I just watched the video on how to change spark plugs and it was very helpful it only took me about 45 minutes. Thank you for your help… but now I need help with something else, struts and shocks. I need instructions, and or one of your videos on how to change them. My name is Mitzi thank you.
Dope video! Thank you very much. Just managed this in Auto zone parking lot on my girl's car, and only needed the socket extension. Happened to get wiper fluid all over the parking lot, but couldn't have done this without your video. Thank you very much. 🎉
Outstanding video my friend. Wife bought a 2004 Subaru Outback (without my knowledge, LOL!) with 144k on the clock. Very easy oil change on this car, and now with your video for the plugs and wires it'll be a piece of cake. Great tip on the anti seize too. Thanks again!
Thanks for posting! I've been working on my 2000 subaru outback by myself and have to change the plug and wires. I have a misfire. You just made things so much easier for me.
Thanks a bunch for the video! I was pretty intimidated of replacing the plugs on my 2000 Subaru Outback. But, your video showed just how basic it is and I greatly appreciate it.
Great video... One observation; when working on the "washer fluid bottle side", spend extra 5 min. to remove the battery - makes the job so much easier if you're doing it for the first time.
I have a 2003 Outback with 154K - the last time the plugs were changed was 115K. I already changed the Air Filter, Plug Wires & Coil Pack as part of the Tune Up. I have a new Fuel Filter to put in as well. I checked the Subaru Dealership for the hell of it & they wanted $250 just to do the plugs. There is really no rush for Me to put the parts in - I will do it on a nice Autumn Saturday afternoon here in Vermont. Great Video!...
Spark plugs on this 2.5 L engine should be torqued to 15.5 ft/lbs according to the Haynes Repair Manual for 2000 to 2009 Legacy, 2000 to 2008 Forester, Legacy Outback and, All Bajas!
I was wondering what the torque specs were. Thanks for posting it. btw where did you get this info? and can i find more torque specs other than the spark plugs?
I'm pretty sure if I was to look up "honest mechanic" this guy and his videos would pop up, but I haven't tested this. Great video man and you're 100% correct, Subaru engines are awesome.
Wow I thought it was more difficult, I’ve been holding it off but just changed my buddies in his Honda and thought damn that was easy I need to do my own and found this video.. thanks!
Just a heads up. If you try it on a 1999, it is about 50 times harder... the spark plugs are blocked by the frame so you have maybe 4 to 5 inches of room to work with.
Zachary Dalton yep I have that model. I use a 19mm socket on the back of the spark plug socket to make it easy. I have 3 different 19mm sockets and extensions to make it work.
Thank You! Been procrastinating the check up on the plugs, as the car seems to work decently, even after sitting a looong time. I have to say I've been too lazy to even check how the obstacles can be removed... And the Haynes manual has nothing even mentioned about what to do in the actual engine bay, just some general info. I'm dumbfounded because there is probably all the info on how to take the whole engine apart and rebuild it. I even changed the clutch and flywheel on it as the bearing in the original dual mass stuff went bad. I wish I had taken a better look if the flywheel could have been rebuilt with a new bearing. Though back then I resorted to some cheap Exedy clutch and an age old, crappy random flywheel that I found from a friends back yard... I really miss the smoothness.
Just found this video and hoping it will help me relieve a p0301 Cylinder 1 misfire on a 2002 2.5 Outback got a few weeks back. Thanks for a thorough guide for a guy with zero experience working on cars, apartment livin.' Hopefully this will do the trick when the time comes.
All I can say is THANK YOU!! I have a '99 Forester and this made it a breeze to change the plugs and wires. I'm not an expert but I think they were the original plugs and wires too! Either way - thank you sir!
Dude, you made this look so easy. I do not want to pay 300 to 350 for someone to do 30 minutes worth of work. I'm going to give this a try this weekend. I'll let you know how it went.
@@YourCarGuyDR i got around to do it today. Took me only 30 minutes. Dude, thank you.The old sparks were fried! Car is running sooooo much better now!! Thank you!!
Thanks for the Video!... I have to change my plugs and I like to to do my own work - when I can. I can save money and get some satisfaction that I fixed something on my own...
Thank god I saw this video bc i was thinking of buying a subie but it was killing me that i didnt know how or manage how to replace the spark plugs bc they r boxer engines
Thank you for showing where the spark plugs are, I didn't know how to get to them on this new of cars, some spark plugs are in such crazy locations! I thought these were too hard to get to, but with you showing where all the bolts, clips & plugs are, is a HUGE help! I wouldn't have thought of putting the anti seize on the plugs. Do you recommend the platinum spark plugs, or should I just stick with the regular spark plugs? The platinum plugs claim to give better fuel mileage, is that true?
Great video, I was just wondering if I would be able to do this. You showed it is very doable. Thank you. Is there anything else I should do when I do the tune up? Plugs, wires, air filter, anything else?
Craig Pate sounds like you have a good plan. The only other item to look at is fuel filter. It is right next to the washer fluid reservoir. Thank you for the feedback.
@@YourCarGuyDR I have and I think autozone hates me by now of how many times I’ve changed my wires with the warranty 🤣 cus that cyl 4 wire gets burned fast
Great video! I just bought a used 2000 Outback with 136,000 miles and sketchy maintenance history, and she's only getting 11 MPG with Exxon premium no-ethanol. And I ran a tank of Sea-Foam gas additive to no effect. Air filter is clean. Most folks are getting 20 MPG. So, I think I should replace plugs. I can't afford to pay $200 to some dude who probably won't gap them as carefully as I will, nor care about anti-seize on the threads. Before I do this on my first Subaru, is there any important difference between this 2001 Outback (in this video) and the 2000 model (for spark plug replacement)? Also, you said spark plug cables can get stuck to the plugs, so what is the best way to un-stick them if I encounter that? Spray PB Blaster or WD-40 and wait a day? Twist and pull? Also, what is the absolute BEST brand/ type spark plug? I already bought NGK mid-range-quality (recommended by Oreily's), but if it really matters, I can buy top-rated instead. Thanks for such an excellent video!
Great questions. Twist and pull is the best method to get the wires off you don’t want to use any lubricant to remove them. The NGK plugs should perform very well. You may want to go ahead and replace the plug wires at the same time with a quality set. Subarus are great cars with some quirks. But that’s what makes them lovable.
@@MrStingBlade - Yes. Sea Foam additive got me up to 16 MPG with regular gas with ethanol. I ran Sea Foam 4 times over the years. I think it cleaned dirty fuel injectors. Thanks.
Man, I just watched this video and swapped plugs n wires on my 01 outback. It drove perfectly after swapping them out. I came back to my car a couple hours later to go get some food and now it’s sputtering in park (which it only sputtered going from neutral to 1st gear) and won’t get up to speed. Again, it was driving perfect after swapping it all. PLZ SEND HELP I HAVE WORK TOMORROW 😭
great video for people like me who dont mind-and even enjoy-tinkering around to save some money. i just bought a 40$ ratchet set, but i think i need an extender bit? i didnt expect the plug “wells” to be so deep. can you confirm? thanks again!!
Great video and thanks for helping. I would like to get a Crosstrek BUT the Blown Gasket Engine scares me to death ! Any insight please and Thank You Sir.
Andre LOFANO for the most part all of the Subaru engines are pretty robust when well maintained the head gaskets aren’t all that bad to do. I maybe doing a video soon on head gaskets if I can work it into my schedule.
Sergio Rubio if you are installing premium platinum or iridium plugs the gap is preset and should not be changed. Depending on your car there is usually a sticker under the hood or on the radiator support that has the spark plug gap listed.
"this job is gonna suck" But no actually its fine, just *disassemble the car around it* yeah sorry as a 3 time subaru owner, I've just come to accept that its always going to be a pain to do sparkplugs. Its one of the few jobs on a Suby that just does not come for granted.
I bought my subaru outback in Houston 2 weeks ago. 112k miles. I relocated to Colorado. I got my first two misfires at 4,000 elevation with cruise control on. Check engine light stays on and cruise flashes. I stopped at auto parts store and ran the codes. Cylinder3 and Cylinder4 misfires. I cleared the codes. Got to Durango, Co and started misfiring again. As I continue to climb in elevation, I continue to get misfires. I want to believe its just the spark plugs. I've been getting the same misfires cyl3 & cyl4. Your thoughts? Thanks!
At 112k miles it should be due for plugs and wires also if it hasn't been done yet. Occasionally you will find the coil pack failing but that is not as common. Start with the plugs and wires.
Unfortunately I do not. I have replaced several in the past. The worst problem is that they tent to be seized into the exhaust pipes. Make sure you use a good oxygen sensor socket and plenty of leverage. Some penetrating oil will be very helpful.
also you said the old sparkplugs had "erosion" around them. you're thinking of *Corrosion*, erosion is what happens when rocks are made smooth by weather over time.
How do you keep from cross threading? That is my biggest worry. Also, what about dropping the sparkplug in the bock? Also, how would I get access to those wrench extensions?
Michael N in order. To keep from cross threading use you fingertips to turn the extension until the plug has gone in most of the way. Don’t worry about dropping the plug in. It can’t fall into anything. You local auto parts store should carry a variety of tools.
Thanks for the video i have an 03 subaru legacy L wagon and im changing the plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, oil change tomorrow but im having a power loss/hesitation in the car usually between 1000 and 2000 rpms it usually quits when it gets above 2k but it doesnt want to go up hills of any grade i have to drive it manually to get up hills what do you think it could be doing this i need to fix it asap thanks
Phillip Kilgore it could be that you just need the tuneup that you are about to perform. I would do what you have planned then see how it does. If it doesn’t get better let me know and I will walk you through some things to check.
Thank you i will definitely know more tomorrow after the tune up ive been researching for couple weeks now i just bought the car 3 weeks ago and everything else seems fine on the car from what i can tell and it mostly does it when its under a load so im hoping this will fix the issue if not may look into getting a coil pack thanks tho i will let ya know how it goes thanks again for the vid definitely helps.
Well i am so happy cause i swapped the plugs. Wires. Fuel filter air filter and oil change and its like a totally different car the car has no hesitation at all now and pulls up a hill great now it is so rewarding to fix things myself and it make a real difference thanks for your help i had no problem with the plugs thanks to your video 👍👍👍
I have a 2000 Subaru outback‘s Limited addition and my spark plug just won’t screw in for some strange reason I feel like it has no teeth. Am I doing something wrong? By the way they repaired the belt The mechanic told me I had to get a brand new engine. Mind you that’s after they fix the belt so I took it home and now the spark plug is loose. I have a buddy of mine that’s going to come by tomorrow but he’s not a Subaru specialist or anything like that.
The owners manual for my 2014 Outback calls for plug replacement at 60k, which is where my car is at right now. That seems really early, based on my experience with other modern cars. Know of any particular reason for that? Also, what can a person do to minimize the risk of breaking threads in the valve cover when removing plugs?
David Eckstrom the replacement interval set by the manufacturer is based on the type of plugs they install and the duty cycle of the engine. Most plugs in modern vehicles will go beyond 60k if the engine is functioning properly. Breaking the threads when removing plugs is rare unless they were installed improperly previously. For example if they were cross threaded. Use the proper tools and a little anti seize and you shouldn’t have any issues.
ekimosurac1 yes but not unmanageable. You will have coil packs mounted directly over the plugs. There are also going to be some other changes due to a newer generation of the car.
What year is this please? I have a 2004 outback and I think the spark plugs are completely horizontal and there is about an inch and a half of clearance before hitting the frame.
Joon kinloch yes I have owned several and put lots of miles on with no real issues. It is important that if you are buying a used one to make sure it has been taken care of. Look for oil or coolant leaks and see when the timing belt was last replaced.