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Hyundai Tucson Spark Plugs Replacement Guide
How to change the spark plugs in a 3rd generation 2016, 2017 & 2018 Hyundai Tucson with the Nu 2.0L GDI I4 engine.

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2018 Tucson Nu 2.0L GDI I4
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Pull Off Engine Cover
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Four Friction Fasteners
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2016, 2017, 2018 plus the refreshed 2019 & 2020 model years) Hyundai Tucson SUV in checking or changing the spark plugs for the Nu 2.0 liter GDI inline four cylinder motor.

Owners of other Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles such as the Santa Fe, Kona, Elantra, Sonata, Accent, Veloster, Ioniq, Nexo, G80, G90, Stinger, Rio, Forte, Optima, Cadenza, K900, Soul, Niro, Sportage, Sorento and Sedona may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The OEM spark plugs are the NGK SILZKR7B11 laser iridium.

A few other compatible replacement spark plugs with their part numbers are as follows: Champion RER8ZWYCB4 (9407), Denso (5356) IXUH22I, Hyundai 18846-11070, NGK 9723, and Autolite APP5702.

The tools and other items needed to complete this procedure include a 10mm socket, a 1/4" drive ratchet, a 5/8" spark plug socket, an extension bar, a 3/8" drive ratchet and a tube of dielectric grease.



 
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Engine Cover Removed
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Top of Engine Exposed
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Spark Plug Ignition Coil
The first two steps are to open the hood and pull off the plastic engine cover.

The engine cover is held in place by four rubber friction fasteners attached to metal pegs on the top of the motor.

Set the cover aside in a safe place.

Once the cover is out of the way, you'll be able to see the four black plastic ignition coil housings.

(The steps should be similar for Tucson models with the 1.6L Turbo GDI I4 engine.)

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Electrical Connector
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Slide Out Grey Lock Tab
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Locking Tab Released
Slide the grey plastic locking tab on the electrical connector out away from the ignition coil.

Make sure the grey lock tab is fully extended out.

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Push In Release Button
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Pull Off Power Plug
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Loosen Counterclockwise
Firmly push in the black plastic release tab on the electrical connector before pulling it straight off the ignition coil assembly.

Then attach the 10mm socket to a 1/4" drive ratchet.

Loosen the single bolt that secures the ignition coil to the top of the engine by turning it in the counterclockwise direction.

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Single Bolt Removed
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Lift Out Ignition Coil
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Ignition Coil Removed
Spin out the bolt the rest of the way by hand and set it aside in a safe place.

Carefully pull the ignition coil straight out of the spark plug well.

If you have trouble removing the ignition coil, try rotating it back and forth to loosen the rubber dust boot from the top of the old spark plug.

If the ignition coil hasn't been removed in 100K miles, the rubber dust boot might be stuck or "frozen" to the top of the old spark plug due to the repeated heat cycles.

Set the ignition coil aside in a safe place.

The OEM ignition coils are Hyundai / Kia part number 27300-2E000.

If you suspect a problem with your ignition coils, the corresponding OBD II scanner error codes include P0351, P032, P0353, P0354, P0355 and P0356. If you have a SES (service engine soon) or CEL (check engine light) on your gauge cluster, I highly recommend owning an OBD 2 Scanner so you can diagnose the code and clear it when you resolve the problem.

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Ignition Coil Part Number
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Spark Plug Socket & Bar
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Loosen Counterclockwise
I recommend only checking or changing one spark plug at a time to help reduce the risk of having debris fall down into the spark plug well or into the cylinder.

Attach the 5/8" spark plug socket to the extension bar and a 3/8" drive ratchet.

To prevent from having the spark plug socket pop off and become stuck down in the spark plug well, I recommend attaching it to the extension bar with some tape.

Lower the socket into the well and push it down over the top of the old spark plug.

Carefully loosen the old spark plug in the counterclockwise direction.



 

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Lift Out Old Spark Plug
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Inspect Old Spark Plug
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Spin In New Spark Plug
Once the old spark plug is loose, detach the ratchet from the extension bar.

Spin out the spark plug the rest of the way by hand.

Lift the spark plug out of the well and remove it from the socket.

Inspect both ends of the old spark plug.

If the electrode end of the old spark plug looks ashy white, the plugs may have been exposed to high temperatures due to engine overheating or they may be the incorrect heat range for your driving conditions or environment.

On the other hand, if the old spark plug is grey or covered in dark black soot, the engine might be burning oil and should be inspected by a professional mechanic.

I recommend buying the same NGK SILZKR7B11 (also known as part number SILZKR7B-11 or SILZKR7B 11) spark plugs that were originally installed at the Hyundai factory.

Push the new spark plug into the socket.

Your spark plug socket should have a magnet or a rubber insert to securely hold the new spark plug in place.

Lower the new spark plug down into the well.

Spin in the new spark plug a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

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Tighten Clockwise
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Apply Dielectric Grease
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Lower In Ignition Coil
Attach the ratchet to the extension bar and tighten the new spark plug to just past the point when you feel the new crush washer collapse.

If you are re-installing the old spark plug after checking it, just tighten it to a fraction of a turn past hand tight.

Avoid over tightening the spark plugs.

If you have a torque wrench, tighten the spark plugs to about 15 lb-ft of torque. A torque wrench is entirely optional. I have always just tightened spark plugs by hand to just a fraction of a turn past finger tight.

Double check that the spark plugs are tight before moving on to the next steps.

Apply some dielectric grease to the opening at the bottom of the rubber dust boot.

The dielectric grease will help keep out debris and moisture to ensure a reliable electrical connection.

Lower the ignition coil down into the spark plug well and push it on to the top of the new spark plug.

Rotate the ignition coil back and forth a few times to help spread the dielectric grease.

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Spin In 10mm Bolt
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Tighten Bolt Clockwise
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Push On Power Plug
Spin in the 10mm bolt a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

Tighten the bolt in the clockwise direction with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet until it is snug.

Try to avoid over tightening the bolt to prevent from cracking the plastic ignition coil housing.

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Slide In Gray Locking Tab
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Push On Engine Cover
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Spark Plugs Replaced
Push the electrical connector straight on to the base of the ignition coil until it "clicks" securely into place.

Slide the grey locking tab in towards the ignition coil to lock the power plug in place.

Lower the plastic cover on to the top of the engine. Push on it to secure the four friction fasteners to their metal pegs.

Double check that the engine cover is securely in place.

Start the engine and listen closely for any strange sounds or noises that might indicate a problem such as a disconnected electrical connector, a faulty ignition coil or a loose spark plug.

Be sure to record the spark plug change in your vehicle's service records. (The service interval for the iridium spark plugs on the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual is 105,000 miles.)

For more, check out all of my 2016-2018 Hyundai Tucson DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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