Changing back spark plugs (with pics...)

[AndyAitch]

Hi all, I’ve changed my plugs this morning with help from this forum (as ever ), so I thought I’d take some pics and just put a ‘How I Did It’ post on here. It was very painless, no cuts, very few naughty words…

Tools :
Ratchet
8mm socket
15mm socket
75mm extension
150mm extension
16mm plug socket (get one with the rubber grip wossit inside, it’ll make things so much easier..)
Big-Ass flat screwdriver (this isn’t necessary, but I used it in the top of the extensions just to speed things up)

Remove the engine cover.
Front plugs are a doddle, unscrew the HT Lead, work it loose and pull it out, unscrew the plugs and remove, pop the new plug into your grippy plug socket and screw it back in, HT Lead back on, job done. I did these one at a time so nothing got confused.
Back ones can be a saga, as I’m sure you’re all aware. What I did :

1 : Groped round the back of the engine till I found the plugs/coil packs
2 : Swore (quite a lot)
3 : Removed the access panel in front of the plenum, 2 x 8mm screws, pull the plate slightly forward and slide it upwards to remove it from the wiring harness.



4 : Take off your windscreen wipers, 15mm nuts, there are metal cones underneath the nuts, you have to wobble the wipers to loosen the cones. Be careful, they might spring off…

5 : Take off the weatherproof strip in front of your scuttle plate, then remove the scuttle. There are 7 clips along the top, just underneath the windscreen. Prise them out but be careful as they tend to fly off. One of mine is currently orbiting Mars…





It should all look like this :



6 : You should now be able to easily (ish) access the coilpacks and HT leads. From what I’ve read, everyone unclips the coilpacks but I didn’t find it necessary (to be honest, I couldn't find how they unclip, even with them out...). Again, I did one at a time, the one nearest the driver’s side was a bit awkward but I groped around the top of the HT lead until I found the 8mm screw, slipped the socket onto the short extension, then attached the long extension and unscrewed it. Make sure that you get your finger on the screw as you withdraw it. Work the HT lead loose and gently slide it out, you have enough cable to leave the coilpack on.




Get your plug socket on both extensions for length, remove and replace the plug. The other 2 are quite easy, just do exactly the same.
After taking the wipers and scuttle off, which took about 10 minutes, I replaced the back 3 plugs within 30 minutes with all my skin intact and my full allowance of blood.





NOTE : This is for the Facelift ZT. I believe that the only difference is that there are 2 x 8mm screws per plug on the pre-facelift model.
Put everything back together and drive your car.

[wraymond]

Thanks for a useful post. Are the rear plugs exactly the same fitting as the front ones?

[Dorset Bob]

Andy, thanks for the post.
I bought a new set of plugs about a year, or more, ago.

This is a job that I seem to keep putting off.
I think I need to get around to doing this now.

[Arctic]

Hi Andy.
Nice little how to and even better with those pics thank you for sharing Arctic

[sytneraudi10]

Very good. Do you have to take the scuttle cover off though?, I know my 75 V6 uses the bremi coils and I can change them without removing the scuttle.

Ive just done the stat and heater matrix change today on my v6.

[Simon.h]

Originally Posted by sytneraudi10

Very good. Do you have to take the scuttle cover off though?, I know my 75 V6 uses the bremi coils and I can change them without removing the scuttle.

Ive just done the stat and heater matrix change today on my v6.

No you don't have to remove the scuttle panel, just remove the access panel.

[Mr Toad of London]

Removing the scuttle panel makes it much easier in my view

Martin

[Astraeus]

Originally Posted by Mr Toad of London

Removing the scuttle panel makes it much easier in my view

Martin

It will make it easier to see perhaps but you have to careful removing the scuttle panels as over time some have become quite brittle and easy to crack. Just a word of caution....

It can be done relatively easily with the scuttles in place. ( I managed)



Chris

[Dragrad]

Posted into the How To's for posterity

[AndyAitch]

Originally Posted by wraymond

Thanks for a useful post. Are the rear plugs exactly the same fitting as the front ones?

Pretty much. The only difference is the coilpacks.

I tried to do this without taking the scuttle off but after 10 minutes of swearing, I gave up. The problem I had was getting the ratchet on properly. With the scuttle off, it's way easier.