I feel like a tool for having to ask this, but I don't know much about Honda's coil over plug setup.

I went to change the spark plugs today because it's idling rough. I picked up some NGK Iridium's for it, should do the trick.

I removed the 10mm nuts from the coils, then expected them to pop loose. Didn't happen. As far as I can tell, there's more that needs to be loosened underneath the black plastic cover that says "Honda" and "VTEC". I used a flathead screwdriver to try and loosen the plastic screw lookin thingys on top. They turned once and clicked and any effort to loosen them after that resulted in the screwdriver digging into and damaging the soft plastic.

How the hell do I get that cover off to remove the coils so that I can get to my spark plugs?

 

The pictures should help.

 

Thanks for the pics but mine doesn't quite look like that (as far as I can tell). In the pic, the coil cover looks like it's held on with nuts...



My coil cover is held on with plastic screw looking thingys (red circles) and the only nuts I see are on the coils (bluish circles)

If I could figure out how to get the cover off, I'd be golden, lol

[IMG]local://upfiles/27740/CC54C94BE39C400B8C04BE58D0BD49ED.jpg[/IMG]

 

Sorry, I had diagrams for the 02-03 Civic Si and hoped they would also pertain to the EX -- apparently not.

Below is a diagram for the 01 Civic, which seems a better fit with your 03 Civic. This diagram unfortunately also does not detail how to remove the ignition coil cover. Perhaps on the reverse side of the coil cover the plastic screws have tabs inserted into a lock mechanism and must be turned to just the right position to release them.

 

That's what I was thinking too, I'm about to head out there and start tinkering. Thanks for the diagrams man, those are awesome.

 

wow. seems like a lot of work just to change the spark plug.

 

Problem solved.

RonJ, you were right on the money. I turned the plastic screws with a flathead until they clicked and the coil cover came right off. Yesterday I was trying to unscrew them when all I had to do was turn them a 1/4 turn. Once I figured that out, it was a simple 15-20 min job.

ugh, yeah you have to remove the coil cover, unbolt the coils, unplug the coils, lift them out, switch the spark plugs, reinsert the coils, plug 'em in, bolt 'em back down, and put the cover on, lol. I'm used to just pulling off the spark plug wires, switching the plugs, and putting the wires back on, lol.