Spark plug woes
 

Ok after 5 years I summoned up the courage to attempt to change the plugs. I have read and followed the excellent how to documents and with a lot of cussing i managed to extract two plugs. The other near the firewall right hand side I just can't get the tools too. In fact with twiddling and this and this way and that way the coil pack binds between engine and body. No way to move it out of the way. Having removed the rubber plugs under the wheel arch and engine compatrment I find that these do not match up. They are about an inch off. Am I missing something here or is my car just wierd. I wish I hadn't started. Just a bit frustrated that such a simple task can be such a pain. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Re: Spark plug woes
 

I had a time of it when I first tried this, but learned that some wiggling does actually take care of the problem with the coil packs.

I also had to use a socket knuckle on both back plugs, to complete the task.

Re: Spark plug woes
 

You'll be able to get it. Here's what I did for my first time (which was last month). For the passenger side, remove the air box fixture and you can easily get them all out. Use a small wrench to loosen the coil bolts, then untwist them by hand. Once free, the coil will pull out. Pull out the first one, then pull out the one behind that, then the one closest to the firewall. You will not be able to get that last one out unless the middle one is out, fyi. For the driver side, the first two can be removed easily with just taking the battery out. The last one is very tight, but with a 12mm wrench you will get it. Taking it out is a pain and awkward as hell, but you MUST take it out through the middle coil. You're going to have a nightmare trying to remove it with that middle coil in. As far as plugs go, just get a ratchet with a small extension and a spark plug socket. They'll all come out.

Tips (again):

- don't try this without first removing the battery and the entire air box (the maf back can be wedged behind the washer fluid tank)

- don't even attempt removing the furthest back coils until you remove the middle ones

- you don't need to go through the wheel arch. it's just going to add a level of stress

Tools needed:

a 12mm wrench for the coil bolts, all the sockets for removing the air tank (I think they're all 12 and 14mm, but don't quote me on it), ratchet, extension, spark plug socket.

Re: Spark plug woes
 

Done them many times on UK/JDM Svx's, 1/4" drive ratchet and short bars with swivelly adaptor works good for me, never had to go through the hole in inner wing. :)

Re: Spark plug woes
 

I am not sure about access holes for all the plugs. I only know of one access hole on the driver side, and it lines up. That was the only one I used, the others I took out from above. Try to losen the plugs with a ratchet, then finish removing then by hand. That is how I did them. Some spots are tight, but can be done. Good luck.

Re: Spark plug woes
 

So I'm not the only one with spark plug access ports that don't line up?

Re: Spark plug woes
 

As the song says. With a little help from my friends. Thank you all for the helpful encouragement to get the plugs done. With the right tools I completed the task today and even the difficult one was changed with comparative ease. In fact the difficult bit was putting the coil pack back on. The hint of a quarter inch ratchet and short extension was the answer. Didn't have to do the arch plug thing. So feeling pretty smug with 6 new platinum plugs duly installed. So many thanks once again to the knowledge and enthusiasm of the group.