Had a very productive day with the Impreza! I've had a four-part to-do list for a while now, and I finally did 3 of 4 today:
- Underbody splash guard - replaced broken / torn plastic.
- Rear spoiler installation - eBay Wing Tech painted 32J Obsidian Black.
- Spark plugs replaced - NGK laser iridium SILZKAR7B11 (gapped .39)
The splash guard was ripped off during a fight with a tall parking block, so I found out that it could be replaced for a relatively cheap cost ($40). What I didn't know was that it wasn't just the small triangle of plastic; it was the entire wheel well liner, all connected in one piece! I could not believe the size of the box that showed up on my porch. Anyway, I didn't want to replace the whole liner, so I made the decision to hack it up a bit and bolt / zip-tie it to the remaining liner. It looks like Frankenstein, but it's very functional. Plus, it's not visible unless you're under the car
Ah, the rear spoiler. Been wanting this since day one. Every hatch & wagon deserves a spoiler. I was going to get the OEM Impreza Sport (same item as the Crosstrek), but didn't want to shell out the $300+ to get one. I had been watching one on eBay for quite a while and finally just bought it. The company is called Wing Tech, and you have the option of getting a spoiler unpainted or painted. For an extra $80~, they will paint match to your color (have to send them your paint code information). It took about two weeks, which wasn't bad at all, and it is great quality. The paint match is exact to my car, and overall I'm quite pleased with it. The template is different from the Subaru one in that it doesn't come with the big overlay / sheet of paper, but instead comes with four strips of cardboard that line up over the holes in the spoiler. Then those strips are placed down on top of the trunk, and the drilling begins! It was nerve-wracking, but it wasn't my first time drilling into a car. A few years ago, I took a 3" hole saw to the fender of my Xterra for the snorkel installation. Most terrifying thing for a novice tinkerer like me. Anyway, it turned out great. Went on fairly easily, and I love the way it looks.
Spark plugs! The Impreza is currently at 63K miles, so it was time. I've heard varying things about the complexity of this job, but I completed it in an hour with no issues. I keep comparing everything I do to my last vehicle, which was the Xterra. The 6th spark plug on the Xterra, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the 3.3L Nissan engine, requires a 12-16" socket extension, a wobble joint, and lastly requires you to sit on your engine to reach it near the firewall. It's hell. The process was pretty straightforward:
1. Disconnect battery negative and positive. Remove battery (10mm socket).
2. Disconnect coil pack harness.
3. Unbolt coil pack (10mm socket, 12" extension). Remove coil pack.
4. Remove spark plug. Install new spark plug.
5. Replace coil pack, coil pack bolt, and harness. Replace battery but leave disconnected.
1. Remove air box (10mm socket), disconnect MAF sensor.
2. Disconnect coil pack harness.
3. Unbolt coil pack (10mm socket, 12" extension). Remove coil pack.
4. Remove spark plug. Install new spark plug.
5. Replace coil pack, coil pack bolt, and harness. Replace air box and reconnect MAF sensor.
Reconnect battery terminals and fire it up. Done.
I'm also very excited to know that the full 2" lift kit from ADF is en route! Can't wait to get this up higher for the GG all-terrains sitting in my garage.
The only other thing I'm working on right now is the roof rail situation. I have the fixed crossbars, and I got a set of Crosstrek roof rails from another member here. I want to remove the fixed Euro bars and install the full roof rails to get adjustable crossbars, but I need some kind of schematic. It's nearly impossible to find one since the Impreza Sports and Crosstreks come with the rails from the factory. Just need to know where to drill and I'll be rolling.