DIY spark plug change

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:59 pm

Imperial is good…after all we drive on the ‘correct’ side

Hope you use the poles/stones setting on the torque wrench

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:00 pm

Pondrew, I suggest you use some of the vast profit you made when you swapped your wheels and get someone else to change your plugs.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:04 pm

The philosophical issue on DIY maintenance is this..

Take changing spark plugs

In the old days..

The plugs were immediately obvious where they were as soon as you opened the bonnet…

Same plug spanner worked on all plugs

All heads were cast iron

Your biggest issue was getting the wrong lead on the wrong plug..

Difficult to strip a thread, easy access, the effort reward ratio was good…

Now..

Where are the f***ing plugs?

What type of f***ing obscure plug spanner do you need? 17 point 24.67 mm?

What’s the f***ing torque setting?

Why is the last plug obscured by a f***ing big strut?

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:25 pm

All this is beginning to put me off doing mine now. Did the air filter, piece of cake.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:44 pm

MikeyH wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:25 pm All this is beginning to put me off doing mine now. Did the air filter, piece of cake.

That's not a bad idea, Mikey, putting a piece of cake in for an air filter. Probably has quite high particle arrestance too, especially if my missus made it!
"What's that smell when you drive down the road, Mikey?"
"Victoria sponge....could be battenburg"

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:11 pm

If it was a 6 cylinder I was going to ask if I could have your old plugs, not like they've been used much

Nanu · Post by **Nanu** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:49 pm

MikeyH wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 7:25 pm All this is beginning to put me off doing mine now. Did the air filter, piece of cake.

Air filter as you say is no problem if I can do it, anybody can.

Would question how much you save fitting plugs yourself though.

Someone who knows what they are doing will no doubt be able to do it in a few minutes

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:01 pm

Nictrix wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:11 pm If it was a 6 cylinder I was going to ask if I could have your old plugs, not like they've been used much

I'm only changing them because I can't get the spiders' webs out of the spark gaps!

I ordered the plugs from Autodoc, so they will definitely need doing by the time they arrive!

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:06 pm

Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:01 pm
Nictrix wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 8:11 pm If it was a 6 cylinder I was going to ask if I could have your old plugs, not like they've been used much
I'm only changing them because I can't get the spiders' webs out of the spark gaps!

I ordered the plugs from Autodoc, so they will definitely need doing by the time they arrive!

The threaded bit with the little metal pointy bits goes in first.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:13 pm

enuff_zed wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:06 pm The threaded bit with the little metal pointy bits goes in first.

Noted thanks.
I thought I might as well replace the ones on my other car while I'm at it, but I can't find spark plugs for it anywhere. Any ideas? It's a 2017 Mazda3 2.2D.

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:18 pm

Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:13 pm
enuff_zed wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:06 pm The threaded bit with the little metal pointy bits goes in first.
Noted thanks.
I thought I might as well replace the ones on my other car while I'm at it, but I can't find spark plugs for it anywhere. Any ideas? It's a 2017 Mazda3 2.2D.

Easy one that mate. D is for Dunce.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:31 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:49 pm Pondweed…I forgot…on the N20 with pneumatic waste gate control the engine cover has two itsy bitsy connectors hidden from view, under the cover on the LHS as you look at the engine to do with boost management…they are push fit on barb connectors…easily broken off requiring a new cover (no boost if broken)…

Maybe on a 18i they aren’t there…

Also if they are there remember to reconnect otherwise the car is smooooothhhh but slowwww…

Don’t ask how I know…

The later cars with electronic waste gates also have those fiddly vacuum pipes

Rob

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:38 pm

Yep! I might just stick to eating the cake. Pondrew by the sound of it you could use your wife's cakes for wheel chocks

Opps sorry.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:46 pm

Smartbear wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:31 pm
B21 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 5:49 pm Pondweed…I forgot…on the N20 with pneumatic waste gate control the engine cover has two itsy bitsy connectors hidden from view, under the cover on the LHS as you look at the engine to do with boost management…they are push fit on barb connectors…easily broken off requiring a new cover (no boost if broken)…

Maybe on a 18i they aren’t there…

Also if they are there remember to reconnect otherwise the car is smooooothhhh but slowwww…

Don’t ask how I know…
The later cars with electronic waste gates also have those fiddly vacuum pipes
Rob

I thought so but you know how Ponderous gets picky…so didn’t want to offer duff advice….

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:15 pm

So an update for all you wanting a laugh.
I would consider my attempt at changing my plugs as an epic failure TBH.

Managed to unplug the two little hoses on the engine cover OK. When I took the cover off, the rubber locating piece for the nearside clip flew off and fell down onto the floorpan somewhere; can't find it, so the cover now rattles!

Got the coil out OK (had to look at youtube on how to remove electrical connector though).
Got my 14mm long socket with a flexible joint on the end down into the 'plug hole' where it stuck fast and I spent 20 minutes trying to get it out. I didn't think I was going to do it at one point as it was stuck tight (obviously got jammed where the angle changes near the plug). Luckily it didn't get onto the plug so no damage done apart from some scoring of the 'plug hole'.

So no plugs changed as I need a thinner wall socket. And I cut my finger too!

F*cking cars!

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