Ok, every time I think I understand something, I see a thread or a photo that makes me

Coil packs! I thought that the black box on top of the manifold with 4 spark plug leads coming out of it was the coil pack (V5 STI).
I keep seeing images where it shows the coil packs as being right next to the plugs and you have to unscrew them to get at the plugs. Is this correct or am I missing something.

 

i might be wrong!! the coil packs go on top the spark plugs, the black thing on the inlet manifold is the distributor?
(going on a 95 wrx import mind you)

 

If the leads come from the coil mounted in top of the manifold then yes, the thing on top of the manifold is the coil. (MY95 onwards iirc)

On early cars ( pre MY95 iirc) the coil packs are of the individual type and are like a larger version of a standard plug socket and do indeed bolt onto each plug.

So it's all age dependent, unless an early MY has been modded and has the manifold coil pack fitted.

 

Bingo, thank you b13bat.

 

No problem.