So this is just a little bit of a rant. Anyways, I spent my Sunday afternoon changing spark plug wires. I've been under the UIM before but that was over a year ago, so I'd totally forgotten how mazda shoved the coils into terrible spaces. First the elbow had to come off, and then part way through, I realized I actually needed to take off the oil filler neck (is this really the only way?) to get to one of the coils. But the terrible part was taking off the oil filler neck. That screw on the inside is impossible to get to!! I had to piece together a u joint + adapter + extension to be able to turn it. Once I got that damn neck off everything was fine. Replaced all the wires, and starting piecing things back together.

And then I realize that I can't get the damn neck back on with the two leading wires plugged in. So I had to unplug those stupid things that I took forever getting really really tight. Then i had to put the stupid neck back on and then squeeze my hand through the tiny opening to push the wires back on.

So, after a couple hours and cuts and scrapes, I finally got everything back together. Sometimes I wish I had a honda. Changing plugs is probably like 5 min. Actually it was really fast on my FC too. =(

 

i love my second gen. sorry about the pain in the *** bro.

look at it this way - you could be me - having found a fuel leak under the UIM, i go to work on the hose and break it completely! now it's at the mechanic cause i'm worried i'm cursed to make it even worse.

 

Cramped space - check
Bitching at engineers- check
frustrating afternoon -check

Welcome to the fun that is working on a 3rd gen RX7

 

UIM doesn't have to come off. Remove the throttle body. You can get the front trailing wire off and the new one back on without removing the oil neck.

 

It's easier to remove the elbow and UIM as one big clump, then you can get to everything.

 

Changing the Oil takes me like 2 hours,.. I have to take the UIM off,. its faster than taking the elbow and my BBTB off... It makes me hate life.

 

The more emissions and accessories you delete, the more you will like this car

 

Changing plugs and wires on these cars is really not that bad of a job. First time is a bit frustrating, but next time is much faster.

Now, the stock fuel filter? that always sucked

 

Changing the oil takes 2 hours?

wtf, it takes me less than 10 minutes.

I dont even remove the greddy elbow to get the filter out.

 

He's being sarcastic dude.

 

Yea fuel filter sucked...lol...this definitely take second place to that. Changing radiator fans is up there too.

But yea I didn't take off the UIM, just the elbow. It'll be a lot faster next time around.

 

at least the plug wires don't have to be changed very often.

 

Nor the plugs. -.-

 

Kinda, maybe, sometimes.

That forward bolt on the oil filler neck is irritatingly difficult even with a flexy-end socket. I often leave it off entirely.

David

 

Get a 94 filler neck. It was redesigned and that bolt is much easier to reach.

 

never taken the oil neck off for plug wires.

Oil change- don't remove anything
Spark plugs - elbow
Plug wires - elbow & throttle body
coils - elbow, TB, UIM

 

Hm. I replaced the cracked original for a used one that was probably from a 93. I downgraded.

 

Spark Plugs - From underneath (about 10 mins)

 

this is why when i needed new plug wires i just got charlies7 relocation bracket.....did the whole ordeal and even if i have to replace the plug wires in the future it'll be dumb easy

 

As far as why are they located there; I have read that it was to reduce wire length and therefore shave a few precious ounces off the weight. It seems incredible but just take a look at the lengths they went to with the stock sway bar mounts.

 

on a series 8 its easy as to change plugs just have to jack it up much easier from underneath,and the oil filter is easily accessible by removing nothing at all from the top ,still have to jack it up to get to sump plug

 

There are cars that are harder IMO to work on. Nissan Z32TT will make you appreciate the vast open spaces of the FD engine bay.

Interesting though about that 94 filler neck.

 

I wonder if I've got the updated filler neck since I have a reman motor from mazda that was installed by a mazda dealer and it was a piece of cake to remove. Wouldn't be the first time I've found something from a 94+ car on mine, but I'm not sure if it was something one of the previous owners did or if it was a mazda thing.

3000GT TT is also a pain in the **** to work on.

 

All the more reason to relocate them...

Garfinkle makes a very nice plate.

 

can't find it on the other forum, pm a link?