Okay, so this question no doubt exposes me as a total noob - hope that doesn't get me laughed out of here. Seriously, though, I try to do what work on my cars that I can, even not really being what I consider a car guy. Anyway, 2001 stock Impreza 2.5 AT. Coil pack went, and since it's got 63k I figured I'd do the plugs along with the coil module and wires (big thanks to Morrie's Mtka, very helpful, let me use the nice warm garage to swap the coil pack and passenger side wires so I could at least drive home - not to mention OEM parts at Checker prices!). I plan to change the plugs and the driver's side wires this weekend. My worry is that I'll cross-thread the plugs on the way in, since I can't really even see them much less reach down in and start the threading by hand. So, any general advice that is offered will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Get yourself a 5/8's spark plug socket from wherever... Get a 6" extension, and just hand thread them in with the socket and extension. You'll feel them grab, and then you should be good. Snug them up, install your wires, and your good to go.
You need a plug socket and an extension. Holding the extension in your hand unattached from the wrench, ease it into the block gently. When you feel it touch the threads turn it IN REVERSE until you hear the threads skip. You can be sure it's not cross-threaded this way. Finger-tighten until you can't anymore, then connect the wrench to the extension. Tighten enough to compress the crush washer, but DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! And, put anti-seize on the threads of the new plug. Just enough to lightly coat the threads. Don't overdo it. Also, a bit of dielectric grease on the wire end of the plug and make sure the electrode is gapped correctly.
Wow, thanks for the detail! I had thought that giving them a little spin backwards might help me ensure they thread right, and I was wondering about how much to torque the plugs down, so I really appreciate your information.
You know I'm doing my plugs tomorrow....did you want to do them together??? I have tomorrow off work...so that's what I'll be doing... and looking for my coolant leak.
Sorry, I missed your post - apparently my e-mail notifications aren't coming through - otherwise I certainly might have. And thanks to everyone. I did the plug swap today, and it appears to have gone flawlessly. Morrie's Subie in Mtka. gave me a plug for the washer tank, but I forgot it at home when I went to my cousin's garage. I was able to set the tank enough out of the way without disconnecting the wire harness or fluid tube, though. I had a 5/8" socket, but it was a hair short, so I picked up a deeper one and a little pack each of anti-seize and dielectric grease. Got the old plugs out easily - not really having a good basis for comparison I'll still say that they looked ready to be changed (30k for plugs on a '01 2.5 NA?). Put anti-seize on the threads - about a pea-sized drop, then smeared it through and around all of the threads using a fair amount of finger pressure to push the stuff way down into the threads and scrap off excess. Also was careful not to get fingers all over the firing end. Then smeared some dielectric grease on the ribbed ceramic part of the plug just up to the base of the metal. Dropped the plugs in carefully and hand tightened - the last quarter turn or so was a bit tougher than the rest, but I'm certain they got threaded right. Then I hooked on the ratchet and gave them maybe a full turn or so. I tried to feel what was "compress the crush washer" and not "over tight". Felt like at a point the resistance to the ratchet was quantitatively changing, so I gave it a bit more turn and left it at that. Then put some dielectric grease in the end of the wire and smeared it around the inside edge. Pushed the wires on until I felt the final sort of snap. Replaced the washer tank and put the filter back on the STi cold air intake. Started it up and she sounded great and smooth. Drove it home (15 mi or so), got on it some, and nothing broke so I'm thinking she's good. Thanks again for all the help!
