Hey guys , I guess I have to change the spark plugs now for the first time: the car went in limp mode, flashing engine light. After a restart the car was fine though...
I'm thinking of buying parts on rock auto, the ngk iridium.
do I need to buy other things ?
They recommend to also change the coil-on-plug boot on rock auto... Is this necessary?
Thanks

 

First personally I would check what code or codes that you have. Given the number of miles it’s overdue for a set of spark plugs. As far as replacing the coil packs I would hold off with that but if it gives you peace of mind then purchase those also. Rock Auto is a good choice for plugs and coils. If you read this forum much then you should be aware that these engines are prone to having the plugs loosen and sometimes even eject from cylinder head. Hopefully it’s just worn plugs and that’s it.

 

Hey thanks for your reply. These were km, so in miles it's little less than half. Maybe 105 000 miles.


[​​QUOTE=fit09;1454447]First personally I would check what code or codes that you have. Given the number of miles it’s overdue for a set of spark plugs. As far as replacing the coil packs I would hold off with that but if it gives you peace of mind then purchase those also. Rock Auto is a good choice for plugs and coils. If you read this forum much then you should be aware that these engines are prone to having the plugs loosen and sometimes even eject from cylinder head. Hopefully it’s just worn plugs and that’s it.[/QUOTE]

 

Ok, I should have read a little closer. One other thing, if you are getting a misfire code, p0300 series, that’s not always plug and coil issues. Bad fuel injector or valve adjustment can also produce those codes. But start with the simple things first like plugs.

 

DAMN! Pharmpk's engine looks brand new. If it is not how do you manage it?
michel

 

That post was from 2009. It practically was brand-new at the time.

 

I'm not going to even think of trying it until my car reaches !05,000miles (currently 83,000).
Man, that looks like a real pain. I've never seen anything....hold on, maybe I have. The older Chevy V6 Lumina's were a real pain also.
Michel

 

Agreed.

The good news is that, if you do it once, it will cost you some time and some swearing. If you do it twice, you'll have everything off in a few minutes.

 

Yes, it is better to spend 45 minutes to learn how the cowl comes off (so that you can easily do it in the future - it is not that hard) than to spend many hundreds of $$$$ and time getting the engine repaired because the spark plugs were loose and blew out stripping the threads (which is common in this car. Mine came loose around 65,000 miles but I caught them before they blew, a few more days and it could have been very expensive for me). My advice to @Michael54 is to check the tightness of his plugs ( and while it is open, just replace the plugs and torque to the updated numbers). Then check them occasionally.

 

Here is a video, first munute and half show how to remove cowl.