Spark plugs

[xerian]

Hi, I am shortly to going to change the spark plugs in my wife's beetle 1.8t, Had a quick look under the bonnet but unable to locate them believe it or not!!...talk about tightly packed in there!
Just wondering whether it is possible to change them myself....and whereabouts are they!!!....Thank you

[Crasher]

They are under the coil packs along the centre line of the engine and you will need a 16-mm spark plug socket and a long extension bar. Be very gentle when removing the coil packs, only pull them straight up, do not twist them as this kills them and they cost £20 each. Even then, they still fail, we did an S3 the other day and as usual we were extremely careful and two still failed, 2 days later!

[xerian]

Wow, sounds a bit daunting!!....thanks very much for the info.

[turbobugger]

I have the 1.8L turbo.

I used a hex wrench and took off my 4 coilpacks and under them was the spark plugs. Took me about 30minutes to inspect all 4 plugs.
They all looked good so I did not change them.

[Crasher]

Later ones don't have the coil packs held down by 5-mm hex cap M5 set crews, they are just pushed onto the plug. It is these versions that are the most unreliable and fragile.

[xerian]

Thanks for the info....my wifes 1.8 T is a 2003 03 reg model...would that be an early or late model??

[Crasher]

Late, it will be an AUM engine.