it's time. sparkplugs on a subaru forester turbo.

[vash]

year 2005.

i've cruised the forums, and apparently it is very difficult. clearances are super tight to the frame of the body. i have the turbo, so there are individual coil packs to deal with. i have about 1.25" of clearance for the rear sparkplug on the driver side. it looks undoable!!

the internets says alot of people disconnect the motor mounts and lift the engine to clear the frame/car body. i talked to a subaru shop (quoted me $825 to do the 60,000 mile service) and he said he has never heard of having to lift the motor. the coil pack + spark-plug boot has to be about 5" alone..no?

here is a pic.. that black cord you see in the middle is the wire for the front coil pack drivers side..no wiggling of camera phone could capture the rear.

[vash]

hate to have to farm this work out to a $ hop.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I see... it's coming to me now... yes... I can see it clearly... There's an... AutoTrader for sale ad in your future.



Confronted with that, I'd seriously think about selling the car. I just don't have the patience for stuff like that anymore. And I certainly wouldn't be paying some mechanic several hundred dollars (or more) just to change spark plugs.

Cool cars, but just got added to the list of ones I'll never, ever buy.

[VincentVega]

I cant keep the models straight, smilar process to an sti?

[craigster59]

You'll have to remove the washer reservoir and the airbox and battery. Get some flexing ratchets and socket extensions and you should be good, no need to jack up the engine. Try accessing from underneath also.

[vash]

lucky..i have two pcar pelicans showing up to assist. hopefully, the myriad of sparkplug tool configurations we collectively own, will prevent the need for an engine partial lift.

man..i cant see those coils coming off the top..err..side.

cussing,,..major cussing.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I did it on a Legacy GT, which I think is the same chassis and engine (2.5 turbo). It was a b!*ch but doable, I recall removing a few things and doing it all from above without any jacking of the motor. U-joints, wobble extensions, multiple extensions, a low profile ratchet, and beer are your friend. I had to rotate the coil to get it out, there's just enough room to get the rigid part out of the hole then bend the rubber boot. I think the right rear was the worst.

[vash]

vincent..thanks for that!!

looks like that STI has more clearance..but LOTS of good info in that video.

funny..i just shushed my boss while watching that video..he just laughed and walked away. he knows i agonize the details. hahaha.

[vash]

thanks OWP!!

POP..i would love to get rid of this car. i'm tired of all the lesbians waving at me..not the lipstick kind either. hahah. j/k. pretty good car so far. the wind and road noise is almost a deal breaker tho..loud!

i want an A3 TDi.

[aigel]

Vash,

You have lost some weight, right? I am sure you can get in there with your girly hands if they aren't like this:



It is amazing what you can get at with the right set of locking and swivel extension, swivel sockets and a little creativity. That doesn't look bad at all IMHO.

That said, I hate scratching up my hands - definitely wear a nice set of mechanix gloves or at least vinyl.

G

[vash]

no way!!!

that arm for real? hahhahahahhaha..

nervous..but my wife is stocking up on beer for the fellas. together, we've never failed.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by vash

that arm for real? hahhahahahhaha..

I would assume so. That's what I found looking for "fat hands" on the web! Amazing that someone can get that big.

G

[fastfredracing]

I have done it without lifting the engine, it sucks major arse, you will bleed, and swear, but it is do-able. The coils barely come out. but if you twist them just right, and pull, they will slide out. It feels as if they will break, but I have pulled this off twice. I do , however have special super human mechanic hands, and incredible patience. even if you have to lift the motor a little to make removal a little easier, Should be just a matter of unbolting the two front mounts, and lift about 1-2 inches. I think I used a Snap On swivel spark plug socket, and a stubby extension to get the plugs out. I ground slits into the big end of my stubbies so that I can grip them well with my fingers, to help walk plugs/bolts in and out by hand.
Good luck, keep us posted!

[vash]

wife was at the dealership to buy sparkplugs..glad she called. $22 each!!

sent her to a local shop..got NGK iridiums..same as the OEM from Subaru..for $7 ea. that is stunning.

i'm all for everyone turning a profit, but jeez.

i'll post up results tomorrow evening.

[Two Rivers]

If it was me, I would just take ten minutes and undo the motor mounts and jack the engine up on the side you are doing and move to the other side.
The engine will move up without harming things..
Makes it real easy and will save your hands and also save time.

[EarlyPorsche]

Originally Posted by vash

wife was at the dealership to buy sparkplugs..glad she called. $22 each!!

sent her to a local shop..got NGK iridiums..same as the OEM from Subaru..for $7 ea. that is stunning.

i'm all for everyone turning a profit, but jeez.

i'll post up results tomorrow evening.

$7 a plug is still so much money! Well thats coming from a guy who hasn't run anything fancier than a Bosch/NGK/Denso platinum. I am guessing the turbo engine needs the Iridium?

[kaisen]

$7 a plug!!??!?!?

Better sell the car soon







You DO realize that $28 (7x4) is less than an oil change, and only happens every 60-100K miles!?

[EarlyPorsche]

Originally Posted by kaisen

$7 a plug!!??!?!?

Better sell the car soon







You DO realize that $28 (7x4) is less than an oil change, and only happens every 60-100K miles!?

You DO realize a colonoscopy could save a life, and only happens once in a while but people still don't love getting them...

[vash]

pulled the car battery at 10:15..put the battery back in and started the car at 11:29.

my buddies are good!! i wont say it was easy..it was tight. but not impossible. you had to pull and pirouette the coil pack out. i took the driver's side..they took the pass.

if i didnt almost crossthread one of the fasteners that pull the coil pack to the head..it would have been faster. done and done.

fresh oil, filters..very done. it's beer thirty!

[trekkor]

Way to go!


KT