I went to check my spark plugs tonight, had nothing better to do. They are the original plugs at 77600 miles, so I figured I'd check them out. Pulled the air box out and one of the leads off. This is the first time I have done this on the HHR. Well, needless to say, I did not have my 10" extsion. I got the socket stuck in the head. My 3" extsion would not click into the socket because the top of the pulg had slide up into the connection. With me being at college and my truck at home, I am missing some of my tools. I thought I had brought them with me, but found out tonight that I did not. So after several attemps of trying to get the socket out, I figured I'd go to walmart and get a longer extison. Dont shoot me here, but I drove it to walmart, about a mile, on three cylinders and forgot to hook up the mass air flow. Anyway I got there with the CEL on. While I was in there, I thought what the heck and just change the plugs. Extison bar and needle nose pliers and 4 Bosh +2 spark pulgs. It took about 20 mins once I got the proper tools to change all the plugs. Old ones were a little burnt but still in ok shape. Mind you I did this under a street light in the parking lot. Put her all back together and CEL was still on. Took it to autozone and they cleared it. Codes P1002 and P1013. Mass air flow and idle air. I am going to assume that this was because on forgeting to hook up the mass air flow on the way to walmart. Its got a lot more power all through the power band, and is already getting about 10% better miliage. I use these plugs in my truck and picked up 2 mpg in that. I expect to see about 30-35 highway in the HHR.

 

Next time you check the plugs, do it when the engine is cold so you don't damage the threads. Torque to 15ft. lbs.

 

X 2 Plus I always add "Anti-Seize" to the spark-plug threads...

The longer Extensions I use, are 'push button' on the shaft, by craftsman.. Unless I push the button, it will NOT release the socket...fwiw

 

Well the engine was cold when I started. I had no other way to the store, so I had to drive her. I do usely change plugs hot though. You just have to take your time. I never use anti seize, personal preffence. I just seems to get all over the place.

 

With an aluminum head, it's a good idea to use anti-seize. My sister had a 85 Sunbird with the SOHC engine. We went to change the plugs in it and the PO had not used anti-seize compound. Since you're dealing with two different metals, you can get a nasty reaction. Long story short, the plug took the threads in the cylinder head out with them. Something simple like a plug change became a major ordeal. I'm not saying this will happen everytime but it's with the time to use it when you're dealing with an aluminum head. Just my 2 cents.