Spark plug woes!!!! PLEASE HELP QUICK

[elwesso]

OK... I actually got around to doing the plugs, and I was moving along smoothly, and then I got to the harness over the plastic black ornament cover (the one that has the two plugs on the left and right), and I cant get the screws to come out, and I am already on the virge on stripping one. I did get all the allens out of the ornament cover, but I cant pull off the ornament cover, and i think its because the screws need to come out. I am wondering if the screws need to come out, or what?? I have tried dousing them with some wd-40 like stuff, and still no luck

[DAEDALUS]

Yes, I'm pretty sure they do need to be remved. You're talking about the 4 screws going into the ignitor pack? 8mm heads...you're saying they're not turning at all? Kind of surprising. If you do strip them, you can always get a dremel and slot the heads, though why they're being so difficult is a mystery. They're only going into aluminum.

[elwesso]

SORRY!!! EXTREME BRAIN FART.... I NO LONGER DESERVE TO WORK ON MY Q!!! I was attempting to use a screw driver, instead of a wrench, and they came right out.... But the plugs were terrible, they were sorta rusted in, so i had to get an extension to break them free.... They were the origional plugs!!! I got the drivers side done, and passenger side is tomorrow!!!

But i do have a couple other concerns-- On one of the coils, i acidentally screwed up one of the bolts (no 7 cy, what a BIATCH), so there is only 1 bolt holding it in... I assume this shouldnt be a problem, it is still secure... Also, i got the ignitor pack most the way on, but the top bolt farthest back is really hard to get in.... Is it necessary for all of them to go in, or will it be OK with only 3.....

I am beginning to think that the designers designed the car so that it is really hard to work on.... And I also have a respect for this car, and for all the DIYers trying to work on this thing!!!!

[Q45tech]

Work on, they designed it to be as perfectly trouble free as they could for the 60-70,000 miles they expected owners to keep the car. People who had $38-50K by 94 [cash] in the early 90's were not thought to keep cars longer than that.

Most of the new buyers wrote checks or peeled it out of their briefcase [walking around money].

There was no thought or concern about the poor who would keep the car [other than offering a factory extended warranty], second and third owner.......... ha! They must be crazy to buy a used lux performance car with more than 100k.

[elwesso]

What were they thinking!!

So i can assume I have the origional plugs (120k), so can i expect anything noticable to come out of this (ie performance )

[Q451990]

Yes! The idle and low end acceleration always seems a little better after a plug change. The Q is really unusual in that you get noticable differences after maintenence - at least more so that most other cars I've had.

Heath

[PalmerWMD]

So i can assume I have the origional plugs (120k), so can i expect anything noticable to come out of this (ie performance )

Yes, performanxce and fuel economy gains are virtually certain if those were original plugs.Will they be big enough to easily notice?Harder to say, but I am certain they will be there.

Fred...:blue

[elwesso]

Ok, BUT IT SHOULD BE BETTER, CONSIDERING THIS IS A PITA!!! I will dread the day this has to happen again!! It will probably take 2 days for me to get all the grease off my hands, and then another few weeks for the cuts to heal....

A couple other concerns-- On one of the coils, i acidentally screwed up one of the bolts (no 7 cy, what a BIATCH), so there is only 1 bolt holding it in... I assume this shouldnt be a problem, it is still secure... Also, i got the ignitor pack most the way on, but the top bolt farthest back is really hard to get in.... Is it necessary for all of them to go in, or will it be OK with only 3.....

[DAEDALUS]

It's probably OK. I assume the metal plate is rigid enough to keep the coil down tight and secure without problems. Just to be clear, you did get the plug out? Didn't understand the part about "only 1 bolt holding it in". Just FYI this job is much easier with a long locking extension and a jointed 8mm socket.

[Q45tech]

Well every other plug exchange needs/gets a valve cover internal clean and reseal.........to avoid oil in the plug well and possible misfires or coil destruction, O2 contamination from drippping oil/smokey manifolds,etc....................just part of normal maintenance.We charge $500 for the reseal and change the purchased plugs for $68 more at the same time........around $675 total plus of course any hoses that crack and break/leak.

Think of it at just the normal 120/240k service addition.

[elwesso]

Well I got it done, and all hooked together, and it runs great! Got all the plugs out, and all of them had some rust on them, and were quite hard to get out.... I really dont want to reflect back on this ever again!!

I was talking about-- There are 2 bolts holding the coil down, and I only have 1 in.... Its ok, especially with that stupid black plastic cover and the connectors holding it down....

[Q451990]

Should have mentioned this earlier... I use an anti-seize compound on spark plug threads. If you're going to keep up with the maintenence you'll probably be OK. I think the only time they tend to seize is when they've been in too long or for too many miles. I'm scared to death about "Q2" since she has her factory plugs still in tact. Maybe the seizing is more related to the number of heat cycles - I sure hope so!

Heath

[elwesso]

Well they werent all that bad.... I just had to get an extension to my wrench, and a few good tugs and they were out!!!

Why do they have to make the so hard to get at!!!!!!

Also, a plenum job is up next.... How does it rate against the plugs, time wise?? Not including under-plenum hoses, just removing it, and cleaning it....

[DAEDALUS]

It would take less time if you replace the hoses. Rather than fighting to remove each dried up hose without breaking it, just cut off each one and replace. They need to be replaced at some point, and much better to do it without risking a rupture a few months down the road. Go all the way with it. Remove the plenum and the runners and give them a good soaking. Inspect the knock sensors. Replace all hoses, including bypass, coolant and fuel. IAC needs to be cleaned as well and gasket replaced. Budget a weekend, with margin for a 2nd just in case you run over or if you need to order last-minute parts.

[Q45tech]

Our MASTER tech Byron yesterday did chain guides and an oil pan drop clean out on a 90Q from 9AM thru 3:30PM with time off for a quick lunch.......say 6 hours - after doing more than 100 personally he is probably the fastest in the world.

Of course we have a special jig to hold the motor and he use 3 air tools all hooked up at the same time and he had a surgical nurse to hand him the tools. Think MASH here.

During the next 2 hours [3:30>5:30] we tracked down a dead mis in #3 caused by some tech [use the word loosely] jury rigging a coil harness [inside the cover] with "butt" connnectors and replaced the 1 of the 4 Champion plugs on the driverside.........the owner proceeded on his way to Oklahoma from from Key West...........in by 8 out by 6.............with a list of another $2,000 needed, he promised to stop back in 2 weeks on his way home.

We gave him a new /USED harness and a used coil as his MECHANIC really messed things up trying to change the plugs!Who knows what the passsenger side looks like? It was working so we didn't look.

I can remember when Byron came from the JAX dealer in 1999 it took him 14 real hours to do the guide/pan job.

[Q451990]

Don't let that man go anywhere or get sick for the next month or so! He needs to be there when I bring Q2 in!

Heath