Spark Plug change tips

[Ohiocruiser]

If you read previous posts you will learn that the point of removing intake manifold is also to clean intake valves wich had surprisingly a lot of carbon buildup.

 

[monusa]

It is made out of high quality silicone. I bet you can reuse it. Which i did, and have no problems since.

I would probably do the same but I had a 2.0 and all 4 plugs could be changed by the time you got the intake off.....I would replace the gasket though....can't be that expensive. Built Camry engines for a few years and anytime we did a repair, new gasket was used regardless.

 

[Coldbread]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet. I tried to read through the thread and might have missed it. Aside from having a 1/4 inch swivel for the coil packs, you also need the shortest 10mm 1/4 inch socket also. It makes the whole process easier, not just making the passenger side even possible.

 

[MaraudingWalrus]

Checking in on this thread. Dealer where I just had the 42k service proposed $595 for spark plugs. That seems, more than significantly exorbitant given six of the HKS plus are $150 from K8StingerStore and the Densos are $65. I don't really have the inclination to do it myself, but will have to call a few places and get more prices.

 

[ChaneRZ]

Highway robbery lol. Got mine done for $150.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Paying a shop just to change your plugs is throwing away your money... Do what you want, but the small investment in common hand tools and the knowledge and experience gained from doing a relatively simple task yourself, has value beyond dollars.

 

[ShaPoopieZ]

Just did mine yesterday and was done in 45 mins. The hardest part was getting the coil wires reconnected to the middle passenger plug. Having the right sockets and Ujoints made it a simple task.now getting the OBD wire through the grommet on the firewall that was a pain in the ass.

 

[AwesumPurson]

Haha, I just did the odb wire yesterday. It had me perplexed the first couple of attempts. I didn't want to rip or cut the grommet or push it out. I prepped a coat hanger to get it through. But I made a final attempt by sticking a good sized Phillip screw driver between the grommet and hole then used that to pry the opening bigger. The odb then just pushed through. Was able to just reach down and grab it and pull it up from the engine bay. Seemed so simple, not sure why I struggled at first.

 

[Budroe]

How hard should I have to pull on the boot to get it off of the plug? I just started on driver side closest to front of car. I put a LOT of pressure on it and I cant get it to come off. Yes, I took off the 10mm bolt. There is just one, correct?

 

[Ohiocruiser]

How hard should I have to pull on the boot to get it off of the plug? I just started on driver side closest to front of car. I put a LOT of pressure on it and I cant get it to come off. Yes, I took off the 10mm bolt. There is just one, correct?

Make sure, you took off the correct bolt. I dont see how is it possible to have any problems pulling the boot.

 

[AwesumPurson]

Make sure, you took off the correct bolt. I dont see how is it possible to have any problems pulling the boot.

I also had issues getting the boot off the mid plug on the driver's side. It is really on there in my case. The coil separated on first pull and the boot stayed. I actually gave up and decided to think on it and try again another time. My best guess is the previous person to have it off did not lube it when reassembling. The boot rubber sticks/seizes to the plug. That is the only think preventing it from coming out.

Be careful, I watched some YouTube vids about the boot tearing and what you have to do at that point.

Some twisting while pulling is okay, just don't rip it.

HkS 45IL Gapping

Dang these buggers are fragile. I just picked up a set of six and all measure .026 to .028. I'm getting my JB4 today and wanted to have them ready. Who has a good trick for gapping. It's such a narrow gap and the electrodes are so small. I may have snapped a tip off one electrode while...

stingerforum.org

 

[2StingerGarage]

Thanks all for the info and GREAT posts. I have Densos and a JB4 (among a few other toys) landing Friday and I will be installing the plugs on Sat. I was going to get some help and have someone else install them but I feel like I already have a head start thanks to all of you! *grin* Wish me luck!

 

[2StingerGarage]

Well, thanks to everyone in here I was able to get the plugs and the JB4 going today. The plug install only took about 75 minutes because of all the good information here. Thanks everyone!!

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Definitely... I've done mine at least 5 times....

 

[B1ackAlloy]

Finally tackled these damn spark plugs for the first time. Thanks to everyone commenting and sharing their experiences. It took me just about two hours. Was mainly nervous about doing the passenger side and hope that I could get everything back on and the car starts. I would say I am a novice around a car engine but this forum and some YouTube videos made me try and do it.

Cylinder 3 is not as bad I initially thought it would be. I mainly had issues removing the grey clip over everything else. I do not know how some folks are able to unclip those with just their fingers but kudos to the people that can. The only other thing that gave me concern was torquing the plugs. Did not want to overtighten and then crack a plug. I tend to trend on the cautious side.

Now knowing that I can change the spark plugs when needed the next thing on the list is installing the JB4.

 

[cncBilly]

Finally tackled these damn spark plugs for the first time. Thanks to everyone commenting and sharing their experiences. It took me just about two hours. Was mainly nervous about doing the passenger side and hope that I could get everything back on and the car starts. I would say I am a novice around a car engine but this forum and some YouTube videos made me try and do it.

Cylinder 3 is not as bad I initially thought it would be. I mainly had issues removing the grey clip over everything else. I do not know how some folks are able to unclip those with just their fingers but kudos to the people that can. The only other thing that gave me concern was torquing the plugs. Did not want to overtighten and then crack a plug. I tend to trend on the cautious side.

Now knowing that I can change the spark plugs when needed the next thing on the list is installing the JB4.

Good for you! Doesn’t that feel much better than passing someone a couple hundred plus to do it for you. The JB4 will be a snap. The plugs get easier and easier each time.

 

[B1ackAlloy]

Good for you! Doesn’t that feel much better than passing someone a couple hundred plus to do it for you. The JB4 will be a snap. The plugs get easier and easier each time.

It always does! I had zero intentions to pay someone unless I just couldn’t get my hands in there. I’m hoping it will be a snap with EWG wires!

 

[cncBilly]

It always does! I had zero intentions to pay someone unless I just couldn’t get my hands in there. I’m hoping it will be a snap with EWG wires!

It is. But you might have to take your intakes off for the EWG’s. I did and it made the clips a lot easier to access.

 

[B1ackAlloy]

It is. But you might have to take your intakes off for the EWG’s. I did and it made the clips a lot easier to access.

Update on this. These EWG wires are a bitch to remove. Specifically on the passenger side. That might be harder then removing the coil pack on cylinder 3. I thought i would be able to install this in an hour. Man I was wrong. Probably will attempt this again on Saturday.

 

[StingertimeNC]

I had my teenage son, with smaller hands, help me with the drivers side. The passenger side wasn't a walk in the park but If I remember correctly taking out the air intake helped.