How to change spark plug wires at the opti???
07-31-2001, 02:59 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
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I have tried to get to them from the top and from the bottom but obviously I'm not doing something right, so how do you get to your spark plug wires to change them at the opti?
07-31-2001, 05:09 AM
#2
Race Director
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If you have small hands/arms, try from the bottom, but try going around the oil pan... There is enough room that if you're laying under the car with your legs pointed towards the rear (completely under the car) that you should be able to reach around the oil pan and find the opti... That saved me a lot of headaches from the first time I did it from above...
07-31-2001, 12:09 PM
#5
Safety Car
I do not have small hands either and I get the driver side from the bottom. Passenger side is pretty easy.
There is a certain way that you are going to have to lay on the ground in order to snake your hand up there. Once you figure it out, it really is not bad at all.
Good Luck,
There is a certain way that you are going to have to lay on the ground in order to snake your hand up there. Once you figure it out, it really is not bad at all.
Good Luck,
07-31-2001, 02:01 PM
#6
Team Owner
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Now you know why I took the side pieces to the wheel wells off 
Take them off then you can get at the connector under the alternator. You can actually see the ones on the passenger side
To get at the driver's side, hold the belt tensioner up, I made a L shape out of my belt tensioner tool and hook it on the thick AC lines. You can then get your fingers in there take the bottom of first & work your way to the top, reverse the process to put them back on.
BTW check out you waterpump, if it needs replacing DO IT NOW, it make the whole affair MUCH easier
Take them off then you can get at the connector under the alternator. You can actually see the ones on the passenger side
To get at the driver's side, hold the belt tensioner up, I made a L shape out of my belt tensioner tool and hook it on the thick AC lines. You can then get your fingers in there take the bottom of first & work your way to the top, reverse the process to put them back on.
BTW check out you waterpump, if it needs replacing DO IT NOW, it make the whole affair MUCH easier
07-31-2001, 02:12 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
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Goody--I'm about to do it your way. I'll also try getting completely under the car and trying to reach them from a diffrent angle or I'll take it to the experts and pay them to do it. How can a bunch of engineers make such an easy job so hard!!!
07-31-2001, 11:20 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Thumper, if you want to E-mail me a number I'll give you a ring. I've done mine 3 or 4 times now and have it down to a science. LOL Passengers side is easy if you unbolt the nuts holding the PS bracket in place. Once it's loose it will slide out of the PS reservoir and that side is a piece of cake. On the drivers side. Well that's a longer story.
08-01-2001, 12:33 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
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R94--I'll e-mail you my number. I already took the power steering reservoir bracket off, I had to to get the ignition coil off so the passenger side looks easy, but I'm about to just start pulling things off on the drivers side 
Brian--I do think my waterpump is starting to go since the car has been gradually running hotter, but if I take that off then I might as well change the opti while I'm in there and I'm trying not to spend that kind of money right now since I'm taking the wife to Bermuda this month.
Brian--I do think my waterpump is starting to go since the car has been gradually running hotter, but if I take that off then I might as well change the opti while I'm in there and I'm trying not to spend that kind of money right now since I'm taking the wife to Bermuda this month.
