Should I change the spark plugs?

[todpod]

Have a 93 chevy corsica with about 141,000 . The plugs have never been changed. The car actually runs pretty good, its the rest thats starting to fall down around it. Just nickel and diming really. 200,000 would be a real possibility if I so chose too. Mainly would like to get 1 more winter.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Go for it. They might cost you $8 tops and they take about 10 minutes to install. Can't hurt.

 

[Nohr]

Change'em, and may as well replace the cables too while you're at it.

 

[Heisenberg]

Yes, and new wires too.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Wires are about $30, give or take $5.

 

[olds]

141,000 and they've never been changed?
Don't break them getting them out.

 

[todpod]

Getting a nice new garage in about a month so i will a decent place to do it. So whats that clunking noise when I go around a sharp turn?

 

[Gunslinger08]

Brakes? Rotors? Tires too big and rubbing on the wheel wells? Bodies on the ground?

 

[todpod]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
141,000 and they've never been changed?
Don't break them getting them out.

That my big fear, Hopefully not going to keep it past this winter, and I ain't gonna get much when I sell it, not hardly worth paying somebody to do it

 

[todpod]

Its not brakes or rotors, been there done that. Orignial size tires, and it doesn't seem to be getting lower. Its only when i am making a fairly sharp turn at slow speeds.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: todpod
Getting a nice new garage in about a month so i will a decent place to do it. So whats that clunking noise when I go around a sharp turn?

Probably not the control arm. It is that other thing wahtever it is called......I need to get it fixed too. Mine has messed up ball-bearings as well

 

[RU482]

I had an 88 regal w/~120K (similar motor to your Chevy) a while back that ran pretty good too. I changed the plugs and wires and it really came alive. Couldn't tell you if the mileage got better (gas gauge and odometer were broke), but it definately had more pick up getting on the freeway

I couldn't believe how much corrosion there was on the plugs

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Yes, and new wires too.

Very much agree...it would be a waste to change the plugs and not the wires, on a car with that many miles...

 

[KokomoGST]

Word of advice on changing the plugs... do it when the car is stone cold. You'll be less likely to damage anything just in case you have a head that likes to strip it's spark plug threads. Different metals (like aluminum heads nowadays) cool at different rates...

If you haven't changed your radiator cap ($6) or flushed out the coolant (drain it and put new fresh coolant in = $10-15 for antifreeze) or replaced your air filter and PCV valve ($10), those are all typical and very neccessary tune-up jobs for your car.

Also, give the battery and it's terminals a good cleaning... wire brush for the terminals and some baking soda with water to clean the battery.

Finally, if it's an automatic... I might wanna change the tranny fluid. Check it and see if it's starting to get dirty and go from there. You probably have blown shocks (bad shocks tend to clunk a little). Also, you may want to check your motor mounts... if they're cracking, some 3M window urethane ($10) should be able to patch it up well enough to get you through the year.

 

[toant103]

141k miles for a Chevy, that's pretty good

 

[Eli]

Never? in 141k?

Damn.

Your engine will thank you if you do. It will idle better, and you'll get better MPG.

 

[gotsmack]

don't you need to set the gap in the plugs? I have the mechanic do mine.

 

[BadNewsBears]

Originally posted by: todpod
Getting a nice new garage in about a month so i will a decent place to do it. So whats that clunking noise when I go around a sharp turn?

If it was a solid axle id say spring pack, but more than likely a cv joint or the mount that holds the rack and pinion onto the frame rusted off.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: toant103
141k miles for a Chevy, that's pretty good

Flamebait. My moms bf's '89 Caprice has 440,000km and going strong.

 

[todpod]

This thing has alot of life left in it if I want to keep it alive. Body is in pretty good shape, lots of dents and dings and needs some serious touch up work but no holes. I really don't ever think it will die just hoping.

So how serious is this rusted off thingy, will is send me flying of the road out of contol?

 

[DAGTA]

Clanking/popping sound? Maybe the CV boots? I'd say get it checked. If it's something like that, a failure while driving could be very bad.

 

[todpod]

Its coming for the front drivers side. Its sounds almost like something rolling around in the trunk, but coming from the front.

 

[thedarkwolf]

v6?
Those are a pain the butt so no wonder they haven't been changed before.

 

[TwoBills]

Originally posted by: todpod
So whats that clunking noise when I go around a sharp turn?

Munchie nailed it. Bad cv joint.


Kokomo covered the "must dos". Amplifying what he stated don't forget the thermostat, put a little grease on those clean terminals, and get a new set of struts (all the way around) and you'll be good for 3 years.

 

[psiu]

Remember to clean around the spatk plug areas (as mentioned above), but before taking em out and replacing....so that the crud doesn't fall in the engine.

Have an 87 Corsica with something over 155K miles. Unsure, because the odometer (and speedometer ) doesn't always work.

Has the rear axle of a Beretta, replacement hood, windshield, driverside door, a tin foil and cpntact paper headlight assembly, muffler and exhaust system with more jb weld and muffler patch than metal, exhaust is held to car with 14 gauge copper ground wire, nonoperating windshield washers, rear doors leak (one is dented in about a foot), leaky head gasket, radio that is always on with bit of xacto blade wedged in the power button assembly (two blown speakers in the front are the only ones working), and that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Got new rear brakes on it though, done the front brakes, put a new radiator in, new blower motor, thermostat, and had the wire packs for 2 & 3 cylinerds replaced, along with some suspension stuff (like in the interests of staying alive, not performance).

Oh, here's a beauty pic of the car, eh?

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/psiu_glen/detail?.dir=/8d55&.dnm=f614.jpg