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Changing Your Spark Plugs

(Exhaust manifold heat shields have been removed)

  


1)Set the gap of your spark plugs before you begin working on the engine to save some aggravation.

  
2) The front spark plugs are the easiest to change. Simply grab the rubber end of the spark plug boot and pull straight back. You may need to wiggle and twist to get them off. The boot will come off with a satisfying 'pop.'
3) Push a spark plug socket onto the spark plug while gently twisting. This is to make sure you are grabbing the 'nut' of the spark plug and not just feeling the resistance of the rubber inside the socket on the spark plug.
4) Unscrew the three front spark plugs. Mark each with the number cylinder it came from for future reference.
5) Use antiseize on the thread of the spark plug to make future removal easier.

6) Screw the three new, gapped, spark plugs into the engine. You only want to make them hand tight. Use dielectric grease on the end of the spark plug and inside each boot to ensure you get a quality spark. Push the spark plug boots on to each spark plug (passenger to driver sidet, 1 3 5).


7) The rears will be harder than the front. To make extra room for your hands, we will tip the engine forward. First unscrew the driver side engine mount with two 15mm sockets.

8) Unscrew the passenger side with two 15mm sockets. Notice there are two holes on the left side of the bracket. What you want to do is grab the engine and rock it forward. While it is forward, slide the screw back into the mount but get it in the hole towards the rear of the car. It may not seem like much but it will give you a lot more room by the rear manifold.
9) Pull the rear wires off just as you did the front. The #6 wire will be very hard to remove since the O2 sensor is right behind it. If you have a soft pad, I find it is easier to kneel on top of the radiator support to get a better angle on it. Feel for each spark plug (you can feel for the long screw in the picture and the spark plug will be below those) and unscrew them.

10) Screw the new plugs in just like the fronts, hand tight with antiseize. Use dielectric grease before putting the wires back on (passenger to driver side, 2 4 6).		  

11) You can also pull the wires off the coil packs to add some dielectric grease too. 		 

12) Put the engine mounts back in their normal position. Start the car and make sure everything works correctly		  
   
   
Have a question or spot at error? E-mail the author, 'Zeus.'

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