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If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:31 pm
by BonneMe
So last thursday I had my Cyl 4 coil go out on me, in spectacular fashion! Instead of a gradual miss, it went out completely as I was WOT, and around 20psi. Flashing CEL (ver. OMG GTFO) vs a steady CEL (ver. get to the dealer when your schedule works), ALL the boost dumped instantly, and the car had nothing. Was pretty worried because I run a fairly hot tuned 93 Octane program 99% of the time, and I just filled up that day.
I pulled over, checked all the intake plumbing I could to make sure it wasn't a massive boost leak or a piston saying "Hallo" through the block. I tried putting the computer to stock mode, and it still didn't run right so I ruled out a bad ECU.
After limping it 1/4 mile to the GF's apartment, I had it towed the next night back to my place to fix. Put all new coils in (new revision for a recall mind you) and put a new plug in the bum cylinder to get me by till I sourced some colder plugs, and put it back to 91 octane to keep things "slightly" easier on the engine until I had new plugs.
New coils! They just sit right ontop of the engine and go into the head onto the plug.
Found the 1 range colder NGK Iridium IX's for cheaper than Ebay, locally, and got them in today!
I'm never buying a FWD V6 ever again.... This is too easy!

Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:41 pm
by wjcollier07
Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:58 pm
by RJolly87
Actually, the spark plugs in mine are no big deal. Reminds me of the Tempo, I could get all 4 spark plugs with a speed handle, which I needed to often.

Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:37 am
by 00Beast
3800 plugs are easier than some, but not many.
/offtopic, I didn't know you had a GF, lol.
Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 4:32 am
by BonneMe
00Beast wrote:
/offtopic, I didn't know you had a GF, lol.
Maybe not after the supposed "date" tonight!
My car has been better to me in the last week (including this *shoot*) than she was tonight!
Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:42 am
by Jrs3800
I'll bring you a Kia 3.5 or a Mitsu 3.0 if you like....LOL....
I do like those coil on Plug 4 Clyinder engines...lol
Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 12:07 pm
by PRD2BDF
The SAAB is just like that, I changed my plugs in 10 minutes, and that included chatting for five minutes.
Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 8:43 pm
by xX3800Xx
haha did you get the E-Type coils? The stock ones are junk. If you bought stock replacements expect to go through more. When they fail they dont give any warning.
When are you going Disco Potato?
APR is one of the safest tunes you can get should have went Unitronic or GIAC. APR makes good hardware though.
Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:56 pm
by 00Beast
Pretty sure he got his APR tune extremely cheap, which is why he did it.
Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:11 am
by BonneMe
xX3800Xx wrote:haha did you get the E-Type coils? The stock ones are junk. If you bought stock replacements expect to go through more. When they fail they dont give any warning.
When are you going Disco Potato?
APR is one of the safest tunes you can get should have went Unitronic or GIAC. APR makes good hardware though.
These are the new recall coils, they're visually different too. The APR tune is a stage II+ setup, and I have the stock HPFP still, never hit a fuel cut either. In reality i'm pretty much at the limit of what I can get out of it without major changes such as an aftermarket HPFP and bigger turbo, so I'm going after suspension next.
The turboback is an APR I got on a psuedo clearance price, and the 4 program fully loaded chip didn't cost me a penny....
Big turbo? Eh... I'll probably buy a second car dedicated for motorsports activities before I go big turbo. If the K03 blows then i'll be all over something better however... Really just want a new centerlink for the BSH sway bar, broke one last september..
EDIT: Plugs were totally worth it, the car's much more responsive than before any of this crap, and 1psi up across the board!