Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler mechanics or spark plug change experienced???

ok, still working on my rodeo issues, first thought it was the transmission, but thought I would start with some simple fixes like plugs, injector cleaner, etc. It has been a long time, if I have ever, that I've changed the plugs and wiring. When trying to pull out one of the plugs, the wire broke down just above the plug. Below is what the cable resemble, the plastic barrel was stuck down over the plug, I'm guessing since it has been soooo many years I tried a little wd40 and some needle nose to losen it, the plastic was brittle and began to break. After a lot of messing around, I was able to get one of the long barrels out. Now I find I don't have the right dang socket, I think I need 5/8".

Anyway, is there a trick to removing these cables, without me having to go out and purchase a cable removal tool. There is a lip on the top portion of the barrel.

The solution is simple. Buy a new car.

I know. I'm useless. I'll go back to my corner.

this is our 3rd extra vehicle I drive to work. I have a Chevy Silverado and my wife has a new Honda Pilot.

No real secrete I know of but I do try and twist the boot a few times before I start tugging on it.

Be careful spraying anything down by the sockets... Once the plug comes out, any of that stuff can and will go into the engine. After loosening (go buy a 5/8" plug socket if that is what you need) and before removing all the way, spray some compressed air in there to blow out any debris before the plug is all the way out.

There are few things more frustrating than stuck plugs and wires. be sure to use di-electric grease on the new plug wires or if you re-use the old ones to prevent them getting so stuck again in the future.

Not sure a little wd40 would hurt anything. When I used to winterize my boat motors, I always fogged the cylinder walls and turned it over a few times.

Good idea about the compressed air Nick.. I'll check on the grease as well, there is no way I'm going to reuse these cables, they are the originals.

Yeah, Randy you definitely want to replace those cables. I heard that Monster sells ignition cables that make the cars go a lot faster.

I don't think he was saying that the WD-40 would hurt anything itself, but it's tendency to loosen junk could create a problem when the plug is removed; that junk could fall down into the engine.

Also when installing plugs, I use anti-seize on the threads--as it a good idea when any two dissimilar metals are screwed together. This prevents galling when the plugs are next removed (I've seen pieces of an aluminum head stuck between the threads of a spark plug). And remember, the plugs don't need to be torqued to 150 ft lbs. The spec I use is to tighten them until the wrench handle has enough resistance to slip between a tightly squeezed middle-finger and thumb, then give it a quarter turn more (see the owners manual for actual torque specs).

I thought you had already done a tuneup or had one done, you just may be onto something. Follow the advise given here, it is all good. I usually just twist till I get some movement at the bottom, you will know when it happens, then pull the wire off. As a last resort you can always break the porcelain part of the spark plug off, reach in with some long neck needle nose pliers to remove the broken piece which will have the rubber still attached, blow the hole out with compressed air and then remove the rest of the plug.

The antisieze doesn't always prevent siezed spark plugs, but it does help and as Chris mentioned check for proper torque. His method is a good rule of thumb for gasketed spark plugs, which I am sure you have. It is easy to over torque them and under torquing can be just as bad. The spark plugs loosen off, then compression blows them out of the hole usually taking some of the cylinder head threads with it.

Thanks guys, I don't have a torque wrench, funny I didn't pick one up back when I was a MAC Tools rep. A friend of mine said to start them with your fingers so that you don't mess up the threads. Also, I plan to snug them up finger tight, then use the socket wrench to snug them up a little more, but not crank on them.

Funny thing is, in thinking back, I don't think the plugs or wires have ever been changed, and it has been running good up until lately.

130K miles on a 95, not bad.... I may drop some injector cleaner in the gas as well.