Notices
General Technical
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

CHANGING SPARK PLUGS - tips please?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 20 February 2008 | 12:58 PM
  #1  
Mouseman11's Avatar
Mouseman11
Thread Starter
Scooby Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Durham
Question CHANGING SPARK PLUGS - tips please?

Hi all
Ready to change spark plugs in a stock 52 plate WRX bug eye.
Is it an urban myth or is this a VERY difficult job to do?
Thanks
Old 20 February 2008 | 01:13 PM
  #2  
Davros 1979's Avatar
Davros 1979
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,460
Likes: 1
From: Newport Pagnell
Default

If you have the right tools it isnt that bad at all.

Remove Airbox if you still have one. Remove the washer bottle, some say battery but I think you can do the job without removing it.
Old 20 February 2008 | 01:59 PM
  #3  
Gear Head's Avatar
Gear Head
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in Kent, sniffing some V-Power
Default

Not difficult at all. Just make sure you tape the spark plug socket to extension that you use. If you don't, it will get stuck on the plug when you go to pull it out.
A lot of the job is done by feel. And, if you have large hands, prepare for a scraping session!
Old 20 February 2008 | 02:02 PM
  #4  
Steve001's Avatar
Steve001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Chester (Tumbleweed City!)
Default

another tip

if your ratchet does not lock onto the sparkplug socket remove the rubber from the inside of the socket. this will stop you leaving the socket on the plug when you try and remove it after you fitted the new sparkplugs.

bin there done that its a bit of a pain to get out.

as for the job, its not hard just awkward

s

Dam you beat me to it

oh yes do one at a time, that way you wont get the coilpacks mixed up

Last edited by Steve001; 20 February 2008 at 02:06 PM.
Old 20 February 2008 | 02:21 PM
  #5  
Mouseman11's Avatar
Mouseman11
Thread Starter
Scooby Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Durham
Smile

another excellent response. thanks.
I may as well kick the @rse out your genorosity - what size plug socket?

cheers me dears.
Old 20 February 2008 | 02:26 PM
  #6  
Steve001's Avatar
Steve001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Chester (Tumbleweed City!)
Default

ooops sorry cant remember :doh:

generally they come in 2 sizes, its the smaller one

BTW battery out does make it a bit easier

s
Old 20 February 2008 | 02:33 PM
  #7  
Mouseman11's Avatar
Mouseman11
Thread Starter
Scooby Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Durham
Default

the small one - thats good enough for me!
No need for techno speak ha ha

Battery out then. I heard on the grapevine something silly like the engine had to be lowered a bit to get to the heads!

Never trust a grapevine, eh?
Old 20 February 2008 | 02:44 PM
  #8  
Steve001's Avatar
Steve001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Chester (Tumbleweed City!)
Default

10mm if memory serves

i just wish subaru had allowed half an inch extra room between the engine and inner wing

sod the grapevine m8 engine HIGHER if anything but you dont need to anyway, so much for the grapes then

s
Old 20 February 2008 | 02:47 PM
  #9  
JohnD's Avatar
JohnD
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 1
From: Havering, Essex
Default

The worst bit is thinking about doing it!
Never had to take the battery out, just not needed, just airbox and washer bottle. Make sure you've set the gaps - you don't want to be doing the whole job again for a while!
JohnD
Old 20 February 2008 | 02:52 PM
  #10  
Steve001's Avatar
Steve001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Chester (Tumbleweed City!)
Default

Battery out, battery out

it does give you a bit more room to manouver you should remove the earth (-) from the battery before work anyway. the worse thing is that you have to do your radio pre-sets again

s
Old 20 February 2008 | 03:01 PM
  #11  
JohnD's Avatar
JohnD
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 1
From: Havering, Essex
Default

Originally Posted by Steve001
Battery out, battery out

it does give you a bit more room to manouver you should remove the earth (-) from the battery before work anyway. the worse thing is that you have to do your radio pre-sets again

s
There you go! Battery out then battery in, then re-setting the pre-sets doubles the job time!
JohnD
Old 20 February 2008 | 03:04 PM
  #12  
Steve001's Avatar
Steve001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Chester (Tumbleweed City!)
Default

I knew i'd get my own way

s
Old 20 February 2008 | 03:08 PM
  #13  
Steve001's Avatar
Steve001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Chester (Tumbleweed City!)
Default

oh yes and i forgot to say

have one of those magnetic 'fisher-outer-ers' to hand for when you drop something onto the undertray

done that one as well

s
Old 20 February 2008 | 05:53 PM
  #14  
Mouseman11's Avatar
Mouseman11
Thread Starter
Scooby Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Durham
Cool

blimey this is a popular thread or are we all just not busy enough at work? LOL

Ok then - who wants to get the correct gap size back to me then...?
And any recommended plugs for a standard WRX engine set up with a plodder of a driver...

5, 4, 3, ...
Old 20 February 2008 | 06:52 PM
  #15  
bugeyeandy's Avatar
bugeyeandy
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
From: West London
Default

NGKPFR6B 's - they come pre-gapped.
Old 20 February 2008 | 07:07 PM
  #16  
ryansclassicscoob's Avatar
ryansclassicscoob
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: brentwood, essex
Default

[QUOTE=Steve001;7670928]10mm if memory serves

I think the small size plug socket is 16mm
Old 20 February 2008 | 07:21 PM
  #17  
Steve001's Avatar
Steve001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,695
Likes: 1
From: Chester (Tumbleweed City!)
Default

thats whats allways confused me coz the socket itself mybe 16mm but they all have 10mm stamped on the side (i have 2 both different makes) but both say 10mm

sticking to the technical version 'its the small one'

s

when you get your new plugs try your socket, if it fit then ok, if not go and buy/borrow one that does sorted!
Old 20 February 2008 | 08:03 PM
  #18  
gavimpreza9's Avatar
gavimpreza9
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Default

dont take the battery out mate, waste of time ive never taken it out and ive fitted hundreds, also never trust the pre gapped size always check before fitting, if you think there hard to do try an H6 legacy, nearly impossible.
Old 20 February 2008 | 09:11 PM
  #19  
jasonius's Avatar
jasonius
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,791
Likes: 0
From: Half way up
Default

Originally Posted by gavimpreza9
dont take the battery out mate, waste of time ive never taken it out and ive fitted hundreds, also never trust the pre gapped size always check before fitting.
Same here..

The washer bottle (if you have one) can be moved up onto suspension turret without disconnecting hoses. Just unplug electrical connector to pump first..

Airbox out, that's the easier side..!

Other than that, the right tools (esp. extension length ~75mm iirc..) and it can be easier to position socket and extension onto plug before connecting the ratchet IYSWIM..?

It's one of those jobs that having done it once it's easy 30min.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KAS35RSTI
Subaru
27
04 November 2021 08:12 PM
Sam Witwicky
Engine Management and ECU Remapping
17
13 November 2015 11:49 AM
Ganz1983
Subaru
5
02 October 2015 10:22 AM
thunder8
General Technical
0
01 October 2015 10:13 PM
shorty87
Other Marques
0
25 September 2015 09:52 PM




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:17 AM.