Spark Plugs

[pompste]

Originally Posted by Elo

Every year I change my plugs... Period...

Yah, it costs money, and yah, the plugs are still good...

But I accomplish two things by doing this:

1: I always have good condition plugs
2: The plugs are a hell of a lot easier to change every year than if I were to change them every couple of years... The longer they sit, the harder they are to remove... And breaking a plug while it's still screwed in sucks...

Since I haven't had my Catera very long, I haven't done much service work to it yet... But it's nearing the 55k mile mark, and as soon as it does, I'm doing my "tune-up"

-Elo

You would`nt change spark plugs every year if you had to change them on a 4.9 liter.I got one of the front plugs out the other day to look at it`s condition and i`ve got cuts all over my knuckles.

[callingmonroe]

Glad this came up, I would have not known at all about the 100,000 fraud, which reading above I have learned much. Thanks for bringing it up.

[wufibug]

So just how difficult a job is it, and which plugs are the hardest to get at? Also curious about plug wires. Back in 98, I think the stock wire was 7mm; most now seem to be 8mm and bigger. Is there any source for an 8mm plug wire that anyone knows of? Can any part of the plug wire be reused, such as the long boot that seems only to fit the Catera?

[cateraowner]

just did it today. it was an easy job. if you've done spark plugs before these are one of the easier ones. the more difficult ones were the ones on the left bank (driver side ) cause there is the wiring that run right above that, and they don't move very much so it's difficult to get straight at it. but it's not too bad. nothing really hidden. ( keep in mind though I was cleaning my breathers so had the plenum and the scuttle off. so I had access to everything)

I used bosch 4+ platmun plugs. running great

and I reused my wires

[Army_MP_From_MO]

Originally Posted by tedhontz

on average, how much does it cost to have the plugs changed in the catera at a service shop? Do you really have to drop the engine? Or was that mentioned just to scare me?

I got a tune up when I purchased my Cat in Jan. It ran me around $700. The engine doesn't have to be removed. You could save yourself a crap load of money and do it yourself. I'm recovering from a spinal fusion but I had to get it done.