Checking your spark plugs?
 

I figure this is probably the best place to post as being more modified requires you to investigate your plugs more closely and frequently.

So have you guys found an easier way to check your plugs? This is why I always stayed away from Subarus. A 5 minute job on 90% of cars to check/replace plugs is like a 5 hour job on these cars!

Looking to see if anybody has developed a short cut.

Thanks.

With the right tools you can do it without jacking the motor up. I jacked my motor up, and still pulled all 4 and regapped them and the whole process was under 3 hours.

"under 3 hours" lol

still a pain in the ass it seems...

Well it isn't an oil change, but it also isn't done every 5,000 miles either. These plugs should last 100,000 miles. Mine looked great after 10,000 miles of Full Blown boost.

it's pretty easy with the right tools as mentioned above. a couple of wobbly extensions and a small ratchet is really all you need to accomplish the job in under a half hour. The key is removing the ecu thing on the passenger side and metal shielding on the driver's side to give yourself some room to work.

Well a detailed with pictures DIY would be useful for us simpletons. Saying "its easy with the right tools and removing the right parts" isn't exactly useful for Joe Schmoe who would otherwise spend the 1000$ if he cant figure it out.

Pretty much.

Hopefully someone posts up a DIY with pics and what tools they managed it with. (Lengths of various extensions to get the right combinations).

there was a post on here a while back with pictures of the tools you need, basically just two short wobbly extensions and a ratchet as stated above. i used two that i bought from harbor freight for a couple bucks and a regular craftsman 3/8 drive ratchet.

the job itself is pretty self-explanatory. it's pretty obvious where the spark plugs are and what you have to do to get to them.

the gist of it is:

• remove ecu on the passenger side and metal injector shielding stuff on the right side (it's obvious what needs removed)
• remove the coil with two small (i think 10mm) bolts
• attach one wobbly extension to the 14mm socket, push it in the hole a bit
• follow that up with another wobbly extension, attaching in to the assembly already dangling in the spark plug hole
• attach your ratchet to the whole assembly and remove the spark plug
• disassemble in reverse to get it out
• rinse and repeat

you may need to feed on one more extension depending on how long yours are, but make sure to use the smallest ones possible. you don't want to put a longer (3" or more) one in the and not be able to get it back out. smaller ones that wobble afford you the flexibility you need.

Good thread idea


This will be useful to know once its time for me to change my plugs down the road


Thanks

@King Tut I cant remember in what thread was your write up.

Not to be a **** but this is exactly what the average guy doesn't know shit about. What the fuck is a wobbly extension? 10mm ? what if its 12? What coil? What is a coil? rinse and repeat, I'm not washing the car.

Not to be an as*-hole but if you don't understand this terminology, you shouldn't be trying to do the plugs. Take it to a reputable shop, show them this write up and let them do it.

A wobbly extension has a joint on the end that allows the socket to wobble on the end of it. He is talking about buying multiple 3/8" size and probably under an inch long extensions. The coil bolts to the valve cover and provides the spark to the spark plug. You can't get to the spark plugs without removing the coils. There is one coil for each spark plug.

I didn't do a real write up. Just wrote about my findings in my forced induction build thread I think.