slamjet Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Ok, I got myself a new (to me) set of wheels and I've run into a dilemma... The spark plugs. This will be the first vehicle I've owned where I cannot change out the plugs on my own. The backside of the engine (V-6) is up against the firewall and under some stuff and even if I disassemble the back half, I can't get my big paws in there So to not snap the plugs, and every thing else back there, I'm going to have to take it in. My issue is how much do I need to budget for and how much is way over the top (I bought the plugs and cables already)? Yea, call me frustrated. I hate not being able to do the basics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classylady Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Can't help you with your question Slamjet, but I want to add my rant. I grew up where we could always do our own repairs on our vehicles. It just seems so difficult now days to do basic repairs. I hate taking my car into a shop with a basic problem that we used to be able to do on our own. Rant done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annewandering Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I am joining in on the ranting. Its just plain stupid when you cant even change spark plugs or oil etc. On top of that there are lots of local ordinances FORBIDDING doing either or anything else for that matter. We are all losing our minds not to mention our basic survival abilities. Its bad enough when we just dont bother but when we just cant no matter what we want to do about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnn727 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 save up about $300 for a tune up on a car like this, they often have to disassemble part of the engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annewandering Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 save up about $300 for a tune up on a car like this, they often have to disassemble part of the engineThat is just sick. What company of car is this from, slamjet? Going to make sure we never buy one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classylady Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Unfortunately, now days anything with AWD or Front wheel drive with a V6 engine is generally set up where's it's almost impossible to get to the spark plugs. (According to DH) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Cars have spark plugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Any newer V6 or V8 car is going to have this issue. What I have is a 1997 Buick Century but to get to the back plugs I would have to take out the coil pack. But there still isn't enough room for my big hands. On my Honda, I had to disassemble the air intake system to a broken heater hose. Mine is a mid-sized car but compacts are impossible, minivans even more so. But $300 just for plugs and cables has my skin crawling. The #1 reason why it is now so difficult and expensive: EMISSION CONTROL. But it could be worse. If you bought a new Ford diesel truck, to change the injectors they have to lift the whole chassis off the frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Cars have spark plugs? YES! And muffler bearings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 What about V8 Fusion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classylady Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 DH thinks it might cost anywhere from $300 to $400 here in Utah. Now, California, he says they might have you replace the whole engine. Just kidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Slam,Is there a backyard mechanic in your ward or stake? I have always been fortunate in that my Home Teacher is a mechanic. He has retired, and again I lucked out and found another local mechanic - Shepard Performance Shepard Performance - Waldport, OR I know Shep from my previous life - when he was working for the car dealer in the next town. He finally took the leap about 8 years ago and went out on his own. Ask around at church. Oh, how about calling Oil Can Henry? Or Fast Lube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 In both my cars, you have to take out the entire front bumpers to replace any of the front lightbulbs. Waaa. But slamjet... don't despair... if you really want to, you can change those spark plugs and cables yourself! When they're unreachable, just spend an afternoon removing the parts blocking it. One by one. It's usually the air intake that's sitting on top of it... and a slew of electrical connections. Take one of those colored stickers (from the garage sale pricing or some such) and stick a sticker around the electrical wire and a matching sticker to where it goes and just unplug those suckers one by one. Oh, take pictures too so you can have something to guide you when you plug them all back. And yes, I'll never attempt this on my car. Only on my father-in-law's junkers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome1232 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Just to join in the rant, in my 4 banger '03 focus, to remove the alternator you have to prop the engine on a block and remove one of the engine mounts to wiggle it out of the engine compartment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john doe Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 According to MItchell (they produce time guides for these kinds of things) it should only take around 1.1 hours to change the spark plugs on your Century. But that assumes you have the correct tools to do the job and all the parts necessary at hand. And sometimes the time guides are wildly inaccurate too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 1.1 hours? Yea, sure thing. But I'm going to try this myself before I take it to a mechanic. I'm so adverse to paying someone to do something I've been doing since I was 12 (yea, my old man made me). I figured cracking my knuckles while scratching up my hand and arms is worth the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dravin Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 1.1 hours? Yea, sure thing. But I'm going to try this myself before I take it to a mechanic. I'm so adverse to paying someone to do something I've been doing since I was 12 (yea, my old man made me). I figured cracking my knuckles while scratching up my hand and arms is worth the money.Yep, if the shop were to charge $150 for it and it takes you 6 hours to do it yourself you've basically 'paid' yourself $25/hour in savings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMGuy Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Slam, You may be able to loosen the front dogbone and rock the engine forward to access those plugs. Most plugs in new vehicles are good for 100,000 miles, but being a 97 is probably due no matter what. -RM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Slam,You may be able to loosen the front dogbone and rock the engine forward to access those plugs. Most plugs in new vehicles are good for 100,000 miles, but being a 97 is probably due no matter what. -RMThe engine is a bit rough so replacements are due. I'm going to put AC Delco Rapidfire's and cables in so that I don't have to worry about it for another few years. In looking at it, I can unbolt the two forward engine mounts but I'd rather not do that. I don't have a 2X4 nor a 4X4 to pry the engine forward and hold it there. Besides, the only place I can get any leverage is using the firewall and the alternator. I'm pretty ham-fisted so I know with my luck I'll break something. I was able to dig up my universal joints so I just may be able to pull this off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefche Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 You could just ask RMGuy's daughter to come out and help you with it. I hear she's pretty handy doing car rebuilding..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMGuy Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Slam good luck...You may want to check online to make sure that the rapid fires will be ok..the 3.1's are pretty forgiving, and since they are delco's you should be ok...we put a set of bosch platinums in a 3400 once and got nothing but error codes and misfires. I would hate for you do do that work and then have to redo it. Beefche, Kathryn would be there in a heartbeat...she loves grease! Weird girl...lol! -RM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Slam good luck...You may want to check online to make sure that the rapid fires will be ok..the 3.1's are pretty forgiving, and since they are delco's you should be ok...we put a set of bosch platinums in a 3400 once and got nothing but error codes and misfires. I would hate for you do do that work and then have to redo it. Beefche, Kathryn would be there in a heartbeat...she loves grease! Weird girl...lol!-RMDoes she have a cousin named Vinny?:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMGuy Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Lol no....but she does have some Italian heritage. -RM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slamjet Posted December 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Well, it is done. I changed them myself. I had to unbolt the coil pack but that was not the worst of it. The engine is rotated backwards a few degrees towards the firewall. So I had to really reach back there and work by feel to get it done. But it starts up and runs very nice. I have a meeting tonight so I'll get to try it out then.So why change them? Well, the engine was running a bit rough and the cables looked eerily original so I was thinking they were never changed out. Well, check out the gap on these puppies:Specs say it should be .060. I believe those are a bit more. But yes, they do look like the original plugs from 104,+++ miles ago.And the obligatory car shot:Funny thing, it's very, very close to the same color as my truck, the one that caught the eye of my then-wife. I dunno but I doubt an old Buick is a head-turner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMGuy Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Always good to get some thing like that done AND have it work. Those look original! I do like the color...seems in nice shape for a 97. -RM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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