Thread: Any DIY Step By Step to Change spark plugs??

Originally Posted by Gorecki

Did you replace the wires? Could have hosed one while changing out the plugs. Have you driven the car yet? It could be just irony and something else isn't quite right. But it could be simply your timing is adjusting to a more consitant spark and just not run enough to trim it out yet. Really hard saying..

Yeah, that's what one of them said. He suggested that I take it out for a 10 minute run but I was a nervous to do that. I let it sit the night and I'll try it tomorrow; give it a 10 minute run that is. We both did notice though that the car did seem to idle smoother the longer it ran but whenever I gave it gas it seemed to struggle a bit.

Oh well, tomorrow (technically later today as it's midnight where I am now) I'll give it a go and see what the end result is. Mind you....the engine ALWAYS struggled (just not to this degree). Now it's just worse. I bought a fuel filter (thinking it might be that) so I'll be changing that tomorrow.

<Fingers Crossed>

Well, it's still the same. In fact I think it's getting worse. I looked at the cables and I think I may have had them in the wrong position, so I switched them around a bit. But now that I'm positive it's in the right order it seems to have gotten MUCH worse. It won't even start now. What the hell?!

MY VIEWPOINT : Standing in front of the car looking at the engine.

My understanding is that the first 3 spark plugs (closest to me) in the correct order, from left (passenger side) to right (driver side) would be : 1, 5, 3.

The 3 spark plugs (furthest from me [at the back where it's hard to reach the spark plugs]), from left (passenger side) to right (driver side) would be : 4, 2, 6.

Can somebody please confirm this for me?

IF I'm wrong, using the exact same format I typed out above (so I can easily understand) tell me the correct configuration.

I don't know what I did wrong here. I'm going nuts.

Originally Posted by Gorecki

Yep, sounds like he got them switched around, fwiw, looking at the coil plug locations should be from top to bottom 632541.

Yeah,

It was backwards. I figured it out myself before I read your posts though (not that it makes a difference). You know what threw me off though? The black caps (not sure what they're called....if somebody knows PLEASE TELL ME) where the spark plugs connect to; the way they're ordered (from top to bottom) is :

6/3
2/5
4/1

So I assumed 1, 5 & 3 were the cylinders closest to me. Ironically, I had the first 3 closest to me right the first time, but then I changed it from 1-3-5 to 1-5-3.
Then I posted my previous message, went back outside, and gave it the once over and thought this doesn't make sense.

I put it back to 1-3-5, and the back row I figured shouldn't it be "2-4-6" as opposed to "4-2-6"? But the way those blacfk caps are setup is a bit misleading (in my opinion). Live and learn I guess.

BUT.......now that the order is correct, and I know the order is correct because the power is there, I've got two new problems :

1) The check engine light will not go off. The engine is not misfiring now, but that light won't go off. I think I need to get an OBD II / CAN scanner/code reader to turn it off and....

2) When I accelerate, while the power is there like it should be, I hear a chirping sound. I get the impression that it's the belt. BUT....why is it making this sound now?
Is it possible that the belt needs to be readjusted now that the spark plugs have been changed? I don't have an OBD II/CAN scanner/code reader (yet) so it's not as easy as me just hooking one up and doing the research.

I'd really appreciate some feedback and your thoughts on this matter.

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

the light wont just go off most of the time, you need to drive like 50 miles or so, or you could unhook the battery for 30 minutes and that should get rid of it, or ask autozone to clear it for ya.

dont know about the chirping, maybe pull the belts and make sure all the pulleys feel good, spin freely not loose/wobbly feeling. and check the belts for cracks, could be time for a new belt.

Well I did notice a hairline fracture sized crack in the serpentine belt BUT.....that chirping sound definitely wasn't there before the plugs were changed so I'm not sure why it's making that sound now. As for the belt, I plan on changing it next week. I already knew that had to be done.

Hopefully once I replace that, the car should be running better.

Originally Posted by Gorecki

Already said it, those black things are the ignition coils. You'll need to get the computer reset somehow to get rid of the check engine light. It might go out on its own. Just about any corner service shop can do this, but don't know for how much. You should be able to pickup a generic OBDII scanner for cheap that'll reset the computer and clear the codes.

That churp is probably the belt slipping. Or could be alternator, air conditioner or tensioner pully. Like I said, likely coincidence that something else needs attention.

Thanks for the clarification on the terminology; sorry must've missed it the first time you put it out there.

I'm having a little trouble believing the chirping is "coincidence" though. But who knows? Maybe you're right. I plan on replacing the belt next week (if all goes according to plan). Once replaced hopefully that'll fix all the probs.

Thanks for all your help!

I realize it's been a while since my last post on this subject, but after doing some research on the internet this squealing I'm hearing is most likely caused by the serpentine belt.

I was supposed to replace it a while ago (as per my last post) but things got out of hand with my schedule. Anyhoo...I plan on replacing the alternator & the belt in one shot today. It's starting to get nippier out there. Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm from Ontario, Canada; the weather changes fast here. Right now we're in that period where each day it fluctuates. One day it's too cold the next, too hot.

Back to my dilemma ; I tried some of that "Belt Dressing" aerosol on my serpentine belt. What a bunch of....well, you get the idea. I followed the directions to a tee and still the belt chirps (horribly).

Anybody have any experience with belt dressing? Does it work at all, or is it just a scam? Perhaps it does work for some but my belt is so far gone that I have to replace it anyways. If anybody's used the stuff, please let me know what your experience with the stuff was like. I'm just curious is all.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by YMS1975

I realize it's been a while since my last post on this subject, but after doing some research on the internet this squealing I'm hearing is most likely caused by the serpentine belt.

I was supposed to replace it a while ago (as per my last post) but things got out of hand with my schedule. Anyhoo...I plan on replacing the alternator & the belt in one shot today. It's starting to get nippier out there. Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm from Ontario, Canada; the weather changes fast here. Right now we're in that period where each day it fluctuates. One day it's too cold the next, too hot.

Back to my dilemma ; I tried some of that "Belt Dressing" aerosol on my serpentine belt. What a bunch of....well, you get the idea. I followed the directions to a tee and still the belt chirps (horribly).

Anybody have any experience with belt dressing? Does it work at all, or is it just a scam? Perhaps it does work for some but my belt is so far gone that I have to replace it anyways. If anybody's used the stuff, please let me know what your experience with the stuff was like. I'm just curious is all.

Cheers.

I've used it, it didnt seem to do anything, in fact it almost made the squeal worse. Waste of money IMO, could have put that money towards a new serpentine belt.

Just out of curiosity, where aprox. in Ontario are you, Im in Ontario too. I live in Orangeville if you know where that is.

Originally Posted by Logan541

I have done this job many times and you are right I have never rocked the engine forward its more trouble then its worth only thing I would add is to use a fender protector cause it is real easy to scarpe a belt buckle on it and ruin a paint job

No **** - I followed SlowNA06right up and had no problems - even got my toque wrench on the rear three with no problems, did have problems with "socket wrench (now Voltron) in to your ear" - loved that part

When removing the bones, I usually place a block of wood on a jack and place that under the oil pan that keeps it from moving when taking the bones off (I know this is after the fact but for next time)