Been taking my sti7 to my 'friendly' local garage for the last few years for servcing, for convenience. My mistake.

They told me they had taken the spark plugs out and checked them each year, cleaned them up and put them back, because they were platinum and long life they didnt need changing. So i believed them, like you do.

So over the last few weeks iv been getting cel light and 301 error code.

Today i decided to have a look at the plugs and coil packs and change the plugs with a spare set of ngk platinum 7's iv had a while. All the coil pack bolts were siezed and the plugs were going rusty and black as soot. I was shocked and very disappointed as say the least.

Bottom line, three done fairly straight forward, last one, the one on drivers side nearest firewall cant do. Bolt is rounded and theres no room to do anything. Struggled to get a socket and ratchet on it. Been using 12mm socket with 3/8 ratchet, flat face hex socket and multi point, no go with either.

What can i do please guys, im pulling my hair out?

 

Can you hammer a smaller, (sometimes AF, Whitworth etc), socket onto it?

Failing that, soak overnight, drill it's centre and use a stud extractor set, only DON'T buy a cheap set, they aren't hard enough

 

Can you not get a set of mole grips on, to try and get it started.

It should not be that tight really so the first turn is all you need.

Quite often taking a break for 10 mins will give you the desired result if you have run out of patience, works for me.

Pretty bad that the have told you they have checked/cleaned them and have not.

I have trouble in trusting garages. I have one that I use, know the guy can be trusted and quite often watch over while car is being worked on, the guy likes people to watch and learn so that is good.

 

Get your self a set of these m8 and you never suffer again with dodgy bolts heads or nuts.
there the dogs nuts for the job you want to do 3/8" DRIVE 11 PIECE ANTI-SLIP SOCKET SET
http://loushardwarestore.com/index.p...-NUT-SPLITTERS.
Ask lou for Slabs discount not sure if you will get any m8 but she will find it funny they a real bargan m8

 

Mole grips were a no go, not enough room to get a proper grip plus I think it would just make the bolt head worse. Space is so limited hammering a smaller socket on seems imposible without breaking something, the brake lines are right where you'd want to swing. Really hoping the anti slip sockets do the trick.

Really can't understand why it's so tight, but apparently it's never moved in 4years so that must have alot to do with it.

Thanks guys

 

Anti slip sockets worked a treat, all plugs now changed. Even with new plugs i was getting a cel code 301 every so often. Decided to swap the coil packs expecting the missfire to change cylinders, thinking it was the coil pack on1 causing it, but still get the 301 ever now and then. What things cause this code other than plugs and coils please?

 

leads??

 

Car doesn't have leads.

Neutral position switch causes miss fire codes.

 

Neutral position switch, not familiar with that, would it cause the same code 301 repeatedly? I'm not getting any other codes, also the car seems to run as normal before, during & after i cancel the cel light.

 

Yeah, Im not to clue'd up on the newage cars, but from what ive heard the neutral position switch is a common fault, and if faulty can flash up a 301 code.

Try a search or start a new thread... i reackon that will be your problem.

 

these work a treat http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...-bolt-grip-set