't think our internet was that slow!
I feel like some dark force is plotting to cut me off at the pass..(sorry for the mixed references!)

If the engines are the same, the only reason I can think of is due to different laws here: consumer law (easier for consumer to prove liability on companies); and service data laws (less requirement to publish internal service info), resulting in Honda Aus foxing us with what appears to be the 'same' torque 18-20NM which is a 10% increase, but also has a subtle hint to their techs to add a 'bit more'. That way they get to say' its the same, nothing to see here', and they don't have to admit liability for any spark plugs that do pop out. Remember in Aus the tech line summary article is not available outside the Honda network. Of course I may also be turning into a conspiracy theorist!
Im tired and confused. Anyone have any ideas?

 

I'll see about heading to a local dealer to get a print-out.
Something I think you'll have to verify is that the engines are the same as in the U.S., and so are the spark plugs. I think the difference in torque values, plus the ambiguity of "a little more" is damning. I assume that "a little more" isn't written anywhere though. Their explanation of the difference, which I imagine would require they be afforded additional time to collect information to explain (assuming everything else goes smoothly), seems like the determining factor to me.

I can already hear an American judge: You didn't submit your documents in advance. the case will be postponed until January. Next. January.

 

I am not a professional auto mechanic, but I've been working on cars for a while, and I have never heard of this one. It is hard to imagine that anyone would write a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) using language like that. I'd like to see it in print.

Good luck.

 

Me too, now.

Got a reach out from stepdaughter early afternoon - check engine light, can't accelerate over 40kph. Fortunately, fairly close to home base, although we have several feet of snow and wind chill temps are about -20C right now. Drove out with a bluetooth OBD dongle and found misfire cyl 1 logged though no CEL on restart. Engine sounded a little off. Felt the top of the cyl 1 coil back and could feel it thump while #2 and #3 did not. Well - it's happened...

Gingerly get it back to my home garage. Since it was cyl 1 I managed to do all the work without pulling the cowl. Found it about 3.5 turns loose.

But - if #1 picked today to loosen, what about the others? Chose not to try to check #2 without removing cowl - too easy to drop tools, bolts etc... Debated whether to drop it off at a mechanic with a warm shop, spare plastic clips etc... or forge ahead.

Chose to forge ahead. Broke both A-pillar clips. Broke 2 of the 9 cowl cover clips. Found #4 was also 1.5-2 turns loose. #2 and #3 were tight.

 

Those clips are impossible -- Don't feel bad about that. I've found that the hood hinge covers (A pillar covers) work fine for me without the clips, though on the way to fine I lost 3 of them on the highway. Kept replacing. Weren't too expensive like $11

 

My 2 loose spark plugs were the exact opposite!. Cylinders 2 and 3. I just did the plugs and coil packs while I was in there and I also broke some cowl clips. I ordered some cheap ones and they showed up a couple weeks ago but it's too cold here too to replace them. We hit -37C here last night and that's the raw temperature, not the wind chill (-51C)! Supposed to be even colder tonight, -38C!

 

I don't feel bad at all . Actually I thought it was pretty good for largely unknown past history (I found cyl #3 had a different bolt on the coil pack that was barely long enough) and well below freezing LOL.

Yep - you have it far worse than we do. Neither of us have ideal conditions for fooling around with plastic. It was a holiday here yesterday so nothing open. It doesn't need plugs technically, and the coils are working. I'll put replacement on a "spring" maintenance list.

 

Hi fellow fit/jazz freaks. Firstly thanks to all for your effort and support, specially Pyts and Mister Coffee.
My crusade for some compensation after spark plug blowout/engine replacement has dragged on a bit. For those new to this thread, the finger of blame pointed firmly to the Honda service centre that replaced the plugs. I pursued them via the State consumer tribunal.

I was a bit disillusioned after the initial 'conciliation' hearing but thought I should give you an update.
The Conciliator assisting us repeatedly emphasised to me that I would need to present evidence and/or witnesses to the presiding member of a 'Full Hearing' to convince them of my case on 'Balance of Probability'. She seemed to imply I was facing an uphill battle.
The defending company rep just stuck to his line of innocence 'We do services by the book', while showing disbelief in anything I presented. Not even a glimmer of hope for a quick settlement.

I thought long and hard about the evidence I had and the fact the 2 main witnesses had moved interstate and were now not contactable. Also the fact that the onus was on me to prove the case while the company just had to stick to the line 'We always follow the rules and the service data from manufacturer' and 'We are a reputable company'.
The possible outcomes at a Full Hearing..
- fully convincing 100% = Win and probably full compensation,
- only 49% convincing = Fail and no compensation,
-even if 51% convincing = Win but probably not much compensation.

Many of you will have guessed it was all too hard! The time and effort to prepare for the hearing on top of impossibility to get a witness or 2 online at the right time was all too much so I chucked it in. There was also the possibility of 'winning' the balance of probability but getting stuff all compensation for all the effort.

Well at least I have a better understanding of how that legal stuff works, not something I have ever been involved with before and hope I never have to in the future!

Many thanks again for your efforts, this forum is a truly great resource with some pretty clever people contributing!

Now Im going to get on with a more constructive aim, fixing up an old Boxster for track use!