Plugs and belt

[Dragonheart]

Was checking through the engine yesterday, and was going looking at the spark plugs, no tool I had would fit down into where they are located! Is there a special tool for taking them out? And for taking out the rear plugs, does the back part of the engine have to be dismantled? I hope the plugs are long life plugs cause it seems like a hell of a lot of hassle to be going to to replace plugs! Also, I was looking at fan belt manuals, and couldnt find the FTO anywhere, but I did find a Galant 2.0l V6 with a fan belt layout pretty much identical to the FTO one, it says replace every 54K miles, this sound right? And should I change waterpump and pulleys at the same time, in other words get a kit instead of just the belt?

[CJ]

Search is your friend!

Belts

http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... php?t=1418

Plugs

http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... php?t=3813

If you're changing the timing belt, its worth doing the water pump as well. Re a/c and p/s pulleys, I'd only change if they're making noise.

CJ

[mcgon1979]

Hey Dragonheart... It's not as bad as you say. No need to dismantle the engine as such, but the inlet manifold has to come off to do the rear plugs. So might be worth ordering an inlet manifold gasket if it hasn't been done before as the old gasket might be very worn when you take off the manifold. Simple enough job to get it off.
I don't think you need a special FTO tool or anything like that, just a slender plug socket. My mates garage had one that worked a treat. Get IK22 plugs. They last 60,000km. If your going to the hassle of getting the belt done it is advisable to do the water pump too as CJ says. If it fails you'll need to get the timing belt off again to replace it. money and time. I didn;t do mine though cause my mates a mechanic so I'm alright to get it done handy enough if it fails.

[belfastman]

MCGON 1979........................where would you get the inlet manifold gasket from? camskill?

[Bernard]

I got a full service just after I got the car, this was my shopping list.It might help.
Just be careful, all the below are for a manual GPX...

Cambelt kit
Inlet manifold gasket
Alt belt tensioner
PCV valve & seal
Water pump
Spark plug
Oil filter
Fuel filter
LH wiper
RH wiper

[Dragonheart]

Cheers for all the info lads.
I was going to bring her to a Mitsi garage to get the belts and sparks and pump done, its osmething I wouldnt chance myself, especially when it involves taking off the manifold. Prob cost a fortune but it has to be done. Has 60,000 miles done now so all those need replacing.
By the way, I threw in 0-30W oil into her and afterwards was talking to a mechanic, runs a BMW 5 series, used always use that oil but said to me that its like p1ss, after 5000 miles he had lost 2 litres of it already! Prob better to use 5-30W, just a warning in case anyone is using it to make sure and check the levels pretty often!

[belfastman]

dragon...........if you do bring it to dealers tell us how much they charged please............................

[Dragonheart]

Will do surely. I'm sure it wont be cheap but it'll be interesting to see a comparision between what you can pay to get the items yourself. Was considering this and asking a dealer to install but I dont think they'd think too highly of me!

[gt94]

Was considering this and asking a dealer to install but I dont think they'd think too highly of me!

Dont think a main dealer would help im not 100% but i dont think they will fit any parts not bought off them or if they are not official mitsi parts they wont even look at ya they wont be able to give you come back on the parts if they are faulty.

[Dragonheart]

Going to do everything through the dealers, safer, wouldnt even consider throwing non-mitsi parts into her, well, into the engine anyway, want to keep it running as loooooong as possible so a regular and proper service with the right parts should keep me going some bit towards that.
Its amazing though, had her well over a year now, and still love it as much as the first day I drove it. Never happened with any other car I had or even saw. Usually you'd get bored after a year but no, still the same buzz and thrill ever time!

[Dragonheart]

So I finally got a quote for a service for the 100,000 milestone. Getting all belts, water pump, rocker gasket, plugs, the usual big expensive bits. Including VAT?......E1550!!!! I am presuming labour is major. This is a quote from a main Mitsi dealer, whats the rate on mechanics at these places, bout E100 an hour or something? Worst thing is, I was told the FTO would be in the garage a couple of days and they'd give me something else, I cant bear driving a 'normal' car now!

[Bernard]

That's main dealers for you.
I went with MFFTO's recommendation and couldn't complain.
Around 500 for parts and IIRC just under it for labour...

You might be just as well off going down the same route, just find a competent mechanic and buy the parts yourself.

You could treat yourself to something nice with what you'd save...

[Dragonheart]

Think thats prob what I'll do next time, reason I'm going to a dealers is so I'll know its done properly and the risk factor is less. Its another 100000 km away for the next time anyway, but just paid insurance this month and was going to put 4 new tyres on too, which cost E175 each so its a bad month for me this one.

[Bernard]

I'll be looking at tyres soon enough as well.
Thinking about these...

[Myfeckin FTO]

I'll be looking at tyres soon enough as well.
Thinking about these...

Yumm - the new Eagle F1's - replacing the GSD3's - will be looking at these myself.

BTW Dragonheart - you are nuts to be going with a main dealer - just buy the parts online through camskill and find a competent mechanic to sort. You should save quite a bit and you won't feel like you've been taken for a ride.

[mcgon1979]

MCGON 1979........................where would you get the inlet manifold gasket from? camskill?

I got it the first time I did the plugs because I had no idea the state of the one that was in it... but... the second time I removed the inlet gasket (to do my rocker cover gaskets) I did not get a replacement and it was 100% fine to reuse....

It costs about 20euro I think from camskill shipped etc.

[Dragonheart]

BTW Dragonheart - you are nuts to be going with a main dealer - just buy the parts online through camskill and find a competent mechanic to sort. You should save quite a bit and you won't feel like you've been taken for a ride.

Yup, see thats the problem, no bother getting the parts but the mechanic I use wont go near the FTO cause he hasnt done any before and hes only a small country mechanic, dont know any 'competent' mechanics cause I dont really use mechanics, and I'd end up travelling to Dublin or somewhere to get stuff done by someone I'd really trust. A lot of fellas will say 'ya, no prob', and then mess something up, like not tensioning the belts properly or something, and I dont want that risk. Least I have something to fall back on this way.

[miss-enzo]

Think thats prob what I'll do next time, reason I'm going to a dealers is so I'll know its done properly and the risk factor is less. Its another 100000 km away for the next time anyway, but just paid insurance this month and was going to put 4 new tyres on too, which cost E175 each so its a bad month for me this one.

same here gettin timin belt done in dealership so i know its had one good goin over by the ppl that will (hopefully) know about the car!

i got quoted 660 for parts alone!

[CJ]

Surely someone must know a decent mechanic in and around Cork, lads help the man out! I would much rather go to a recommended mechanic than leave it into a dealer.

CJ

[mcgon1979]

yeah, I wouldn;t go to a dealer myself. Don;t know anybody in Crok though, but Im sure there is someone who must know. I think anyone who has done a couple of FTO belts etc would be grand.

[kevinod]

I try to do all my own mechanical work, but wouldn't like to chance working on anyone elses car. I'll make a couple of enquires...

[Dragonheart]

Ok, so I got the service done yesterday, collected the car this morning, asked them to check everything, and they said she was spot on everywhere, couldnt believe how good she was underneath. Apart from the camber which was noted at the last meet, but thats a small thing to get done. A asked them for the list of items done and the breakdown on costs and I'll post it up here on Sunday night, just in case people want to get services done by main dealers. Though if you're closer to Dublin like the lads say go with Paul Nolan or someone. It was savage expensive, E1615, but the piece of mind at having it done is great and to know that suspensions, brakes, etc. are perfect too.

[Dragonheart]

Right, the list is as follows for anyone whose interested;

Labour - 500
Oil filter - 35.88
ATF oil (3 litres @ 5.20) - 15.60
Spark plugs (Long life, 6 no. @ 13.71) - 82.26
P/S belt - 80.78
Coolant (4 @ 3.55) - 14.20
Water pump - 170.37
Alternator & OT belt - 28.89
Timing belt adjuster - 156.23
Timing belt pulley (Has the letter 'T' after it) - 63.44
Tining belt pulley (Has the letter 'I' after it) - 59.71
Timing belt (With no letter) - 164.75
Rocker cover gasket (2 no., there was a smaller one somewhere too) - 25.64

VAT on the parts - 124.66
VAT on labour - 67.50

Lot of items done, some maybe which dont need to be done, but I feel better knowing that at least I dont have to worry about getting these things doen for a while again as I had no service records from Japan, (cant read Japanese anyway so wouldnt have made a difference), and didnt know what had been done or hadnt. Was also told that the last time the plugs were changed it was only the front ones were done, so they were difinately due.

[colm_mcm]

re: the ATF, (didn't know yours was tiptronic) you'd need 6-7 litres for a change. also, no A/T filter changed?

[Dragonheart]

Ya, sorry, the oil filter was the ATF filter. Did the engine oil and filter myself couple of thousand km's ago.