Today i decided to change my plugs.There was almost 5k on them.These were only the 2nd set of plugs on the car,(bought it with original plugs still in it with 8300 miles).Anyhow,when i put the socket on the first plug it was fucken loose! next i do the leading plug it was also loose. the other 2 plugs that are harder to get at were tight,thank god.I noticed in the morning at startup the engine had a little extra vibration in it,and it was there until the car and warmed up.Well now the vibration is gone and the car is smoother than ever.I am going to call that mazda svc department tomorrow and give them hell.

 

meh the plugs don't need to be jesus tight as long as their secure.

 

Where did take the car to?

 

they were so loose that i could see the threads and undid them by hand. Palmetto mazda in w ashley sc.

 

ya thats bad

 

Palmetto? There use to be a Mech there that had a 3rd Gen. I wonder if he still there.

 

I think he is the same guy that fixed a broken wire on my last fd,in 2001

 

just change the plugs yourself

 

from now i will but i dont know if i want to tackle the fuel filter .

 

yeah plugs are easy man

as far as the fuel filter?? i thought about doing that job myself but i rather pay a shop to go through that..i think one shop quoted me 110 part and labor..doesnt sound too bad, does it?? lol

 

Hey,

Most Mazda dealerships have been known for worst enemies to workin' on the FD. But the one here in Panama City, Buzz Leonard Mazda, has an awesome 20+ year rotary mechanic on board (Fred) that fixed my 5th gear syncro as well as other tranny parts. I went ahead and had him replace my fuel filter and it costed $70 something and included labor..to him, it was a quick 15 minutes.

Yah, originally my buddy and I wanted to see the plugs if it's time to replace or not when I first got the car...we removed throttle body, IC piping, and all that based on a FAQ. It was an 1 hour affair. When we came back to actually install new plugs, it was a mere 15 minute job...WITHOUT removing any parts. Removing that stuff just makes more room to work with. It all depends if you have small hands and don't mind working your fingers twistin' into the threads while not able to see the area.

 

Screw paying to have the fuel filter changed. A lot of mazda mechanics were infamous for saying they changed it and not doing it. If you absolutely must pay, swipe it with some white out to mark it. Then check it when you get the car back. The first time is a PITA, but after you know how to do it, it isn't so bad.

 

I change the plugs from under the car, nothing to remove and it's easy

 

i have to try that, i really dont see how its easy when you're laying on your back idk

 

if you come down to austin texas i will do yours for half of what they charge, it is a pain in the *** but i love working on cars, and it is a nice learning exp.

i did mine a while back and it was hard but now i know and i am sure it will be easier the next time.

there are some things i wont tackle by myself though, like a motor swap or something like that.

Thomas

 

IMO, its best to take care of the maintenance stuff yourself because no one will care about the car like you will. For that matter, its probably better that you take care of the big stuff as well for the same reason & because of cost.

I've heard too many horror stories about mechanics saying they did something but actually didnt. Sometimes they switch the spark plugs leading and trailing, put the wrong amount of oil in, switch the oil and tranny fluid by mistake, etc.\

The rear trailing is easy to reach from the top of the car. The front leading/trailing and rear leading is easier to reach from under the car. You only have to crank the plugs for maybe 1 full turn or so, they should be able to come out by hand after that. Simple Oil and coolant changes are even easier to do.

 

yeah those fluid changes are really easy to do

im just trying anything to get around in taking the greddy elbow off to get to the plugs.. ill figure something out

 

When I lived in Charleston, Palmetto Mazda wanted to charge me almost 30 hours labor for a wiring fix. This was after paying nearly $1000 just days before to fox the same problem. They gave up on the car until I asked them if they had checked the wiring and then I suggested I take it elsewhere.

Thats why so many of us now do the work ourselves.

 

thats the way i do it on a rx8, the engine is sooo far down