Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: woolley11 on 26 October 2014, 16:41:17

Title: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: woolley11 on 26 October 2014, 16:41:17
Got a 3.0 MV6 - Tried to check spark plugs on the passenger side bank today - couldn't even reach in to get the plug leads off .

How ?? - seem to a lot of wiring etc in the way

Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: zirk on 26 October 2014, 17:24:06
Sometimes theres an Orange Plug Lead Puller attached to one of the Leads, otherwise some long nose pliers in there with a quick pull, try not to pull them by the leads though.
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 26 October 2014, 17:26:06
Ahh worry not. They're a bugger. However, if you're after getting to them 'roughly' the quickest way is to undo the two Torx head studs on the NS of the plenum. Front and back. This will release the bracket for the clump of wiring loom. You should, in theory be able to just get to the HT leads... However, if not, then a little more wiring etc to be drifted out of the way.  :y

It does look a nightmare, but not too bad. Now just wait until you have to change the HT leads... then you're in for a treat!  :y

Not wishing to appear I'm going against the good Mr Zirk, but I'd not attempt touching them with long nose pliers... they're relatively hardy, but at the same time if you do damage them (and the damage will be invisible until you realise the car's misfiring) then you're in for the aforementioned 'treat' of replacing HT leads....
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: terry paget on 26 October 2014, 17:32:10
And of course you have to remove the wiring harness and its plastic holder on passenger side if you want to remove the plugs. Note carefully where it goes, or you will have trouble putting it back
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: omega3000 on 26 October 2014, 18:23:07
Release the wiring harness then wrap a bungee cord around it and tie up the wiring . To get the plugs out i use a telescopic magnet once loosened ... :)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Andy B on 26 October 2014, 18:55:42
.... To get the plugs out i use a telescopic magnet once loosened ... :)

Most spark plug sockets have a rubber insert in the middle that holds onto the ceramic  :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: omega3000 on 26 October 2014, 19:20:02
.... To get the plugs out i use a telescopic magnet once loosened ... :)

Most spark plug sockets have a rubber insert in the middle that holds onto the ceramic  :y

I lost my insert , but its a tight fit trying to get a ratchet small extension socket out once the plug is loosened especially the one at the back .. i just loosen them and the strong magnet turns the plug out . Also when putting them back in there is far less risk of cross threading with the magnet .. just my way of doing it  :P
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2014, 19:28:10
Unscrew it with the socket, then long nose pliers make short work of lifting the plug out :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Nick W on 26 October 2014, 20:11:27
Like other areas of the engine, the wiring was laid out by someone who had clearly never done any work with his hands. That cable tray could easily have been either side of the plugs, not directly above them, which would have made N/S plug changes almost as simple as the O/S. The rear N/S is still a bit of a fiddle, but isn't a problem with a couple of wobble drive extensions. Refitting them with a length of rubber hose is worth considering if you're heavy handed.

There are other poorly thought out areas: the DIS pack location makes sense on a FWD installation but the Omega one doesn't for a number of reasons; the thermostat could have been fitted to the outboard end of the transfer tube; the rats nest of vacuum pipes and solenoids; HBV anyone?
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Andy B on 26 October 2014, 20:37:07
You think it's difficult replacing all 6 plugs on an Omega ...... try all 6 on a Smart Roadster  ;) ;)
First the rear panels  http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/panels/349-coupe-rear-removal.html so you can see where the plugs are, and then you need to get the leads off, which isn't the easiest thing to do in itself http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/servicing/366-replacing-the-spark-plugs.html  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: terry paget on 26 October 2014, 21:37:07
You think it's difficult replacing all 6 plugs on an Omega ...... try all 6 on a Smart Roadster  ;) ;)
First the rear panels  http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/panels/349-coupe-rear-removal.html so you can see where the plugs are, and then you need to get the leads off, which isn't the easiest thing to do in itself http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/servicing/366-replacing-the-spark-plugs.html  :y :y :y
Thanks Andy. Henceforth I shall regard changing plugs on an Omega V6 as a doddle.
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Nick W on 26 October 2014, 21:38:43
It could be worse; it's not unusual on modern V engines to have to remove (part of) the inlet manifold to change some of the plugs.
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: omega3000 on 26 October 2014, 21:39:01
You think it's difficult replacing all 6 plugs on an Omega ...... try all 6 on a Smart Roadster  ;) ;)
First the rear panels  http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/panels/349-coupe-rear-removal.html so you can see where the plugs are, and then you need to get the leads off, which isn't the easiest thing to do in itself http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/servicing/366-replacing-the-spark-plugs.html  :y :y :y

Bet your good at jigsaw puzzles  ::) ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Andy B on 26 October 2014, 21:53:53
You think it's difficult replacing all 6 plugs on an Omega ...... try all 6 on a Smart Roadster  ;) ;)
First the rear panels  http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/panels/349-coupe-rear-removal.html so you can see where the plugs are, and then you need to get the leads off, which isn't the easiest thing to do in itself http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/servicing/366-replacing-the-spark-plugs.html  :y :y :y
Thanks Andy. Henceforth I shall regard changing plugs on an Omega V6 as a doddle.

Indeed! And as any straight 6 Carlton/Senator owner knows, the plugs on them are a pain to do .... especially number 6  :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Andy B on 26 October 2014, 21:55:42
You think it's difficult replacing all 6 plugs on an Omega ...... try all 6 on a Smart Roadster  ;) ;)
First the rear panels  http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/panels/349-coupe-rear-removal.html so you can see where the plugs are, and then you need to get the leads off, which isn't the easiest thing to do in itself http://www.fq101.co.uk/how-to-guides/roadster/servicing/366-replacing-the-spark-plugs.html  :y :y :y

Bet your good at jigsaw puzzles  ::) ;D ;D ;)

The rear panels come off in one piece after eleventeen self tappers ...... not difficult, but time consuming.  :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Temetsy on 26 October 2014, 22:17:07
Even newer inline fours' plugs can be PITA to change like vw bora's 1.6 16v oh damn those inlets ::)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: dbug on 26 October 2014, 22:45:56
It could be worse; it's not unusual on modern V engines to have to remove (part of) the inlet manifold to change some of the plugs.

On my Jag the passenger bank is dead easy - the drivers bank is not.  Have to remove loads of "stuff" to take the inlet manifold off before you can even see the individual coil packs.  By comparison Omega is a piece of "piss" ;)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 26 October 2014, 22:57:24
Changing the plugs on a V6 Omega is a twentyish minute job... unless someone has fitted an lpg all over the engine without any thought ::)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: idwal on 27 October 2014, 07:35:14
I think that means mine :'(
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 October 2014, 12:11:53
I think that means mine :'(
Yours wasn't the car I was refering to :y

How does it drive now btw?
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: omega3000 on 27 October 2014, 18:56:32
Changing the plugs on a V6 Omega is a twentyish minute job... unless someone has fitted an lpg all over the engine without any thought ::)

Nit if you have sausage fingers  ::) ;D
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 October 2014, 19:12:10
At 6'2" and 238ish lbs, my fingers are hardly svelte ::)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Andy B on 27 October 2014, 19:51:16
At 6'2" and 238ish lbs, my fingers are hardly svelte ::)

Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :o :o :o :o :o :o If your fingers are that big ............. how big are you?  ??? ??? ???

 ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)  ;)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 27 October 2014, 20:30:30
Big enough... ;)
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: Andy B on 27 October 2014, 20:57:18
Big enough... ;)

 ;) ;) ;) :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: henryd on 28 October 2014, 19:15:58
It could be worse; it's not unusual on modern V engines to have to remove (part of) the inlet manifold to change some of the plugs.

Ford /jaguar v6 to name one although in fairness its not often due to long plug life.
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: plym ian on 28 October 2014, 19:47:27
Big enough... ;)
Sssshhhh dont say that. He may be lurking ;D ;D

you all know who :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 28 October 2014, 20:13:36
Nah, safe enough this side of Watford ;D
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: dbug on 28 October 2014, 23:58:44
It could be worse; it's not unusual on modern V engines to have to remove (part of) the inlet manifold to change some of the plugs.

Ford /jaguar v6 to name one although in fairness its not often due to long plug life.

Yep 100K on mine - the ones I took out were worn compared to new ones but not too bad.
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: terry paget on 29 October 2014, 09:53:29
Changing the plugs on a V6 Omega is a twentyish minute job... unless someone has fitted an lpg all over the engine without any thought ::)
Twenty minutes? Do you unbundle the wiring harness, or just pull it out of the way? I usually spend half an hour rebundling the wires.
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 October 2014, 13:31:15
Undo the vac pipe, unplug the rear multiram, then remove the two bolts from the cable tray. Lift the tray up and inboard so that it kind of sits on the vac outlet. Remove oil filler tube and temporarily fit the cap to the camcover. Coilpack should then lift out :y

Drivers side has enough space to roll the coil pack out beneath the fuel lines, so no need to disturb them or the plenum :y

Passenger side takes 15 mins or so, and drivers side takes about 5 mins :y
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: terry paget on 29 October 2014, 17:43:53
Brilliant. Thanks, Al. Your reply came too late for today's job, I was almost there, but had not removed the plenum dual ram plug. I shall know next time.
Title: Re: Reaching plugs and leads on NS bank
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 October 2014, 18:19:19
 :y