Spark change

[Jovic82]

hello,


right just been out with the car all day and done the oil and oil filter change(after hours of waiting for the bloody rain to pass!).

next thing on the agenda is to do the spark plugs. need a little help here guys. is there anywhere on here i can get info regarding changing them cause was looking today and i couldnt even see them under the hood(could just be my shoddy eyesight of course:( ). and also ive been reading about all the different types to run on trailing and leading and its left me quite confused.:confused:
i only have induction, ecu and full decatted exhaust so will 9\'s all round be best?

any help is great.

many thanks
Nick

[Gman]

You will need to take the metal pipe off that is attached to the throttle body, it has a name but i cant remember what it is.

[Fish]

You will have trouble getting 7\'s (leading) here in the UK. 9\'s all round is ok. From the passenger side under the elbow you will find the four plug leads.

Disconnect one at a time and change the plugs. Can’t get the cables reconnected in the wrong order that way.

Get yourself a little 3/8\'s ratchet with an adjustable head from Halfords. Well worth it if you plan on doing this again.

Fish

[Jovic82]

okay i got a rough idea. can anyone show me on a piccy so i dont go taking the wrong  pipes off?

i had read that 9\'s all round would be ok just wanted to make sure. i dont exactly thrash it all the time but i do use it as a daily driver. that was my only concern if i needed cooler sparkys:D

cheers

[Gman]

Top right hand side of the engine, the silver pipe running beneath the strut bar.

[Jovic82]

ok cool i see where i have gotta go in now.

and i just have to remove the one pipe i have marked on your pic?

hopefully cant be too hard!

cheers
nick

[Gman]

Yep thats the one, i have not done it myself but observed Geff from RE Worx doing it to mine.  He also replaced the leads and had to take the throttle body off,  but if its just the plugs u shouldnt have to do that.

[Shaq]

i found the best way to do the spark plugs was from the bottom, jack the car up put it on axle stands, took 1/2 hour that way for me.



shaQ

[Steve Burnett]

Removing the elbow pipe is easy.
Remove the pipe connected to the intercooler first, then simply undo the bolts on the elbow and thats it. Very easy.

[Glenn Butcher]

You shouldn\'t need to remove the pipe.

As Dan (Fish) has said, you just need the 3/8 drive socket with the short pivot shaft.  I did mine a number of times - difficult to get to from the top, but it can be done ok (just take your time).

Do one at a time also - putting the leads back on as mentioned.

[Jovic82]

i think i may have the 3/8 socket so thats a start:D

glenn:

do you think it would be ok to run 9\'s all around ? i noticed that you had a lot of info on another post reagrding it and i think you mentioned it wasnt a good idea

[Fish]

Most of the FD\'s in the UK are running 9\'s all round. This is not a problem.

Those that have more power might be running 10\'s or colder.

Fish

[Jovic82]

ok cheers mate.

suppose it our sh**ty wheather has an influenece aswell:D

[Glenn Butcher]

If it was a completely standard engine I would recommend the 7\'s in the leading.  Especially if the engine had a lot of miles on it - as it would help stop it from flooding.

If you engine does flood - use 7\'s in the leading.  If you are always giving it a hard time then the 9\'s will be ok, as the plugs would generally be clean all the time (not fouling - causing flooding issues).