umm okay i feel silly, spark plug removal?

[Yorb]

how do i get to the plugs in a 240sx? =/ do i need a tool or somethin? its not obvious...then again im kind of a n00b at this.

also, i'm doing this in order to maybe alleviate my idle problems, and when i get the plugs and wires exposed is there a way to tell right off the bat if they need changing? like, from a visual inspection? i realize that since they havent been changed in 15k miles they probably should anyway.

thanks.

[Hijacker]

go out to sears and pick up a spark plug socket. then it's just a ratchet and an extension away from getting pulled out.

you'll need to pull the plugs to inspect them, look for anything odd like white corrosion or burn marks on them. For the wires, look for cracks in the wire shielding, otherwise there's really no way to tell if a wire's gone bad.

what kind of idle problems are you having? is it lopey or does it feel like it wants to die? also, when you accellerate, do you hear a rattle noise coming from the engine bay?

[bvanev]

I'll cut you some slack 'cause you are fresh meat to car cars.The plugs are easy to get out. All you need is a ratchet, an extension, and a spark plug socket (5/8) I think(?) Plugs probably won't fix your idle problems though, unless they are severely fouled or corroded. The wires could be something to look at, but not normally after 15k miles (unless you bought used or really cheap ones) More likely, but not limited to, is a dirty fuel injector (would cause a lot of hesitation through out the pwr band), maybe rotor and cap, ignition timing, bent valves. There are a lot of things that it could be, you will just have to start and eliminate things as you go. A useful tool for you would be a factory service manual so that you can learn how to check all of these things, most dealerships will sell them for about $100, and most of them will at least let you look at the manual. Good luck.

[BomexS13]

how do i get to the plugs in a 240sx? =/ do i need a tool or somethin? its not obvious...then again im kind of a n00b at this.

also, i'm doing this in order to maybe alleviate my idle problems, and when i get the plugs and wires exposed is there a way to tell right off the bat if they need changing? like, from a visual inspection? i realize that since they havent been changed in 15k miles they probably should anyway.

thanks.

How old is your car and when was the last time you replaced them? If I were you, replace the whole thing(plugs, wires, etc). You'll feel better knowing that you replaced them and its new.

****, i have to replace my crap too:thinker

[BadMojo]

How old is your car and when was the last time you replaced them? If I were you, replace the whole thing(plugs, wires, etc). You'll feel better knowing that you replaced them and its new.

****, i have to replace my crap too:thinker

Yeah, not sure how old your car is, but it can't hurt to replace your plugs and wires if you've never done so.

Here's a little thing from PDM-Racing on how to read your plugs.

http://www.pdm-racing.com/features/plugs.html

And, yeah, you can get a spark plug socket cheap from Sears. It's just a deep socket with a rubbery insert.

[fiznat]

uhmm... not sure how much you know... getting even more basic, just follow your plug wires to the top of the valve cover and pull off the rubber caps (there are 4 of course). These are longer they look, they go down about I'd say 4 inches or so... Just pull those all the way out and then stick your socket down there.

[BadMojo]

uhmm... not sure how much you know... getting even more basic, just follow your plug wires to the top of the valve cover and pull off the rubber caps (there are 4 of course). These are longer they look, they go down about I'd say 4 inches or so... Just pull those all the way out and then stick your socket down there.

OK, working off the "not sure what you know" premise, take note that your plug wires (if OE) are numbered. This is for a reason. When you put them back on, make sure they're in the same order as when you took them off.

[p00t]

Spark plugs are metric so youll need a 16mm spark plug socket or extended socket. If you dont have a socket ment for spark plugs you will need a magnetic screw driver to fish em out of the holes. When you put them back dont just drop them down.... you will break the tips. Dont tighten them too hard either, the tightening spec for em is around 16-20 ft-lbs.

[Nathan]

Yes, be careful putting them back in, you do NOT want to strip the holes for them. Also, a 5/8in. spark plug socket works just fine.

[Yorb]

Thanks all. =) I've been wanting an FSM but too cheap/lazy to get one. I probably will in order to finally solve the idle problem.

I don't KNOW if it's only been 15K miles, by the way. I bought the car used 15K miles ago, but I'm assuming it hadn't been too long before then because the car was kept in excellent shape.

As for the idle, I've scanned all the threads a while ago and never found an exact duplication of my problem, but here it is: 90% of the time the car runs fine, with a little bit of a repeated lurching going through the low end of the power band, as if I was pumping the gas in and out. This is particularly noticeable when accelerating faster than normal off of a stop. The other 10% of the time my car hovers between 50 RPM and 1500 whenever my foot is off the gas. It will nearly stall and then rocket back up to 1500 and ease itself back down again, sometimes slower, sometimes faster (resulting in a stall if I'm coasting). I haven't noticed any major sound coming from the engine, and it doesn't appear to be relevent to weather or gas level. The fuel filter was replaced recently as well.

Anyway, thanks. I'll do the plugs and wires first and get myself a service manual. =)

[crzycav86]

Spark plugs are metric so youll need a 16mm spark plug socket or extended socket. If you dont have a socket ment for spark plugs you will need a magnetic screw driver to fish em out of the holes. When you put them back dont just drop them down.... you will break the tips. Dont tighten them too hard either, the tightening spec for em is around 16-20 ft-lbs.

You don't really need a special tool meant to fish out spark plugs. Just use the spark plug wire to grab the spark plug, and take them out that way. But be careful not to drop them when you put 'em back in..

[BadMojo]

You don't really need a special tool meant to fish out spark plugs. Just use the spark plug wire to grab the spark plug, and take them out that way. But be careful not to drop them when you put 'em back in..

OR...go to Sears and get a spark plug socket for $2!

[Nathan]

OR...go to Sears and get a spark plug socket for $2!

Dude, they are like 4-5$!!! The price of sockets these days it outrageous!

[BadMojo]

Dude, they are like 4-5$!!! The price of sockets these days it outrageous!

That's still less than the price of a Value Meal at McDonalds, and as a bonus the socket won't give you raging diarrhea!

I've been thinking of checking out the tools at Autozone (whatever their brand is called). Unless I'm mistaken, they now have a lifetime guarantee on their hand tools. They're probably a bit less expensive than Craftsman stuff. Hey, if Jesse James tell me to "get in to the Zone", who am I to argue?

Edit: And yeah, 5/8" is ~ 15.9 mm.

[Nathan]

That's still less than the price of a Value Meal at McDonalds, and as a bonus the socket won't give you raging diarrhea!

I've been thinking of checking out the tools at Autozone (whatever their brand is called). Unless I'm mistaken, they now have a lifetime guarantee on their hand tools. They're probably a bit less expensive than Craftsman stuff. Hey, if Jesse James tell me to "get in to the Zone", who am I to argue?

Edit: And yeah, 5/8" is ~ 15.9 mm.

So I'm not the only one who's noticed old Jesse's been doing the Zone' commercials, its so depressing I thought he had standards... Craftsman now has that new line of cheap tools also, but I dont know how I feel about them. As for the 5/8" is ~ 15.9 mm, I wouldn't know that crazy math stuff...I just use what works

[BadMojo]

So I'm not the only one who's noticed old Jesse's been doing the Zone' commercials, its so depressing I thought he had standards... Craftsman now has that new line of cheap tools also, but I dont know how I feel about them. As for the 5/8" is ~ 15.9 mm, I wouldn't know that crazy math stuff...I just use what works

Not to sidetrack an exciting spark plug discussion, but I've got mixed feelings about the Jesse James Autozone thing.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with Autozone. It's a good place to get oil and some reman. parts (Z32 calipers anyone?). I'd imagine Jesse is laughing his way to the bank. He's well on target for his "retire at age 35" plan.

Maybe I'll buy some of those Autozone tools and see if I can break 'em in a day!

[Nathan]

Haha, yeah I go to autozone for some things, but they also carry exceptionally ricey merchandise as well. I almost bought a glow in the dark chandelier that fits over the dome light though...just for a joke.