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.

LOL if I dont understand wobbly extension I should give up? I get he is helping but wobbly extension is like saying thing a ma jig, not useful to someone who is trying to work on their car first time...

Its actually not that hard to take what jamesm wrote and look for definitions

http://bit.ly/16RQaQk

Again, if you are trying to work in the car for the first time, this spark plug job is not the place to start. And again, not trying to be an asshole.

If you can't even google what a wobble extension is, then I don't think anyone could write up a DIY to sufficiently explain how to do this.

Going by the name alone you can figure it out...

Extension.... check.
Wobble..... check.

An extension that allows a certain amount of wobble/play to get to hard to reach areas is not that far of a reach

If you never work with tools then I would not suggest this spark plug change to be your first endeavour. Everyone starts somewhere, but you also need to be willing to use resources (the internet, other experienced people) to figure things out.

Any of your friends into working on cars? The best thing to do is help them and learn. We all start somewhere, it depends on YOU if you want to learn it.

True.
however, step by step picture or video is 100000000000000 better than explained in words. i believe that's what he was trying to say

It's an actual term for the tool. Wobble / wobbly extension. Google it up.

If he said "use one of those thingamajigs that angle the socket" then yeah, I'd agree with you.

if you don't know what a wobbly extension is, or think that extensions comes in sizes measured in millimeters, or what a coil is... you should probably just pay someone to do the job.

Right and someone trying to change their oil the first time should take it to a shop if they don't know what drain plug or oil grain plug gasket means.

OK GUISE

U WIN

GG NO RE

its called a uniwiggle or universal you can get longer ones as well or a flex extension. i work jets so we use all kinds of stupid tools

http://c.shld.net/rpx/i/s/i/spin/ima...sm=0.9,0.5,0,0

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MzAwWDMwMA...Es!~~60_35.JPG

YES! This would be golden if somebody can do it. Or better yet, make an instructional video.

I literally shit myself looking at the factory service manual.

That pictured is not actually correct. THis is what he is talking about where all the socket does is wobble a little bit instead of allowing so much articulation:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...set-67065.html

still going to need a universal i think i tried doing it before i blew my motor up just to see how hard/easy it was. i used the wobble extension as well i forget wtf we call it at work.

Having seen the results of oil changes gone bad.... if you are in doubt of your abilities, don't do it and try to get some experience watching others or using the internet/youtube to become comfortable with it.

Okay... now that we know what a "wobble" attachment is lol, does anybody have an easier way than the FSM to change/check the plugs?

I'm not a certified mechanic but I can turn a wrench and consider myself pretty intermediate when it comes to working on cars.

I use those same flex extensions at work too! That, a high torque and screw grab saves half an hour of extra work:D

You don't need any of those fancy tools at all really, that helps but not essential

It's very simple if you can create access

Undo mount bolts for motor mounts, right?
Jack up motor two inches from oil pan with care, another inch when you're clear!

Be sure you clear stuff loosen exhaust check wires hoses etc based on your build, if you need to be told nitty gritty details I'm not the guy to do that sorry

Slide jack left or right and its under twenty minutes per side

Just did it well mostly the same job this weekend, pulled off more than plugs, pulled the entire cam cover in an hour for my project

no more than two hrs for the both sides if you go slow

Pulling cover took an hour and requires more than the room needed for plugs

I used basic hand tools, it's too tight for air tools, and a few smaller things like swivels and wobble stuff make it that much easier but once you gain access needed to pull the coils you're there, having the right plug sockets will be key, it's tight in there.


You can do it too, lifting the motor makes the needed access space, hope that helps

If you need to ask those questions you have no business under the hood of a car.

If someone donates a car, I will do a DIY :)

@Sportsguy83? hahahaha

How were the gaps on the stock plugs?

When
 

When you coming down to MIA?? :D

I cannot possibly see how there is enough clearance to pull coils without bending the hell out of them. Much easier to losen the two subframe bolts and lift motor to get clearance as mentioned it would take less time then fighting in a tight space and getting pissed off.

It's possible. Thy don't go yanking the moor, an I swear I dint use not specialty tools

It's very easy. The coils are the simple part. Removing the ecu and shielding give you plenty of room. There is absolutely no need at all to lift the engine. It may or may not be the same effort as just lifting the motor, but its definitely not when you have a front mount turbo that'd have to come off to lift the motor.

Ok will try without it. Have the plugs just been holding off on it.

hated doing plugs on my forester before removing the subframe spacers

i see this as more of the same.

plenty doable just a pita until you get the extension/tool sequence down.

They were all real close to factory gap. I gapped them down .001 less with feeler gauges.

So I finally got under the car and pulled the guard off...

I'm sad to say that there's no other way. The engine MUST be lifted in order to change/check the plugs. Really, that is awfully annoying. Just when I thought my MR2 was bad to work on, this is probably just as bad if not more annoying!

It would've been nice to have a service hole through the frame or something. But having to undo an onslaught of items for a simple spark plug check/change is quite ridiculous.

I seriously hope these plugs can handle a good amount of boost for a long time because who the hell has the time to lift a damn engine periodically!

Ughhhhhhhhhhhh....

/rant