coilpack and plugs
 

hi where do i look to see if my wrx has a single or 4 ,its an n reg v-limited. also which brand of plugs are best to use as could do with changing them as well cheers j

Your car is a MY96 Version 2, so you have 4 individual 'coilpacks' (i.e. an individual coil with a short lead and an electrical connector at the end) The coil end fits directly over the end of each spark plug, and is secured in the head by a single bolt.

Use either NGK PFR6B or PFR7B plugs. The 6s are OEM heat range and are fine. The 7s are a colder running plug and can withstand higher cylinder temps/pressures, so are good for upped boost with supporting mods.

If you get all 4 coilpacks new, and have no engine mods, then gap to 0.8mm (OEM recommendation). However, if you do have mods (or a MBC fitted), and/or the coilpacks are old, then gap anywhere between 0.6 to 0.7mm (more resistant to the boost blowing the spark out).

thats for that mate , better get saving cheers j

I think brand new OEM coilpacks (can't be bettered) are about £67 (inc VAT) from the likes of Zen (and others), so not cheap... But once fitted, will last a long time and will resist misfires, as well as giving a nice fat healthy spark. I've bought 2 from Zen so far, just gotta get the other 2 lol.

The plugs can be had brand new on eBay for typically well under £30 delivered.

they don't have to be replaced all at once then. how do you tell ifbroken car splutters between1.5 and 2000 rpm when cold cheers j

TBH those symptoms could be any number of things - coilpacks could be the cause... or at least contributing towards it.

Re the coilpacks, no you don't have to, but does make sense to do all 4 at the same time, as it's hard to diagnose a knackered c/p (can have microscopic cracks on it causing the spark to arc). So fitting all 4 at the same time pretty much will rule out an area to look at if you're having running problems/misfires.

The only reason why I got only 2 at the time was that they were very bad; the others not so (but still need replacing regardless). Also I had spent a truckload of cash that day anyway, and the extra £130-odd for the other 2, psychologically got the better of me (and my credit card) LOL