How to change plugs & leads

ayeyew · 29-03-2008, 05:42 PM

I'd like to have a go at changing these over on my series 1 as i bought some today.

Looked in the technical resources section, couldn't find a how to on it, but is it relatively simple or should i get one of my mechanically inclined mates to do it?

EvilChief · 29-03-2008, 06:00 PM

not mechanically challenging, just physically, hope u got a flexible arm

plugs is straight forward, just remember to use a little bit grphite grease on plug thread and ensure that the crush washer is properly cruched when plugs are to be reinstalled

as for leads, dont mix up the order:
front pair: 1 & 6
middle pair: 2 & 5
rear pair: 3 & 4

removed air box and intalke snorkel and ensure engine is dead cold, other wise u WILL burn urself on heater pipe

TURBOTAXI · 29-03-2008, 06:05 PM

I find swearing helps when putting the coil end on. I like to do it from underneath.

ayeyew · 29-03-2008, 06:10 PM

Yeah i got some dielectric grease from supercheap auto, is that the same stuff ur talkin about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TURBOTAXI

I find swearing helps when putting the coil end on. I like to do it from underneath.

OOOOFT.

/confidence plummets

TURBOTAXI · 29-03-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayeyew

Yeah i got some dielectric grease from supercheap auto, is that the same stuff ur talkin about?

OOOOFT.

/confidence plummets

No - you can do it, its just fiddly and if you have big hands/fingers its just a fraction harder.

You will get it done.

Chamelion · 30-03-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayeyew

Yeah i got some dielectric grease from supercheap auto, is that the same stuff ur talkin about?

OOOOFT.

/confidence plummets

Even a small ammount of engine oil does the trick.

fordman_01 · 30-03-2008, 10:04 AM

damn if only i new bout this earlier lol. last week i forked out almost 200 buks to get new NGK leads put in from my mech......:(

Chamelion · 30-03-2008, 10:19 AM

Your mech ripped you off something awefull. It took a mate and I about 15 minutes first go to get it done. I could have done it myself, but it would have taken 10 minutes more.. Through either moving the airbox out of the way or passing each lead down one at a time, then hopping under each time to connect it.

Absolute peice of cake, even for a newbie.

Matt.

schuldiner · 30-03-2008, 11:31 AM

best bet is to take them off one at a time and replace them individually, that way you cant mess up the firing order. as stated just remove airbox and pipework up to the throttle body, give your throttle body and maybe your Idle control a clean out while it's apart and it takes a bit of fiddling to do from the top but you can get it no worries, wont take too long.

ayeyew · 30-03-2008, 03:16 PM

Cheers for advice guys.

Just got home from a 30 min drive, gonna wait an hour or so for it all to cool down and then give it a go.

I had better not stuff this up! LoL

Flyn · 30-03-2008, 10:29 PM

OK for the plug leads....but what about the coil pack. Is it possible to replace this from the top?

bodes-sh · 31-03-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyn

OK for the plug leads....but what about the coil pack. Is it possible to replace this from the top?

nope, you can't get it out as there isn't enough room between the inlet manifold ans the block, tried it before....

amisupposed2b · 31-03-2008, 10:22 AM

I must admit, the changing the leads has lead me to get really irritated with where they put the coil pack....

InfernoSR · 31-03-2008, 10:16 PM

I found the AU easier than my XG ute... which is easier than my parents DA1 LTD...

I ended up having leads that were numbered anyway, which made things alot easier... :P

ayeyew · 01-04-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

I ended up having leads that were numbered anyway, which made things alot easier... :P

Even with the numbered leads i still managed to screw it up! Even changing one lead at a time! I am perplexed how i managed to not get it right first go.

Definately not a hard thing to do, but as you guys said, physically challenging!

Took me about 40 minutes to complete it, that includes taking the airbox and pipework off twice when i realised i had stuffed up the firing order, lol.

Once again, cheers for all your help guys

schuldiner · 01-04-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayeyew

Even with the numbered leads i still managed to screw it up! Even changing one lead at a time! I am perplexed how i managed to not get it right first go.

Definately not a hard thing to do, but as you guys said, physically challenging!

Took me about 40 minutes to complete it, that includes taking the airbox and pipework off twice when i realised i had stuffed up the firing order, lol.

Once again, cheers for all your help guys

when you screw it up and it's misfiring (i got distracted and didn't plug one lead into the dizzy) it feels like your car is being hit with a sledgehammer hey? horrible feeling:P

ayeyew · 01-04-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schuldiner

when you screw it up and it's misfiring (i got distracted and didn't plug one lead into the dizzy) it feels like your car is being hit with a sledgehammer hey? horrible feeling:P

Oh my God, doesn't it ever!

I felt sick after that and when i fixed it all up and plugged all the leads in properly, i didn't want to turn my key, lmfao. It seriously took me like 2 or 3 mins to build up the courage to turn it

private9 · 31-03-2008, 11:10 PM

If the EF coilpack location is the same as AU (which I think it is), I remember it being a bastard of a job! Didn't take long, maybe 20 minutes as a first timer, but boy was it painful!!