Corsa-B.uk - Vauxhall, Opel and Holden Corsa B Owners Club

Does anyone know the best way to remove stuck spark plugs? I'm trying to remove them with the engine cold and they won't budge! Would warming up the engine help at all? I might also get some penetrating fluid and see if that helps. I've changed sparks plenty of times but have NEVER come across ones as tight as these!

Removing the coil pack was the first challenge and i thought it would be easy after that .

Well warming up the engine didn't make things any easier and i don't want to force them too much. I've sprayed a bit of penetrating oil around each spark plug and will leave it until tomorrow morning... What a chore!

Brute force them out

johnny wrote:Brute force them out

Tried brute force and managed to loosen one after hearing a nasty crack!... Think i'll leave the rest tomorrow and see if the penetrating fluid actually does anything (i can't really see how it would penetrate spark plug threading anyway).

The loud crack is the thread loosening, just keep pushing/pulling the rachet, ive never seen a spark plug break and ive seen people going at them with a breaker bar:lol:

Is it possible to buy new rubber boots for the coil pack? They're splitting at the ends and i don't really want to fork out for another coil pack (mine still works fine).

Dont think so but if its if its not broke dont f**k with it

Spark plugs still won't budge and i want to try and avoid using a breaker as i don't want all the threading to come out too! Maybe i should just drop it off at a local garage and let it be their problem if anything breaks .

Garage will just use a breaker bar on it anyway must garage have the tools to remove broken threads anyway

johnny wrote:Garage will just use a breaker bar on it anyway must garage have the tools to remove broken threads anyway

They certainly did . Two of the spark plugs were still a bugger to unscrew... Thought the bar was going to snap it was bending that much . The mechanic was not impressed with whoever fitted them in the first place.

Everything is now running smoothly after a big headache of a service, apart from the occasional ICV hiccup (waiting for the replacement to arrive) .

Done the following:

Changed air filter (Bosch which should be ok)
Changed spark plugs (Using NGK twin electrode type)
Changed oil (GM 10w40 semi synthetic)
Changed oil filter... I was going to use a "Fujitoyo" filter i got sent, but then changed it to Comline (probably still not the best, but at least it's a brand i recognize ).
Changed coolant to Bluecol red stuff
Changed fuel filter (Wix brand)

The car definitely feels more responsive and is running a bit quieter too, i've also not heard any bubbling or trickling water noises from behind the dash yet after flushing & changing the coolant .

Good to hear you got it all done, should be alot more straight forward next time

You should throw a project up

johnny wrote:Good to hear you got it all done, should be alot more straight forward next time

You should throw a project up

Should definitely be easier next time as i've made sure not to over tighten anything like the last guy (and i'm not even a mechanic lol). I could start a project if i'm going to be changing some major parts... Those dinky SXi alloys would probably be the first thing to go