Need spark plug help! 996.2 ('03 C4S)

[FunWithPaul]

Hello fellow 996 owners,
I just got a '03 Carrera 4S, it has a cracked coil and a L cam sensor fault.

I have changed plugs and coils on a 99 Boxster 2.5 so I thought it would be similar
(and the Bentley and Wayne's 996 101 books make it sound so easy), so I decided to change them all.

I CAN'T get #4 out.
After finishing bank 1 (#2 was a beeoch) and #5 and #6, I saw the TT videos about removing the bumper (I wish I had done that first!), and have read that lowering the rear of the engine 4-5" helps. I can't take off the right side muffler (right now) because some of the bolts are rusted solid, and "am sure" I will have to cut them off.

If I lower the engine a little, will that get me access to #4 over the back of the exhaust?
If I remove the air pump in the left corner, I think I can also change the L cam sensor (and I have a replacement)

Have you lowered the back of your engine for maintenance access?


What do I have to "watch out for"??

Do I have to disconnect anything (besides what is required for getting access)?

I have searched (here, Youtube, Renntech, ect) and can't find a guide...

Thanks so much for your help.

Paul

[FunWithPaul]

If you want to answer, please do,
But I figured it out,

it can't be done.

Not with that right muffler in the way.

There is only 2" between the top of the coil and the exhaust bracket, and the coil is at least 6" long!

I wish one of the people that said "it is sooo easy" would come and show me how! (or even post a video of you doing it, and teaching us....)

I not only took of the bumper cover and the side heat shields, but I removed the aluminum (aluminium for you Brits) structural bumper and it's heat shield too!
It didn't help for #4
(but it would have for #1, SO DO IT! it is two 16mm bolts!)

Here is a pic with all of that off



And a pic of the "problem coil" from the new vantage point
(actually it is just the engine heat shield, as I had already put that back on, but the coil is just past that sensor above the heat shield)





And I also considered dropping the rear 4-5", but I didn't because I didn't think it would help (as the muffler and bracket go down with the engine).
There is no way you can reach over the right muffler, but if that was removed, it might give some room from the back (IF you lowered the engine).

While under the car I looked at "what else needs to be moved" to lower the engine, and the suspension cross-member is one of the things in the way (it CAN be removed, but I was using those mounting points to hold the car up...)

So I put everything back together.


Thanks for reading this far,
If you have any suggestions or personal tips, I (and whom-ever else reads this) would appreciate it.

Paul

[Pauld_94S2]

Possibly fastest way to do the coil packs and plugs is to order two of the exhaust manifold gaskets (the old ones might be reusable) and unbolt the mufflers at the bracket that goes to the head on each side (two long bolts per side), and then the clamps that hold the cats to the engine mount assembly. Have someone help you lift and slide the entire exhaust system out from the back of the car. Then remove the heat shields from the heads and the coil packs and plugs are completely visible.

Assembly is the reverse, with new manifold gaskets if needed, might have a third person to hold and guide the cats back into position while the mufflers are going back into the brackets.

[FunWithPaul]

Thanks Paul D.

I could not get to the L Cam sensor, even after removing the electric air pump on the left aft of the engine bay...
So I decided to take the rear bumper off (again), lower the engine a few inches (I was going to replace the engine mounts anyway), and remove the right side muffler (I had gotten a new cat pipe to muffler clamp in).
I cut the old clamp straps with a hand held grinder, and (after much PB Blaster) got the 3 13mm nuts off the inside of the R muffler bracket, and pulled the R muffler.
Doing all that, gave me access to the #4 coil and plug!
In order to get to the L Cam Sensor, I had to loosen the rear engine mount cross bracket from everything (still couldn't pull it out though), and that gave me JUST enough room to get at the L Cam sensor.

So far, no CEL or fault codes!