03 zx12r plug change

[nickjt]

Just put a fresh set of plugs in my 12r. After reading a few posts of "how to" and getting the impression that it was a REAL nightmare of a job.
It took me about 40 minutes to get fairings off and first plug out, #4. Once i worked out how to release the coil wiring plug, I was pushing down with small flat screw driver at the FRONT of the plug and wondering why it wouldn't pull off! AHHHH!!!! push down the clip at the BACK end of the wiring plug!!! AND Using the factory plug spanner in the tool kit, the LARGE one.
Onto the next one in, #3, about 10 minutes to get coil wiring disconnected, the coil out and the plug unscrewed, another 10 minutes before i found that you have to use the SMALL plug spanner to actually get the bloody thing out of the hole!
Onto #1, no problem there, done in 10 minutes.
And finally, #2, Again with the small plug spanner, 10 minutes and it was done.
All in All, not as bad as some of the posts i read made it sound. Scale of 1 to 10, 10 being farking impossible! drop the engine out!
I reckon it was a fair 6 - 6.5
Any one thinking of doing it, but not too sure. Go for it! It aint all that bad. But recommend the factory plug spanners!!!

[Smitty]

hehe...
thats why they use platinum plugs ...with a 50,000km life

[Gosling1]

its a pain in the arse the first time around - but apparently heaps easier the 2nd.......wouldn't know yet, my 12 is only on its second set of plugs in 8 years !!

[nickjt]

Agreed!!! i just swapped the two outside coil sticks over trying to eliminate the fault i have....it seemed sooooo much easier and faster second time around... but, STILL have same fault!!!! AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

[Smitty]

Agreed!!! i just swapped the two outside coil sticks over trying to eliminate the fault i have....it seemed sooooo much easier and faster second time around... but, STILL have same fault!!!! AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

..that would suggest it aint ignition related

check the fuelling/injectors on this cylinder

[Gosling1]

.....Agreed!!! i just swapped the two outside coil sticks over trying to eliminate the fault i have....it seemed sooooo much easier and faster second time around... but, STILL have same fault!!!! AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH ......

Have you checked the fault codes yet ? Up in the 'boot', if you take out the inner plastic tray - you will see a yellow wire that just has a connector but is not connected to anything. This is the fault-code wire. You just have to make up a short lead which plugs into the end of this wire, and within 2 seconds of turning the ignition on - ground the end of the lead to the frame.

This will show the fault-code in the FI light on the dash. There are a series of short or long flashes, and you can identify the fault like this.

I will dig out the fault code table and post it up - there is one on kawasakiworld.com in the US in a Zx12R thread - but it is not complete. I found a complete one doing a mad google search a few weeks ago.

[nickjt]

Thanks for that tip.
I done the screw driver trick on the suspect injector, it's clicking away nicely, sounds the same as others.
I put a wire into the yellow connector in the "BOOT" and grounded it as you explained, and the FI light lit up, and stayed on????? no series of flashes.....

[SteveW]

That will only flash a code if the dash has the FI light on when the bike is running.
Eg- before you ground the yellow wire.