I've done this job on this model. One first needs to decide on the new
spark plugs.
The specification is: Bosch F 9 DCO or Champion C 12 YCC, both gapped to
..032" (8mm). I chose to "upgrade" to Bosch 4301 Platinum 2 plugs which
have two preset (no gapping adjustment needed) grounding electrodes.
While you're at it a new air filter element may as well be installed.
Then one needs a spark plug socket to fit the plugs and an extension for
your socket set as the plugs are about 4" inside the cylinder head. Also
needed is a large and 10" +/- long flat blade screwdriver and metric
allen wrench to remove the allen bolts from the spark plug cover on top
of the cylinder head. A torque wrench to 20 ft lbs would be good as well.
The right side of the car has the engine air filter and MAS (mass air
sensor). The MAS has two snaps to the air filter box. Unsnap them and
wriggle the MAS out of the connection. Follow the air duct to to top of
the motor, toward the rear of the car is a hold down nut; remove it and
don't lose it. Follow the duct to the left side to its attachment point
to the throttle body where there's a large clamp with a slotted clamping
screw. Use the long flat blade screw driver - from the front, put it
UNDER the arched intake runners to reach the clamp screw, loosen the
clamp. You can now lift, from the right side, the air duct off the top
of the motor and lay it, upside down, to the left.
Use the metric allen wrench to loosen, NOT remove, the ten or so allen
bolts from the spark plug cover. Lift it off keeping it level enough so
the bolts don't fall out (their lengths differ). There's also a slip
into place wire cover on the front left side that just lifts out. In
front of you are three coils at #2, #4 & #6 and three connectors at #1,
#3 & #5.
The connectors pull off their spark plugs the coils' mounting screws
must be removed to access their spark plugs. (These screws are 4 x 30 mm
so if one breaks, that's the needed size.) Suggest you mark each w/ its
cylinder # before removing it so there's NO mistake upon reassembly.
Remove the old plugs and install the new ones, torque to 20 ft lbs only.
Then reattach the three coils (hold the coil tight to the head when
installing its screw) and three connectors, check that all connectors
are seated and reinstall the spark plug cover, the wire ****eld on the
left side, the air duct. Tighten the air duct's clamp to the throttle
body and the air duct's hold down nut on top of the motor.
The air box has about six snaps to be undone so the filter can be
changed. Unsnap them and remove its top. The paper filter is nested into
the bottom half. (Don't try to reuse the air filter element, small
amounts of dirt can contaminate the MAS.) Remove it and any debris
that's under it. Install the new filter, snap the box together. To
reunite the MAS to the air box moisten its "O" ring with a bit of water
to ease the insertion effort. When its joined snap both snaps.
Done, figure two hours work given the right tools.
Questions?
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© 2008 T.G.Lambach. Publication in any form requires prior written
permission.
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