Sooo, replacing the spark plugs is not so easy on the flat-4 engine. Wes and I managed to get them out with a little bit of difficulty; amazingly we did not bust our hands on the stuff around the plugs. But one problem, the rubber end of the plug (the part you actually pull before unscrewing the plugs) is a bit tricky. Wes and I tried to put them back in but they never felt like they went in all the way again. However, my car started and runs fine, so there must be a connection. My question is: how do you get the damn things all the way back in? One of them actually popped into place, the other three just wedged in there. Any ideas?
I think as long as they are started, the bolts should push the boots on the rest of the way when you tighten the coils down.
^^ +1. If the bolts are tight, and there's no misfires, CELs, or idling/performance issues, then you got them on. I actually thought the plugs were an easy install on my car (04 wrx), but I've had to work on alot of different vehicles that were far worse, so I guess I'm biased.
Looking at your profile you have a Phase 2.5 (the .5 meaning drive by wire and VVL) EJ253 SOHC engine. Those will definitely POP when seated on the spark plug correctly. You will need to do so....you will have to push them rather hard to get them to pop on to the plug sometimes.
I really like my swivel head ratchet for this install. It really helped me get some of the difficult plugs, that and my telescoping magnet. The right tools always saves some aggrevation.
OK, I got two of them in, the ones closest to the window. The two from ones have not popped yet. Is there some trick or easier way to make these get back in there? These are the rubber parts that attatch to the spark plug, not the plugs themselves, so there is nothing to screw in, just push. The write-ups on scoobymods look quite different than what I have on my engine, thus my difficulty.
I did a write up a while ago if you follow it exactly it makes it a lot easier. http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2643&highlight=spark+plug+install Matt
Getting the plugs out is not difficult at all; I did not even have to remove the battery or anything! I didn't have a magnet so I fished out the old plugs with the rubber boots themselves. Getting the plugs to screw back in was straightforward, just slid them back in, hand tightened then torqued them down a bit. Its those damn rubber boots! There is no bolt like the wrx coil packs have, just a pull/push tab. The tabs make it pull out nicely, but its like trying to push a rope getting them back in. I pushed the hell out of those boots and they just squish around. Finally I got three to fully pop into place, the passanger side front is still not quite there. Now the difference bewteen fully in and partially in is only a matter of a few millimeters. There is a conical rubber seal that is part of the boot that seals with a hole in the block. Once fully seated, that seal will be a millimeter or so below the lip of the metal hole. The passenger side front boot remains flush with the lip, not seated as deeply as the others. However, despite all of this, I have had NO engine issues. The boots must still be making contact with the plugs because the engine runs excatly like it did before this fiasco. Just ask Wes how ridiculously difficult these rubbers are to get in, he was there.
if the spark plug boots got oil soaked they could have swollen up and will be difficult to seat into teh holes.