long shot: anyone here successfully DIY spark plug change in Subie forester XT?
 

we are approaching 60k miles. spark plug time. i figured out which plugs to get..all the forum say that it is absolute hell getting to them.

i took a peek yesterday. holykrap! the coil packs ontop of the plugs are a mere 1.5" from the body work of the car!! both sides!

i've seen tight spaces, but this is ridiculous. so we are clear. 2005 subaru forester XT, (turbo 2.5L)

anyone do this? for sure i have to take out the airbox on one side and the washer fluid reservoir on the other side..minimum. minimun.

(cue the ubiquitous lesbian Forester poster..in 5, 4, 3......)

I've got the 3.0 but this here should be almost the same for your Forester (with pics). Shouldn't be tough for you Cliff.
2002 OBW Spark Plug Replacement - Subaru Outback - Subaru Outback Forums

thanks..didnt find that particular thread.


damn, they lifted the motor!

Pain in the ass. Best way I've found is to remove the lower motor mount and slack the tops. Then jack the engine up a bit with a block and you can get to them quickly. Otherwise you're in for a few hours, a lot of swearing, and a bunch of little extensions and swivels.

craig..the non-turbo motor looks easy. the turbo one..they are lifting the motor!!

what would the Subie stealer charge for this service..

Rika

i have an engine crane that you can borrow :p

What Scott said. I did plugs in my '05 Legacy GT, it was an SOB but doable. I had to rotate several of the coil packs and remove them at an angle, and the extensions have to be small and inserted one at a time. It was a good solid 2 hours for 4 stupid plugs. Stock up on beer.

Just did the plugs in my 08 WRX a month or so ago. A bit of a pain, but you do not have to do anything like loosening motor mounts and jacking the motor up...

I don't know how similar the engine bays are for the 05 2.5 XT turbo, and the 08 WRX (also a turbo) but I bet they share some basic similarities.

You will need to work from above and below, removing the battery and the air filter assembly is very helpful, get the car up on ramps or jack stands, remove the under tray.. viola

Remove the harness from the coil packs, you need to spin some of the coil packs to remove them, remove plug, replace plug/coil pack/reconnect wiring...

rinse and repeat..

Schedule the plug replacement to coincide with an oil change, kill two birds etc..

I didn't time myself when I performed the plug change/oil change/clean and top up the battery/ etc... but I bet I was all buttoned up in about two hours..

Here ya go Cliff... :p

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