After about 7 cuts, 1 broken spark plug, a broken vacuum line and 5 hours of labor, I finally finished my tune up. (For the exeption of a air and fuel filter) I am so proud of myself now.

You broke a plug?? i'm assuming the ceramic part broke.. :? How tight did you tighten the plugs in your heads?

till i couldn't tighten it any more. i broke the one plug by putting on the wire and didnt realize i didnt have it on an angle. i applied to much pressue and the plug broke. it was in the rear. thankfully, it was the top part that broke and was saved.

u shouldnt put them in untill u cant turn them anymore... if ur heads were aluminum u would have striped them out... and u better be lucky ur week, cause u didnt strip out urs...

i broke a spark plug once... it was one i was taking out, and i dropped it, and it broke

Did you put some anti-sieze on them first? Cause if you cranked on them hard without it, they will be impossible to get out in the near future. I normally go finger tight plus a turn.

nobody told me this. i just started it myself. thanx and i will remember next time not to tighten them so tight.. When should I do another tune up? I have 194k on the car now. 20, 000 miles?

No. I didnt know all of this. I just went on and did the changes.

Then I suggest in the near future, like a week or two, get yourself a little 97 cent packet of antisieze from Walmart, pull the plugs, put little on the threads (about enough to go around the threads in a path about 1/5 to a 1/4 as wide as the threads) and put them back in. Not too tight now.

I'd do it right now Also pick up some dieletric grease and coat the inside of the boot on both ends of the wire (coil and plug).

BTW I applaud the initiative to work on your own car, youll learn a lot (and you have already started).

thanx Todd! Feels like I've taken this car apart and put it back together. I am resting now and getting ready for this road trip. I hope I can do this when I get back. In fact, I will get the solvent on my way out.