Replacing Spark Plugs. Needs Immediate Help!

[Poehring]

Im moving on Saturday and I need to replace my Spark Plugs. For the life of me I cant locate them in my engine. 1987 Subaru DL 1.8L SOHC. Can anyone describe or show me a picture of where they are located? Im looking for 4 Boots where they are located and I cant find them anywhere. Ive located what I think is the Carberator or Air Filter or something thats round, with 4 wires going into it that have boots, and a 5th one in the center. I dont think this is them though, for when I took one of the boots off, It didnt look like a Spark Plug inside.

Ive made one other post on here, and Ill say it again, I dont know much about cars, but I am quickly learning with this little terror

[Poehring]

NM I found it. Turns out the round thing I described was the Distributor cap. So I followed its wires to the sparks Plugs. 2 on the left side of the engine, and 2 on the right.

[somick]

When pulling off the boots make sure you grab the boot itself, not the wire.
When installing new plugs use anti seize compound. It will make future changes much easier.

Good luck,

Sam

[Poehring]

Yeah I made sure to grab the boot and not the wire. I actually got them installed pretty quickly. Getting to them was a little bit of a chore but once I got to them it was pretty quick. The old plugs looked horrible. There was all kinds of rust and gunk on them. The little metal part that helps make the spark (Not the hook at the very top) was gone on all 4. Either that or somehow it got pushed all the way down. I would say the plugs haven't been changed in well over 10 years or more. Car still wont start though, which tells me its the starter.

[somick]

Originally Posted by Poehring

Yeah I made sure to grab the boot and not the wire. I actually got them installed pretty quickly. Getting to them was a little bit of a chore but once I got to them it was pretty quick. The old plugs looked horrible. There was all kinds of rust and gunk on them. The little metal part that helps make the spark (Not the hook at the very top) was gone on all 4. Either that or somehow it got pushed all the way down. I would say the plugs haven't been changed in well over 10 years or more. Car still wont start though, which tells me its the starter.

If the plugs were in that conditions you need to pay a close attention to the wires and a distributor cap (including distributor rotor) as well. These parts are not very expencive but will improve the performance dramaticaly (when you get it started).

For the no start issue begin with the battery. The voltage should read somethig about 12 volts or higher. Average is 12.4.

Few days ago I could not start my Loyale. The starter was clicking. I checked the volage and it was 11.89 volts. Gave it a jump and it started right away.

Do you here anything when you turn the key?

You should hear a humming sound from the back of the car for about 2 seconds. This is a fuel pump. If the car does not start the computer shuts it down (this is a safety feature). You should also hear some clicking from under the hood: starter solenoid.

Let us start from here.

Good luck,

Sam

[Poehring]

The wires looked okay. I didnt actually take one apart and look at it but I did get a look inside and they seemed okay.

The battery is brand new and Ive tried jumping it and still get no start.

When I turn the key, i hear it go "click click click" then I stop. Sometimes, If I try and try and try it will eventually start.

[somick]

Originally Posted by Poehring

The wires looked okay. I didnt actually take one apart and look at it but I did get a look inside and they seemed okay.

The battery is brand new and Ive tried jumping it and still get no start.

When I turn the key, i hear it go "click click click" then I stop. Sometimes, If I try and try and try it will eventually start.

You cannot judge wires by look. You need to test them with the ohmmeter. I do not remember the specifications but you can find them in the repair manual. Haynes is a good one. Consider investing 20 dollars and it will pay you back many times on the long run.

Do you hear fuel pump humming from the back?

Well, if it intermittently starts, you will probably need to see the conditions of the fuel filter. It supposed to be changed every 30,000 miles or so. Actually you cannot test it. Just replace it.

Intermittent starts are the tough ones to solve. Start with checking all the contacts and grounds.

Good luck,

Sam