Silly question but how do you change them?! Me and my dad had a look under the bonnet earlier and we were stumped as to how you get to them?!

 

mark, do you want the ones off me ??? if you call round at mine tomorrow I can show you how to change them , cheers , alan,

 

Yeah ill have the ones off you pls.

 

pm sent.

 

no way is it a silly question...first time I looked..esp on washer bottle side I thought would have to pay out for mechanic to do..but aint too bad a job and I aint no mechanic...but got it done...hhaaaaaaaa
There is a post somewhere..showing pics and some basics..like undo washer bottle...to access near side..

sounds like ya sorted but good luck anyhow

 

You need hands like a 10 year old, knuckle skin thicker than an elephants hide, plug socket, a few extension bars and a few U.J. joints.

Oh and don't drop anything as it will get stuck in the undertray!

It's not that hard - it just takes time, you may want to shift the washer bottle and airbox out the way to get easier access depending on if your ratchet/hand gets in the way of them

 

Remove the airbox/induction kit and the washer bottle, then you have just enough space each side to work. Newer models with the coil pack on top of the inlet manifold are a bit less fiddly as they don't have indicidual coil packs down by the plugs.

Top tip, use electrical tape to stick the plug socket firmly to the extension bar, or it unclips when you've done up the new plug and try to remove the socket.

It's a bugger to get the plug socket back out if it's not connected to the extension bar, as it's too far in to reach with fingers/pliers.

Here's the bits you need to remove, sorry I didn't take an 'after' pic with them removed.

 

Yeah marc i payed a guy off here to do mine! Was only £55 inc the plugs

As said above remove the washer bottle and the induction housing to get to them either side.Need a socket to fit also.

 

No need to tape anything up, just remove the rubber bung from inside the plug socket.


Andy

 

i also sufferd from socket retention when i did mine, took me hours to get the *******s done

 

Yeah I forgot about that .....Make sure your spark plug socket has a rubber insert to hold the spark plug when you remove it. Remove the rubber holder from inside the spark plug socket when inserting the new spark plugs...the socket wont get stuck inside the cylinder head when you try to withdraw it then

 

Is there an Echo in here.


Andy

 

Do you have medical insurance? It could be needed to get your knuckles re-skinned. It is a pain just think twice and do once. Have fun.

 

Just my 2p...Its easier to remove the battery than the washer bottle and it gives better access anyway.

 

2x 10mm bolts to undo the washer bottle, lift it up and sit it on the battery. easy, there is enough play in the pipes and wires to do this if you tug them a little.
On the odd occasion I've had to unplug the green connector for the washer pump, that's all.

No need for knuckles and loads of kit.
One 3/8 drive ratchet
One 3/8 drive plug socket
One 3/8 short extension.

coil on plugs version will also require a 1/4 drive 10mm socket and ratchet.


Andy

 

As Fuzz has said no need for loads of kit or mass removal of hardware, its a 45 minute job tops.

Its all in the wrist as they say.

Zippy

 

N/S I undo from underneath, undertray off, so do when changing oil.
Fit new from top, don't take anything off.
O/S I do from above and do find it easier if I take airfilter housing top off.
99 UK so no coils on plugs.
Still it was fun the first time.
Hardest part, I find, is pulling the plug leads off, they seem to be a tighter fit than on other cars and not much room to get lead pliers in.

 

Another vote for doing them from underneath if you are able.