Spark Plug Questions

[Sounbwoy]

Hello all. I'm about to change plugs in the car for the first time.
Is there anything I need to look out for?
Do I need a special widget/thingamabob?
I'm getting the G-Power NGK's. Are they already gapped or should I check them anyway? .32 seems to be the gap recommended. Is that correct?
Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Kirby]

The NGKs I have bought were properly gapped, but I always check them. No special widgets or tools required. It is a good idea to use copper impregnated spark plug lube on the threads. Check the boots to see if they are cracked/dry rotted. If so, you might want to replace them.

 

[Sounbwoy]

The boots are on the coils right? The boots can be replaced without replacing the entire coil assembly? That's cool.

 

[Kirby]

Item 3 is the boot assembly:

 

[William330]

Make sure you don't screw the plugs in at an angle. Did that once and
was only able to notice once it was half-way in -- could tighten, but not
loosen the plug. Rather than snap the plug half-way screwed into the
engine trying to get it out, just screwed that sucker all the way down.

Traded the car in, with that same plug stuck in there, 50,000 miles later.

Haven't changed plugs since.

 

[Kirby]

The trick to avoiding that problem is to use ONLY finger pressure to get the plugs started. You can cross thread them if you use a wrench, but it will be impossible to cross thread them with your fingers.

 

[Sounbwoy]

Well I got the plugs in today. I don't think they have ever been changed since wifey bought the car (used), but she thinks it's been done. Anyway, I just finished changing them. Wasn't bad except for the one in the back. Not too much space back there.
I also think that for those of us that may not have the time to DIY, they should RECHECK after the dealer or whomever does it. The coil on my wife's car was not fully secure as the rest AND the plug was extremely difficult to remove compared to the others. It wasn't a lack of leverage. It either had NEVER been changed or was cross-threaded. I just took my time and got it out. The new one went in just fine which makes me think it was never changed. For those who are about to try it, get a piece of small rubber hose to help get the plug started when you put the new ones in. There was no way my fingers were going to fit in there.
Definitely one of the coils had been changed (different date).
I have pictures below of the old plugs and the coils. What do you think of how they look? The car now has 135,xxx miles on it.