Is your Porsche engine misfiring, has a rough idle, is difficult to start, and has a poor fuel economy? Learn how to fix the problem by replacing your Porsche’s spark plug and ignition coil.
Symptoms
Symptoms that your Porsche spark plugs need to be replaced.
- Engine misfire
- Poor fuel economy
- Rough idle
- Difficult to start
- Slow acceleration
- Engine overheating
- Engine shaking at idle
What you will need
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- Genuine Porsche Spark Plugs
- It is highly recommended that you use genuine spark plugs recommended by Porsche.
- Porsche spark plugs, including Platinum and Iridium, will be pre-gapped. You do not need to gap them.
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- Genuine Porsche Ignition Coils
- Replacing ignition coils is not required unless your vehicle has high mileage, you have a damaged coil, or a misfire has occurred.
- Porsche spark plug tube removal tool
- 5/8 or 16mm Spark Plug Removal Tool
- Spark plug with rubber insert recommended.
- Torque Wrench
- 3/8 Ratchet wrench
- 4″ Extension
- 3/8″ Universal Joint (optional)
For Porsches with rear engine setup:
- 19mm wheel lug nuts
- Torx Drive
- Torx E10 socket
- Flat Screwdriver
- Jack
- Jack stands
Procedure
- Park. Park the Porsche on level ground and allow it to cool down.
- Open hood. Pull the hood release under the dashboard and open the hood.
- Remove the plastic trim around the engine. It is held in place with several plastic screws. One screw is located near the cap for the windshield washer fluid reservoir.
- Remove the air pump. Use a T40 to remove the three bolts that hold the air pump. Disconnect the wire harness to the air pump.
- Remove the engine cover. Use a T30 Torx socket to remove the engine cover bolts. On models with a rear engine setup such as Boxter, you will need to jack up the vehicle and remove the rear wheels to access the spark plug cover (heat shields) via the wheel well area.
- Remove and replace spark plugs and coils.
Start by unplugging the wire harness from all the spark plug coils. Press on the connector clip, then pull.
Do this for all ignition coils. - Remove coils. Remove the T30 Torx bolt that secures the ignition coil to the engine. Repeat for all ignition coils. Pry out the ignition coil. If the ignition coils refuse to come out, try twisting the coil and pulling them out simultaneously.
- Remove spark plugs. Use a 5/8 spark tool or a deep 16mm socket to remove the spark plugs. Turn the ratchet counterclockwise to remove the spark plugs. Repeat for all spark plugs. Inspect the condition of the spark plugs.
- Install spark plugs. Carefully lower the new spark plugs in the cylinder. Do not allow spark plugs to drop. If a spark plug falls in the spark plug hole, remove it and inspect the gap. Start threading the new spark plugs by hand.
- Torque spark plugs. Use a torque wrench to torque all the spark plugs to 30 Nm.
- Install ignition coils. Push the ignition coil in the spark plug hole. Tighten the ignition coil bolt to 10 Nm. Connect the connector for each ignition coil making sure you push the connector until you hear it click.
- Install the engine cover and air pump. Tighten the engine cover bolts.
- Repeat the procedure to replace the passenger side spark plugs and ignition coils. The process is the same for the passenger side, except that V8 models have an engine torque arm that will need to be removed. Follow this guide on how to remove and replace the Porsche engine torque arm.
- Start the engine. Make sure the check engine light is off.
- If PSM FAILURE displays on the instrument cluster drive the vehicle for five minutes, the warning should reset.
Pry out the ignition coil. If the ignition coils refuse to come out, try twisting the coil and pulling them out simultaneously.
Repeat for all spark plugs. Inspect the condition of the spark plugs.
Follow this guide on 
Pictures in this guide are from a 2004 Porsche Cayenne V8, but tips and steps here will help you change spark plugs on Porsche 944, Boxter, 997, 996, 991, 911, 981, 964, and Macan.
Torque Specifications
- Spark Plugs: 30 Nm / 22 ft-lbs
- Ignition Coil Bolt: 10 Nm
Porsche Spark Plug Change Interval
How often do you need to change spark plugs on a Porsche? Porsche spark plug change interval varies between 12,000 and 60,000 miles.
To determine how often you should change the spark plugs on your Porsche, you need to know which engine and spark plug types are installed in your car.
Here are a few examples.
- Porsche Carrera 4 – 30,000 miles
- Porsche 997 S – 60,000 miles
- GT2 – 12,000 miles
- Porsche 911 / 991.1 – 40,000 miles
Verify by looking it up in your owner’s manual.
Spark Plug Gap
Porsche spark plugs come pre-gapped and do not need to be adjusted. If you like to check, they should be in the .028 – .035 range, with the most common gap being 0.028.
All the spark plugs installed in one engine should have the same gap.
Check Engine Light Still On
If the check engine light is still on after you have replaced the spark plugs and ignition coil, you can use the YOUCANIC Full System Scanner to clear the stored codes. This scanner supports every vehicle’s make and model.
Notes
- On rear engine applications such as 996,997 Carrera, you need to remove rear wheels, rear bumper, heat shield, and mufflers to access the right rear spark plug and coil.
- For example, on a 997tt, it is easier and faster to drop the engine than remove various components. If you are a DIYer, you can change the spark plugs on this engine without dropping the engine.
- If you choose not to drop the engine, you will need to remove the rear wheels, lights, bumper, intercoolers, exhaust, and shields to access all plugs.
- Replacing spark plugs on a Porsche with the front engine setup is simple and straightforward and can be completed in about two hours.
- Replacing spark plugs on a Porsche with a rear engine setup is more involved and may require that you remove the rear bumper, rear wheels, and muffler. This job is rated at four and a half hours for professional mechanics. A DIYer can complete it in about 4 to 6 hours.
- The average cost to change Porsche spark plugs yourself is $150. While changing, Porsche sparks plug at the dealer, or an auto mechanic ranges from $650 to $1100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace the spark plugs without disconnecting the muffler to access the right rear plug?
Yes. You need patience and a Torx drive bit. Do not use a ratchet. Instead, use a small open-end wrench to get the Torx bolts off.
Should I replace the coils as well?
You can, but it is not required to replace the coils as often as you change the spark plugs.
Porsche Spark Plugs
FGR 6 KQE
- Porsche 911
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001 Naturally Aspirated
- 2005 Naturally Aspirated; Exc. GT3
- 2006
- Porsche Boxster
- 2000-2006
- Porsche Cayenne S
- 2003-2006
FGR5NQE04
- 2008 – 2010 Porsche Cayenne GTS
- 2008 – 2014 Porsche Cayenne S
- 2013 – 2014 Porsche Cayenne GTS
- 2010 – 2013 Porsche Panamera S
- 2010 – 2013 Porsche Panamera 4S
- 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS
FGR 5 NQE0
- Porsche 911
- 2009-2011 Naturally Aspirated Specialty
- 2012 997; Naturally Aspirated Specialty
- Porsche Boxster
- 2009-2011 Specialty
- Porsche Cayenne
- 2008-2011 V8; Naturally Aspirated Specialty
- 2009-2011 V6 Specialty
- Porsche Cayman
- 2009-2011 Specialty
- Porsche Panamera
- 2010-2011 V8; Naturally Aspirated Specialty
FR7LDC
- 1997-1999 Porsche Boxster
BKR6EQUP
- Porsche 911
- 1999 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2001 Turbo 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2002 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2003 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2004 Turbo 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2005 Naturally Aspirated; Exc. GT3 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- Porsche Boxster
- 2001 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2002 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2003 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2004 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- Porsche Carrera GT
- 2004 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
- 2005 4 Electrode; Double Platinum; Resistor
This list provides spark plug part numbers for the most common Porsche models. If the spark plugs for your Porsche are not listed here, they will be listed in your owner’s manual.
We hope you find the Porsche Spark Plug & Ignition Coil Replacement DIY guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Porsche.
Just replaced six coil packs on 997 3.8S . I had replaced spark plugs about 9 months ago so this was a similar job of course . Just like to say it can be done without removing exhausts . It helps if you are a cortortionist especially if you’re doing it on your back . It’s very fiddly to say the least and if you have big hands even worse . It helps to remove the sensor plugs in the head this will give slightly more room . Wheels really should come off as you will be at all sorts of angles on the floor some access is better to the rear of the underside of the car and dome from the other end of the engine . It took me just over 3 hours to do all six and I’m quite a competent mechanic on 997s
anyway . . I take my hat off to anyone who can jack up remove wheels heat shields 6 coils etc in 1.5 hours . Maybe on a ramp I could ? But it is possible without removing exhaust and earth leads for that matter . Very satisfying when finished and gets easier each time . Other jobs done recently include flange gaskets and bolts ,starter,alternator starter lead which fails after a while making starting a problem when hot ,front rad cleaning,brake fluid change ,sat nav aerial , rear shocks, new firs gear replace ,clutch and dyslexic mass flywheel . And that’s all in the last year ! Only done 67,000 miles . Costing a fortune
I had great difficulty trying to replace the right rear spark plug, even though I was able to replace the other 5 plugs. I tried twice and gave up because it was impossible for me to get my hand in to unplug the connector on the top side of the coil. I even tried from the top side through the engine hood, and even though I could reach it with one hand only, and click the lock on the connector open, I could not pull the connector out while holding it open at the same time. The rubber connector seal was too tight.
From under the car there was no room to get my hand in there at all, even to slide the plastic cover off the connector, and I have medium side hands. I tried every angle, from the side, through the opening in the bottom of the muffler mount which blocked access to the coil. I decided it was impossible to do it, and even putting the car on a lift would not have made it possible, only make it more comfortable to try than the car on jacks.
I have access to OEM Porsche repair data, and the instructions only describe the removal process, not how to get in there. So I decided that I had to remove the muffler, which I was reluctant to do because of worry that the nuts and bolts would break. I tested them by trying to loosen some, and discovered they were not frozen and loosened easily. I saw that only 3 nuts on the muffler mount and two on the muffler pipe connection needed to be removed, and the muffler would come out. So I was easily able to remove the muffler and from underneath the car without removing the rear body bumper cover!
Now I had room to get in there, but it was still difficult to get that coil connector unplugged, but now possible. It was not too hard to get the coil out, and the plug replaced with 1 long, 1 short 3/8″ ratchet drive extensions, and 1 u-joint, in various combinations whichever worked best for removal or tightening.
My advice is to take out the muffler and make the job easier for all three plugs on the right side. Why hassle with trying to replace them with the muffler in when it is not hard to take it out? The left side did not have the same muffler mount blocking access to the rear coil, so I was able to do those plugs with the muffler in, but it would have been easier with it out. I bet Porsche mechanics take it out.
I took some photos I will post soon. The little Torx bit set I bought helped with the coil Torx bolts