I have spent almost 5 months trying to sort out my missfireing Subaru Forester ST 51plate, i have taken it to three diferent garages and all came bake with the same answer of "theres nothing wrong with it, according to the computer, but i think it may be your head gaskets, do you want me to book it in?"!

it got to a point on friday were i'd had a gut full of driving a very sick car.

I had not wanted to touch the old girl myself as there is next to no room to get your hands around the Engine, but something was very wrong although it was ment to be "fine". (have never bought the head gasket story).

So today, i bit the bullet and got stuck in, I changed the fuel fillter, no difference (but needed doing).

next step was check all electrical sensor conections (all tight and clean.)

I then noticed a very small scratch/crack on the top of the coil, so swapped that out with a spare I already had, (still ran like rubbish).

so decided to change the plugs, which is easyer said than done!

stripped all the hardware away to gain access and hopefuly more room, i pulled the first HT lead and with some trepidation, but it popped out no problem! I then went to pull no3 cylinders lead and it disintergrated in my fingers. after a long struggle to remove the remains form the sparkplug and replacing both HT leads, the car now runs like a dream again.

so i guess im telling you about this as dont want others fobbed off with clear diagnostic readings and junking your car because someone tells you (as i was) it may be a £1300 head gasket, my advice is to change a £30 set of HT leads first. it may just save you a fortune and you car !