need some basic help

[vdiddy93]

hi there, new to this forum.

that being said i just got a 02 wrx wagon last year and i am in need of changing the plugs on it. i have never worked on my own car before, just learned how to do the brakes in oct, and i want to learn how to do all of the basic stuff. that being said i was curious if any one would want to help me out at all. i am located in Norfolk but am will to drive to have some one help. i have very minimal tool, so if you want to help, let me know what i need or if you have them it would be great. please let me know.

Thanks in advance

Ryan

[Street Burner]

lol this is a fun one i have done the pulgs on my 04 5 times so dont know how bad they are to get at on the 02's but the first time it took me 3 hours to figure out how to get them out no i can do it in about 20 mins. its a combination of having a short and long extention socket and taking out the battery and un-bolting the washer fluid tank and not cross threading the plugs (bad news)

[vdiddy93]

the one problem i have is that i have minimal tools to work with and i dont know a whole lot about what i am doing to do this. plus i have the fear that if i try it myself and mess it it will not be good. so i am hoping that some one is willing to help me out and teach me how to do this. i also plan on compensating the person who help for their efforts.

[Spilner]

Where is Norfolk, MA?

[vdiddy93]

it is by foxboro/wrentham area.

[Spilner]

ehh you're a ways out, I was thinking about doing a garage day at my place sometime after the new year once I find out my new schedule. If you're up for the drive I have an insulated 2 car garage which I'm also buying a heater for.

[RCKSTR]

it is by foxboro/wrentham area.


is that out twords boston?

[Spilner]

Yes it is Justin, Foxboro is where the Pats play.

[vdiddy93]

now i have a new problem as well. there is a good deal of white smoke coming from the tail pipe when i start up. it takes about 5 seconds from when i turn it on to when it starts to come out. then while i drive i dont see it too much but i do notice it when i am at idle at a light. while driving i dont notice too many differences in the car. it feels ok and has normal power. the oil level looks fine and it doesnt seem to have any water in it like i have read about if it was a blown head gasket. any ideas?

[shtbxr22]

is it cold out? look at other cars around you idling. are they doing the same thing?

[Spilner]

iirc white smoke is typcally coolant, I'd start checking that out.

[vdiddy93]

when i started it it was cold, but there was a lot more smoke than normal. i tried to compare it to other cars and it seems to be lot more than normal. like to the point where u laugh at the guy's car when u see it. i am not sure how to test for anything as my knowledge of cars is basic to say the least. so thats why i am hoping some one on here can help a brother out so to speak. if any one is close to me and willing to lend a hand tomorrow i would be very greatful. i know it is a lot to ask but i can hope at least.

[Seraphinwolf]

Not sure on the smoke but RCKSTR is probably right about it maybe being coolant getting burnt in your engine. Do you know how to check the levels? Either look at the over flow tank and see what the levels are at(there should be marking on the tank stating high/low) or when the car is completely cold... like hasn't run in at least 5 hours you can take off the cap and look inside. Also check the color of the coolant. Might be time for a flush or at least a drain and fill. If you really are willing ot drive I'm sure someone will be more than willing to basicly do it for you and show you how to do it. It really doesn't take any tools really past the right sockets and a few extensions. Best is finding a couple other people looking to do some stuff and making a day out of it. Meeting new people and taking about car stuff helping each other out. Feel free to ask for help. More than welcome to come up to NH for help too.

[drdabbles]

There might be some people on here that will work on your car on the side for cash, and maybe even show you the basics along the way. But, if you car is puffing white smoke, you might want to take it to a shop near you.

Plugs are "easy" to do once you know how, because they simply screw in and out. But you can over tighten them, or cross-thread them. Both can be very costly mistakes, and both are easy to do. You will need tools- a basic socket set from Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, and probably even Wal-Mart will include Spark Plug sockets, extenders, and two or three socket wrenches. Next, a set of box end wrenches with metric sizes. You'll also find you need some "US" sized wrenches for certain jobs, so a wrench set with both is probably your best bet.

Starting a job and finding out you don't have all the tools you need is never a good thing. Many jobs on a car have a point of no return pretty early in the process...so once you've got a part off, you can't drive the car until a new part is installed. Oil changes are an example of this.

Good luck!

[vdiddy93]

did some more research last night and the two things i really want to do is change the pcv valve as well as the pulgs and see where that gets me. when i looked the the coolant yesterday it didnt have oil in it and it smelt normal. the oil looked normal as well. that bein said when i was reading some info online i saw that it could also be my pcv valve. i am kind of leaning towards this because the smoke doesnt smell sweet, smells more like gas or oil. so i am going to read up on a few things and maybe give it a go today depending on how comfortable i feel at trying it.

[LetsWRCinmyWRX]

make sure ur coil packs clip in soundly, otherwise you could get misfire/CEL...happened to me on my way back from NH.