Spark Plug Issue

[Craig SSFifty]

I just got the K&N cold air intake on my SGT2 yesterday! I love the way it sounds and i have better gas millage!

If you have better gas mileage than it is running leaner and that could be a problem.

 

[ballistic]

If you have better gas mileage than it is running leaner and that could be a problem.

welcome. i've seen plenty of tunes give better gas mileage and be working perfectly fine.

 

[Kazz]

Just putting my two cents in here I’m a kia tech I’ve had one gt2 come in unchipped with a cracked plug. Kia engineers are aware of the concern and I was told by them to replace all plugs and all coils even though I only had one bad plug on cylinder 6. No info about about a future recall or not but I bet they will release something with the amount of concerns there are

And to those that are having this issue be patient no stock in the country on coils they have been put on back order which usually means kia is changing something around with them

And for everyone going and buying the hks plugs buyer beware we’ve had multiple vehicles ranging in different models that those plugs have come apart in cylinder and destroy motors

@Kamauxx

 

[Dark_Knight GT]

@Kamauxx

At the risk of further perpetuating agendas, how do we know the car was never chipped?

When my car when in for the coil, my tech was informed the coils were on back order (arrived 2 days later) which may suggest more systemic problems with the ignition system as implied above. Regardless, seems clear that the LAP3 facilitated failures. Remains to be seen if the newer products (race chip) will do the same.

I think we can all agree the preponderance of evidence suggests running the LAP3 on a stock setup is a bad bet. In contrast, the info posted regarding stock cars having problems is less compelling, at least for me. But I’m an open minded skeptic by trade so I’ll stand by for further disconfirming evidence.

 

[Kazz]

At the risk of further perpetuating agendas, how do we know the car was never chipped?

When my car when in for the coil, my tech was informed the coils were on back order (arrived 2 days later) which may suggest more systemic problems with the ignition system as implied above. Regardless, seems clear that the LAP3 facilitated failures. Remains to be seen if the newer products (race chip) will do the same.

I think we can all agree the preponderance of evidence suggests running the LAP3 on a stock setup is a bad bet. In contrast, the info posted regarding stock cars having problems is less compelling, at least for me. But I’m an open minded skeptic by trade so I’ll stand by for further disconfirming evidence.

Let's see what action Kia takes.

 

[Hunter]

At the risk of further perpetuating agendas, how do we know the car was never chipped?

When my car when in for the coil, my tech was informed the coils were on back order (arrived 2 days later) which may suggest more systemic problems with the ignition system as implied above. Regardless, seems clear that the LAP3 facilitated failures. Remains to be seen if the newer products (race chip) will do the same.

I think we can all agree the preponderance of evidence suggests running the LAP3 on a stock setup is a bad bet. In contrast, the info posted regarding stock cars having problems is less compelling, at least for me. But I’m an open minded skeptic by trade so I’ll stand by for further disconfirming evidence.

Oh I’m not doubting the chip is causing trouble at all I agree it is Just adding what I’ve seen from my experience

 

[Dspec 1]

This is exactly why i will now wait until 15,000 kilometers before doing any engine modifications, including intake and exhaust. Just let it sort itself out and let Kia do what they need to make reparations. And I love modding

 

[Never thought]

Just putting my two cents in here I’m a kia tech I’ve had one gt2 come in unchipped with a cracked plug. Kia engineers are aware of the concern and I was told by them to replace all plugs and all coils even though I only had one bad plug on cylinder 6. No info about about a future recall or not but I bet they will release something with the amount of concerns there are

And to those that are having this issue be patient no stock in the country on coils they have been put on back order which usually means kia is changing something around with them

And for everyone going and buying the hks plugs buyer beware we’ve had multiple vehicles ranging in different models that those plugs have come apart in cylinder and destroy motors

Sorry to go a little off topic, but could an aftermarket air intake and exhaust cause issues with the plugs/engine?

 

[Dark_Knight GT]

At the risk of further perpetuating agendas, how do we know the car was never chipped?

When my car when in for the coil, my tech was informed the coils were on back order (arrived 2 days later) which may suggest more systemic problems with the ignition system as implied above. Regardless, seems clear that the LAP3 facilitated failures. Remains to be seen if the newer products (race chip) will do the same.

I think we can all agree the preponderance of evidence suggests running the LAP3 on a stock setup is a bad bet. In contrast, the info posted regarding stock cars having problems is less compelling, at least for me. But I’m an open minded skeptic by trade so I’ll stand by for further disconfirming evidence.

Had me some crow for dinner. My very much non-chipped car threw another misfire code. This time in a different cylinder. Haven’t had a chance to bring it to the dealership, but given the similarities to the last episode I’ll wager it’s a coil and/or plug again.

 

[Kazz]

Had me some crow for dinner. My very much non-chipped car threw another misfire code. This time in a different cylinder. Haven’t had a chance to bring it to the dealership, but given the similarities to the last episode I’ll wager it’s a coil and/or plug again.

Wow - never been chipped?

 

[Dark_Knight GT]

Wow - never been chipped?

No. Ran the LAP3 and got a misfire. Coil and plug for cylinder 5 replaced. Never put the chip back on. I suppose there was additional damage that is now just surfacing. Relatedly, I just installed the Ark exhaust. I can’t imagine that’s the culprit. I would think that if the car was running lean the 02 sensor would also be throwing a code?

 

[STINGER]

No. Ran the LAP3 and got a misfire. Coil and plug for cylinder 5 replaced. Never put the chip back on. I suppose there was additional damage that is now just surfacing. Relatedly, I just installed the Ark exhaust. I can’t imagine that’s the culprit. I would think that if the car was running lean the 02 sensor would also be throwing a code?

The ARK exhaust is likely not the culprit, but like you said it probably just hastened the previous damage that just surfaced.

 

[iclicku]

Just putting my two cents in here I’m a kia tech I’ve had one gt2 come in unchipped with a cracked plug. Kia engineers are aware of the concern and I was told by them to replace all plugs and all coils even though I only had one bad plug on cylinder 6. No info about about a future recall or not but I bet they will release something with the amount of concerns there are

And to those that are having this issue be patient no stock in the country on coils they have been put on back order which usually means kia is changing something around with them

And for everyone going and buying the hks plugs buyer beware we’ve had multiple vehicles ranging in different models that those plugs have come apart in cylinder and destroy motors

This is really starting to make me worry about the HKS plugs...
I was under the impression that they were high quality plugs. I do NOT want my engine blowing up

 

[Dark_Knight GT]

The ARK exhaust is likely not the culprit, but like you said it probably just hastened the previous damage that just surfaced.

Good to hear. I didn’t think so either. Plus, I’d hate to take it off - sounds too good.

For those who have recently had the coils and plugs replaced, has kia recommended re-gapping them given all the problems?

 

[Hunter]

Good to hear. I didn’t think so either. Plus, I’d hate to take it off - sounds too good.

For those who have recently had the coils and plugs replaced, has kia recommended re-gapping them given all the problems?

No we have had one issue with the plugs kia engineers told us to replace all 6 plugs and all 6 coils to resolve the issue nothing about re gapping

 

[Dark_Knight GT]

No we have had one issue with the plugs kia engineers told us to replace all 6 plugs and all 6 coils to resolve the issue nothing about re gapping

Are these coils/plugs a new brand or specs? Just curious why kia would recommend changing them all if the replacement parts are identical? Unless they assume (perhaps correctly given my recent history), that one failing starts the dominos falling. Thanks for the information.

 

[Hunter]

Are these coils/plugs a new brand or specs? Just curious why kia would recommend changing them all if the replacement parts are identical? Unless they assume (perhaps correctly given my recent history), that one failing starts the dominos falling. Thanks for the information.

In my past experience when they do this it’s usually because they are trying to find a permanent solution to the problem so they are trying to fix the problems that are there until the come out with either a recall or technicial service bulletin for the issues

 

[Hunter]

In my past experience when they do this it’s usually because they are trying to find a permanent solution to the problem so they are trying to fix the problems that are there until the come out with either a recall or technicial service bulletin for the issues

But the parts are the exact same until a recall is made then the parts are different

 

[Daniel @ K8 Stinger Store]

This is really starting to make me worry about the HKS plugs...
I was under the impression that they were high quality plugs. I do NOT want my engine blowing up

It's an unfair comparison he made to other models (meaning not the Stinger) which have different engines, and different issues of their own. For instance, the turbo Optima is known to have issues blowing cylinder 2 (I believe) and both Kia and Hyundai were forced into a massive engine recall and extension of the engine warranty on these vehicles.

Obviously, if a motor is from the factory with a defect at some point it's going to blow or mess something up. Will running a tune or chip on a motor that's predisposed to an issue make it happen faster, it's likely.

I think if we saw just chipped motors causing issues compared to completely stock motors that were having no issues you would have a good argument. It seems that this is not the case as BOTH chipped and bare bone STOCK motors are having the EXACT same issues across the board. As @Hunter stated it sounds like Kia might be recognizing this and making a change in the coil system to prevent this.

 

[Hung tran]

I had 6 spark plugs and 6 coils replace a few weeks back for a misfire code. When I replace them I regap mine plugs to .025. The stock gap was at .035.