How hard is it to change out coil pack/spark plug wire?
So I finally figured out what my rough idle at stat up was. Yesterday after starting up my GXP on a cold night, I got a check engine light come on, code P0301. Misfire in cylinder #1. The light stayed on but was not flashing and the car was running fine. I drove it home with no problems and it had plenty of power. I cleared the code when I got home. I searched the forum and people have said to change the spark plugs and the coil wire for spark plug #1 to solve the problem. So hoe hard is it to change these new electronic type coil wires on modern cars. I'm only used to old school coil packs. Also, would this be covered under the power train warranty? Found another member say that there is a service bulletin about this too. Say to do the exact same thing to fix the problem, something about a bad connection on the female part of the wire.
Undo the bolt and disconnect the connector and pull out the coil.
That's what I was thinking, but do i jiggle it and pull up at the same time like traditional spark plug wires? Do i need to turn it counter clock wise when pulling up? I'm always afraid of breaking that black piece of plastic.
This may sound stupid, but which one is cylinder #1? First closest to front of car bumper or 1st closest to rear of engine and front windshield? I don't see any numbers on them at all. Can any of you guys recommend the best spark plugs for performance? Don't tell me platinum anything because I know that copper is the best for performance and platinum is the best for longevity/life. Needs to be for the 08 2.0 turbo GXP. Anyone use iridium plugs?
Plug #1 is the one at the front of the engine. BTW, make sure there is nothing sitting around the coil pack to fall into the hole.
And, I believe, the stock plug is iridium; that's what I use in all my vehicles, vintage and new.
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Deep, steel/sand, loaded except standard radio and no smoker's; #08974
Mods: Kappasphere CAI, Clear Image Shorty Header, second horn, visor decals, mudflaps, tonneau cover, brake light flasher, trailer hitch, 'lil Chromies, trunk monkey, retune, DDMWorks backbone, GMPP Suspension, wood grain dash, Solo Quiet cat-back exhaust, deleted:Solo high-flow cat
If you know how to change spark plugs, the coil pack sits right on top of it....one bolt, give it a gentle tug and off it comes. If you have never changed plugs, have someone that has there with you (if you're changing the plugs too). Otherwise the coil pack is probably the easiest thing you will ever do! You can easily re-thread the head if you don't get the plug back in correctly. re-thread = bad!
I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to change the plug. I had a single incident a few years ago under hard acceleration where the car stumbled and threw the same code. Never had an issue before that time nor has it done it again since.
I'd wait for a bit before I changed anything.
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WooHoo!!! Ordered a loaded Deep GXP on March 19th, 2008. Order number 0814D93708
Event code 3400 on April 12, 2008
Born April 30, 2008 (VIN 1G2MF35X58Y130283)
Delivered to dealer May 23th, 2008
Delivered on May 27, 2008
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And while you're at it - I'd recommend swapping coil packs 1 and 2. If the symptom comes back and says that you have a misfire on cylinder 2, then you'll know that it is a faulty coil pack.
And while you're at it - I'd recommend swapping coil packs 1 and 2. If the symptom comes back and says that you have a misfire on cylinder 2, then you'll know that it is a faulty coil pack.
Good idea.
Guys, I must be getting old because I just remembered that I switched out my spark plugs when I had my 2.4 Red Devil back a few years ago. I remember it was very easy. And I went with NGK Iridium spark plugs. They come pre gaped. I also remember that they ran very well and I had them in my car when I traded it in for my new GXP just last year. Never had any problems with them at all the entire 4 years I had the car. So I think I am going to use them again.
But you have a turbo car now, and they are extremely hard (and finicky) on plugs. The guys on the hptuner board said change the plugs every 2nd or 3rd oil change. I just did mine about a month ago....I went with the stock ac delco 41-408....
But you have a turbo car now, and they are extremely hard (and finicky) on plugs. The guys on the hptuner board said change the plugs every 2nd or 3rd oil change. I just did mine about a month ago....I went with the stock ac delco 41-408....
If the stock plugs are so great, then why am i having problems with them? Car only has 25k miles on it.
The stock plugs are made of platinum, which anyone will tell you are made for longevity/life, not performance. Since I used the NGK before and others have used these on their GXPs with no problems, I see no reason not to switch. DDM Works also sells these same plugs with their 2.4 ltr supercharger kit. They are a hotter/cooler running plug. There are NGK plugs for both egines, 2.0 and 2.4 cars. Once I use a product that works, I usually stick with it. They also come pre gaped which I like.
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And I went with NGK Iridium spark plugs. They come pre gaped. I also remember that they ran very well and I had them in my car when I traded it in for my new GXP just last year. Never had any problems with them at all the entire 4 years I had the car. So I think I am going to use them again. 
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