CJ's DIY : 2015

After my father was diagnosed with cancer in 1993, he was sent to a military hospital which was his choice to die. Since he was the one who made the decisions when it was time for tune-ups or car repairs, I was now left with that job. Only I didn't know a thing about tune-ups and car repairs, but since my dad was unable to make those decisions now, I had to make those decisions.

The time came when it was time to get my car smogged, which is a requirement in California, every other year. I had no choice if I wanted to continue to drive. Well of all times for my car not to pass, this of course had to be it! I had to find out why it wasn't passing, and I only had a few days.

I took the car to a Shell gas station mechanic, where they told me my car wasn't passing smog because I needed a tune-up, and it was going to cost me $600, because I needed new wires! I had no idea what "wires" he was talking about. I thought he was talking about the electrical wires! Something by the way the guy was looking at me, told me that something was wrong! So I got out of there, went to the nearest auto parts store and bought the repair manual for my car. I looked up tune-up, and the next day I went in to buy my new spark plugs. Since I didn't know what "wires" the shop manager was talking about, when I was in the parts store, I decided to play the part of knowing what I was talking about, so I asked the clerk for my spark plugs and wires too! That's when I found out that "wires" were the spark plug wires! As far as costing me $600? I knew that many people fixed their own cars to save money, but I saved about $560.00!? Was that possible? Sure was! The shop manager at that Shell station garage, figured me to be stupid, and thought he could get one over on me. Well I was stupid when it came to cars, but smart enough to know how to teach myself!

I eventually found a decent mechanic who ran a re-smog for me at no charge, so had I paid that $600, I still wouldn't have passed smog!

I had work on the car a year earlier, where the freeze plugs rusted out, and the transmission had to be taken out to reach them. When the mechanics put the transmission back in, they forgot to re-attach one of the vacuum lines! That's why I didn't pass smog!

So I made the decision from then on, to do whatever repairs I could on my own.

So the question is, how did I know which parts to buy? By reading and experience, and of course because I have always opted for the best, whenever possible.

Well that was then, this is now, and over 20 years later, when I choose a part for the car, I still choose the best when possible, but I also have a lot of experience. I can feel the difference in performance when I install a certain type of plug or wires. Since I know what to expect from a certain brand of spark plugs or wires, I choose to stay with that brand.
So with all that said, here are the spark plugs and wire sets, I choose to go with from the best, to the good but more affordable: