I don't think there's a great deal I can add to what's been said, but, and I hate to say this - are you sure this is something you want to get into?
I find playing with cars to be great fun and a brilliant break to computers, but they can also be endlessly frustrating and it can be easy to get into to trouble. The RAC/AA will not look kindly at turning up to your half taken apart car
:D
Other than that, what do you mean by your spark plugs being faulty? Like any component, they CAN fail, but spark plugs generally just degrade - they rarely cause actual issues. More likely to be a coilpack issue if you definitely think it's electrical. The good news is, though, if they're accessible then Spark Plugs are a piece of piss to change but BE GENTLE. If you cross thread them, you've fucked your engine.
My personal top tips:
- Get a Haynes manual by default
- Don't believe everything you read in it, or indeed on the Internet
- Most things on cars are pretty strong and bolts corrode TIGHTLY, you may need to hit things with hammers
- Get a torque wrench and use it (Especially important for spark plugs)
- ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ensure you use the right size sockets/spanners. You will ruin things if not.
- Expensive tools are great, but don't be afraid of cheaper stuff to get started. I still use the sockets from my very first £10 socket set from Wickes 10+ years ago
- Get someone to help - even if they know nothing too, EVERYTHING is easier with an extra set of hands and eyes
- Start early in the day - there's no fun in realising you need a tool or part at 5:00pm on a Sunday
- The mechanics of a car are rarely the complicated and difficult part - it's the rusty bolts and seized components that will fuck you over.
EDITED: 7 Dec 2014 18:30 by PILOTDAN