Spark Plug Change

James06 · 08-13-2010, 09:40 AM

I know I'm slower than everyone else here, but I changed my plugs or the firt time yesterday. I used the Bosch Platinum X 2 plugs, and it wasn' hard, but weird. This is the first car I've changed plugs on that has all the plug wire caps attache to the same thing. It was kind of like a long coil all together with plug caps sticking out of it. The car runs good, so I must have gotten the caps back on correctly, but how do you tell while you're installing them?

urbexHHR · 08-16-2010, 11:37 AM

Oh God....how dare you. You changed the plugs? Prepare to be ambushed...

(People around here like to attack others for changing the plugs because they think it isn't needed....whatever....

)

Greybeard999 · 08-16-2010, 11:57 AM

SmootHHR · 08-16-2010, 12:12 PM

I'm rollin 100k before the end of the week...mine are coming out shortly.

voigtsga · 08-20-2010, 01:21 AM

For only $28 for AC Delco Iridiums, I plan on changing mine now that I've hit 60k. Yes, I could wait longer, but I prefer to err on the site of caution. If nothing else, I'd change them just to make sure they don't stay in so long that they seize up and don't want to come out.

Whenever you change plugs, it goes without saying that you do them one at a time to make sure there is on way to mix anything up.

SmootHHR · 08-20-2010, 07:15 AM

I guess it's about that time

James06 · 08-20-2010, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voigtsga

If nothing else, I'd change them just to make sure they don't stay in so long that they seize up and don't want to come out.

Whenever you change plugs, it goes without saying that you do them one at a time to make sure there is on way to mix anything up.

I was afraid of them seizing, too. On mine, it really wouldn't have made a difference to do them one at a time or all at once because of the way the plug caps were attached directly to the coils. And the coil pack, if that's the proper terminology, would only fit one way. I still did them one at a time because that's the way I've always done it.

sleeper · 08-20-2010, 11:13 PM

Don't forget to add a bit of "Anti-seize" to the Spark plug threads...

voigtsga · 08-21-2010, 01:14 AM

Although you of course are correct about how the coils fit, I still try to use the KISS approach and do them one at a time because otherwise somehow, someway, something without a doubt will find a way to get screwed up. I can get the job done, but I'm not one of those guys who can just unplug an entire engine at one time and put it all back together right 3 days later.

CR Dave · 01-07-2012, 01:54 PM

Speaking of plugs and when to change, the check engine light came on at about 43,000 miles-68,000 km. My bro in law hooked up the diagnostic tool and found that #1 plug was misfiring. Darn, but I'm used to frequent changes due to owning '70,'80 vintage vehicles. Had to drive the freeway to the next town last night for my daughter's basketball game and on the way home noticed the check light had gone out; then it dawned on me that the high speed run burned the deposits off and all is well. We hadn't been out of town for a couple of months and the lousy gas we get nowadays plugged the plugs. Should be good for another 60,000 plus miles!
The car looks even better than when we bought it in 2008.

08-16-2010, 11:37 AM	#2
urbexHHR Senior Member Join Date: 02-16-2009 Location: Frankenmuth/Flint, MI Member #: 14016 Posts: 6,131 Images: 325	Oh God....how dare you. You changed the plugs? Prepare to be ambushed... (People around here like to attack others for changing the plugs because they think it isn't needed....whatever.... ) __________________ 2006 HHR 1LT, 2.2L, Auto, Running Boards, Roof Rails, Sunroof, Chrome Package (54k miles) Built 5/24/06, Purchased 2/17/09 Mods: Molded Splash Guards, Chrome Exhaust Tip, Brake Light Cover, Stubby Antenna, Gutter Guard Grille, Chrome Tail Light Rings, TTR Sway Bar, 2LT Wheels 1999 Chevy Lumina (164k miles) Built 9/9/98, Purchased 8/14/06 1983 Chevy C-10 Scottsdale Pickup (166k miles) Built 4/83 in Flint, MI, Received 1/05

08-16-2010, 11:57 AM	#3
Greybeard999 Senior Member Join Date: 03-06-2010 Location: Ohio Member #: 19723 Posts: 5,329 Images: 120	__________________ ____ *** October 2010 featured HHR * ____ >> 2.4L, GMPP, Trifecta, Ground Force/Progress suspension <<**

08-16-2010, 12:12 PM	#4
SmootHHR Senior Member Join Date: 01-21-2010 Location: The Middie OHIO Member #: 18842 Posts: 1,720 Images: 126	I'm rollin 100k before the end of the week...mine are coming out shortly. __________________ 2006 1LT, Daytona Blue, 5spd Built 8/4/2005

08-20-2010, 07:15 AM	#6
SmootHHR Senior Member Join Date: 01-21-2010 Location: The Middie OHIO Member #: 18842 Posts: 1,720 Images: 126	:( I guess it's about that time __________________ 2006 1LT, Daytona Blue, 5spd Built 8/4/2005

08-20-2010, 11:13 PM	#8
sleeper Platinum Member Join Date: 01-09-2007 Location: TN, USA Member #: 2558 Posts: 10,717 Images: 39	Don't forget to add a bit of "Anti-seize" to the Spark plug threads... __________________ .......Two Thousand and Eight, HHR Panel 2LT +.........

08-20-2010, 01:21 AM	#5
voigtsga Senior Member Join Date: 08-09-2010 Location: Chattanooga, TN Member #: 22523 Posts: 122	For only $28 for AC Delco Iridiums, I plan on changing mine now that I've hit 60k. Yes, I could wait longer, but I prefer to err on the site of caution. If nothing else, I'd change them just to make sure they don't stay in so long that they seize up and don't want to come out. Whenever you change plugs, it goes without saying that you do them one at a time to make sure there is on way to mix anything up.

08-21-2010, 01:14 AM	#9
voigtsga Senior Member Join Date: 08-09-2010 Location: Chattanooga, TN Member #: 22523 Posts: 122	Although you of course are correct about how the coils fit, I still try to use the KISS approach and do them one at a time because otherwise somehow, someway, something without a doubt will find a way to get screwed up. I can get the job done, but I'm not one of those guys who can just unplug an entire engine at one time and put it all back together right 3 days later.

01-07-2012, 01:54 PM	#10
CR Dave Join Date: 11-20-2008 Location: Canada Member #: 11163 Posts: 7	Speaking of plugs and when to change, the check engine light came on at about 43,000 miles-68,000 km. My bro in law hooked up the diagnostic tool and found that #1 plug was misfiring. Darn, but I'm used to frequent changes due to owning '70,'80 vintage vehicles. Had to drive the freeway to the next town last night for my daughter's basketball game and on the way home noticed the check light had gone out; then it dawned on me that the high speed run burned the deposits off and all is well. We hadn't been out of town for a couple of months and the lousy gas we get nowadays plugged the plugs. Should be good for another 60,000 plus miles! The car looks even better than when we bought it in 2008.

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