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  #1  
Old 07-21-2005, 02:02 AM
Kiteless
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Spark Plugs & Serpentine Belt.

Hey all. Well I have my ATF cooler and SmallCar shift kit. But I can not work up the nerve to install them myself. I m very certain I can do the shift kit but the ATF is looking to be a daunting task. I would like to at least get it installed before too much longer.

Anyway my real question. The Spark Plugs look really hard to get to. Any special tools besides a ratched and a plug socket needed? Any specific kind of plugs reccomended?

Also my serpentine belt is looking really badly worn. It is missing bands of teeth. Anybody know how hard it is to fine a new belt? And about how much they run for? Is it as simple and loosening the tensioner, pulling off the old one and puttig on a new one or is there more than that?

Thanks,

- Jason
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  #2  
Old 07-21-2005, 07:34 AM
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Manarius Manarius is offline
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Spark Plugs: Any old ratchet is fine (well, one that fits; I think it's 5/8in.), but I have this one that has rubber and holds the plug as you take it out of the engine compartment; quite handy. As for specific plugs; any plugs gapped to the SVX requirement are ok. I myself just got a set of Bosch 4+'s and really like them (you don't ever have to gap them). I would make sure they are at least platinum tipped though; they'll run you maybe $2-$4 a plug. I also have read that you probably want to take off the box that has the air filter in it to give you more clearance to get at the plugs.

Belts: Serpentine Belts are easy to get. The ones for my legacy (I bet the SVX takes ones very similar) were around $9 each. If your belt is missing a band of teeth, I'd get it off there quick. If you've got a few extra bucks, you can get gator belts which tend to last longer (someone can correct me on this). And yes, it is just as easy as you described to get them off. I loosened the idler pulley to the the AC one on and I tilted the alternator down to get that one on. Subaru was quite ingenious when they made the engine .
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silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear
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Last edited by Manarius; 07-21-2005 at 07:37 AM.
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  #3  
Old 07-21-2005, 09:39 AM
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ensteele ensteele is offline
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Which belt are you refering to as a serpintine belt? If you are talking about the AC and Alternator belts, they are easy to find and can be found at subaruparts.com if none of the parts houses don't have them locally.

Here is the link to the instructions to replace the spark plugs. It is in the How-To Documents for future reference. Some of the other tasks that you mentioned are there too. Good luck.
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Last edited by ensteele; 07-21-2005 at 09:42 AM.
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  #4  
Old 07-21-2005, 11:12 AM
red95svx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Manarius
[FONT=Arial][B]Spark Plugs: Any old ratchet is fine (well, one that fits; I think it's 5/8in.), but I have this one that has rubber and holds the plug as you take it out of the engine compartment; quite handy. As for specific plugs; any plugs gapped to the SVX requirement are ok.

First of all, because you don't yet have an SVX, you don't realize how tough the plugs are to get out. They are cake on a 2.2, but the 3.3 is a different beast. The plugs on the 2.2 sit near the top of the head and are angled upward and are pretty clear of obstructions. The plugs on the 3.3 are located in the center of the head making it awkward to get in there, and each one sits behind a coil that's bolted on. Once you know the shortcuts it's not so bad......but not anywhere near as easy as a 2.2 plug job.

Secondly your "any plugs gapped to the SVX requirement are ok" is misleading. Gap is only one aspect of spark plug requirement. You need to make sure the heat range is the same, and if you are going to match the originals, you want platinum plugs.

Dave
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  #5  
Old 07-21-2005, 01:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by red95svx
Secondly your "any plugs gapped to the SVX requirement are ok" is misleading. Gap is only one aspect of spark plug requirement. You need to make sure the heat range is the same, and if you are going to match the originals, you want platinum plugs.

Dave
Did you notice that I mentioned "at least get ones that are platinum tipped"?

And any auto parts store isn't going to sell you ones that don't match heat wise. If you go into autozone and ask for plugs for a 92 SVX, they're going to match when it comes to heat.
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(8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95
Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod,
svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar,
silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear
(1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver
(12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k)
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  #6  
Old 07-21-2005, 01:59 PM
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The SVX doesnt have a serpentine belt does it?
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  #7  
Old 07-21-2005, 02:48 PM
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svxfiles svxfiles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by soobiesvx93
The SVX doesnt have a serpentine belt does it?
It has one belt for the power steering and alternator, and a seporate belt for the air conditioning.
They are alot easier to change than the sparkplugs.
A transmission cooler is not too hard to install, and a good move.
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  #8  
Old 07-21-2005, 03:17 PM
Kiteless
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So the coil sits ontop of the each plug!? That is different. I thought those flat "covers" looked strange. I will look in the documents on how to do it.

Any specific brands that folks have had good luck with. I am not looking for like super amazing performance, just long lasting and reliable.

Ensteele: It is the belt on the front of the engine that winds around all kinds of pullies. It has bands in it and some of them are missing. I wonder if that could be the cause of my engine reving up to around 1500 when I first turn it on then some times dropping down to 200 RPMs. May also be the reason that my check engine light is coming on intermittantly. That is, if the belt is slipping.
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  #9  
Old 07-21-2005, 03:21 PM
Kiteless
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Quote:
Originally Posted by svxfiles
It has one belt for the power steering and alternator, and a seporate belt for the air conditioning.
They are alot easier to change than the sparkplugs.
A transmission cooler is not too hard to install, and a good move.
Oh OK. So just lower the belt tensioner(s) and replace it, nothing really wacky? Some time you have to take something totally off to get the belt behind it.

Yeah I need to install that. Since i live in Northern California, I think I can get away with replacing the stock one. Besides I do not think the 20x10" that I got will fit in there with the stock one.
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  #10  
Old 07-21-2005, 04:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiteless
Oh OK. So just lower the belt tensioner(s) and replace it, nothing really wacky? Some time you have to take something totally off to get the belt behind it.

Yeah I need to install that. Since i live in Northern California, I think I can get away with replacing the stock one. Besides I do not think the 20x10" that I got will fit in there with the stock one.
If you remove the black plastic belt cover(two 10 mm bolts), you can see the alt/ps belt more easily.
You MUST loosen the 12mm nut on the adjusting pulley, directly below the PS pulley, and the you can turn the PS/ALT adjusting bolt counter clockwise to back off the adjustment.
If you are changing both belts, the AC belt has a 12mm locknut, under the 12mm bolt the adjuster arm pivots on, and a 17mm nut cast into the adjuster, that you twist to adjust that belt.


I have some pictures in my locker if that helps. Tom.
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the first equal length headers,
the first phenolic spacers,
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  #11  
Old 07-22-2005, 06:15 AM
red95svx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Manarius
And any auto parts store isn't going to sell you ones that don't match heat wise. If you go into autozone and ask for plugs for a 92 SVX, they're going to match when it comes to heat.

Not always. I worked in the aftermarket for years. Not all brands have identical heat ranges. If you want Bosch and Bosch doesn't make a plug that matches the SVX heat range, they'll sell you the next closest heat range. I did it for years.



Dave
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  #12  
Old 07-22-2005, 06:19 AM
red95svx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by soobiesvx93
The SVX doesnt have a serpentine belt does it?


No. A serpentine belt is one belt that drives multiple engine mounted accessories. All Subaru's (except those with the 3.0L engine) have two seperate belts that drive the accessories.


Dave
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