Hi,

I am willing to change the spark plug myself on my automatic 2009 RX8, and looking at this thread, https://www.rx8club.com/do-yourself-...-change-31872/ , I though I could do it myself.

First I am trying to change those from the bottom, so I put my car on a rack, and I am facing a big metal cover.

After following the cables under the hood I located the spark plugs, and figured there is NO WAY I can do it my self, at least from the bottom of the car, even by removing the metal cover from the bottom.
I don't know what kind of RX8 is the one in the thread, but mine doesn't look like that. There is big cylinder under the spark plugs, so I can't reach them from the bottom.
I can probably reach the 2 others by removing the left front wheel, but I will be running with 2 new spark plugs and 2 old.

I started to call some garages, but they told me it will cost almost 200$ to change them.

So,
- Is there someone in the bay area, California, who could help me to do it, and who has tools ? You could get money and a good friend
- Otherwise I think I will go in a garage

Thank you.

 

I did it on a manual s2 by putting the car on a jack stand and removing the wheel. Not sure if the auto is different. I didn't have to remove any cover, just had to find the right socket extension to get clearance. Can you post a pic?

 

Don't do it from the bottom, but from the driver side wheel well. Jack up the left side, remove the wheel and turn the weel hard right if you need/want a little more space. There'll be a small rubber dust cover behind the wheel, remove that and you'll see the plugs. You will need a pretty long socket extender, and a wobble socket helps as well.

 

make your life 100% easier by not only going through the driver side wheel well, but also getting a universal joint. Trust me, it will cut the time down significantly.

 

Oh really ?

So after that I removed the left front wheel, and the little plastic cover. I can the 4 spark plugs, but none of them are straight in front of me.
There are 2 on the left I still wonder how I can put any tool in there, and 2 on the right.
I can barely put 1 hand inside the hole.

I had a small extender of about 3 inches, do you mean I need a long extender that goes outside the hole ? Maybe you are right, with a universal joint I can make it more easily.
I gotta try that.

 

exactly, you will see the front rotor plugs, but the rear ones will be a bit further back. Extension + universal joint, done in a jiffy.

 

I used around a 12" extension(maybe a few inches bigger) and it was really easy to get to them. You don't have to remove the wheel, just turning to the right works I believe. It does make it easier if you remove it though.

 

You guys are so right !

I did it in 20min in the dark with a flashlight, that was very easy!
I found a 10" extension and a socket with a universal joint integrated, and it made it possible.

Thanks a lot you saved me probably at least $100 !

 

a universal joint is an absolute must have in any garage . good work.