Plenum removal intake manifold - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

grump78 · 10-30-2008, 02:56 PM

Hello all, I am new to this group and relatively new to working on my vehicle. My question is I have a 99 V6 Camry and want to change the spark plugs. The front 3 are a piece of cake but it looks like to change the rear 3 I need to remove the plenum to get to them. In attempting that I have 2 nuts that look like they take an Allen wrench and are circular but seem like they are put there to stay. My question is do I need to remove those two and is there a trick to gettin them off? Also It seems as though I also need to remove the 2 screws attached to the brace in the rear of the plenum. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tim

bigbird · 10-30-2008, 04:33 PM

yes sir, both thoes allen bolts need to be removed as well as the brace in the rear.

chullen · 10-31-2008, 01:12 AM

you don't need to remove the plenum. It is a bitch I know but is easily done even though it takes a bit of squeezing and I have big hands and do it all the time. You have rear coils or wires? If wires pull the wires and go from the passenger side. Remove the PCV valve, and go through that way. then get a small extension like a 3 inch and a long spark plug removal socket and a 3/8" ratchet. you may also want to have a short spark plug removal socket on hand to get the last plug. If you do it this way, you never need to take the plenum off unless you are changing the rear valve cover if you need to meet up and have me show I can do that also

bronzemaxell · 10-31-2008, 09:15 AM

if all you need to do is to change spark plug on v6 rear bank, unless your rear valve cover gasket is leaking, you don't need to remove intake plenum manifold, what you need are multiple 3/8" extension in difference sizes, like 3", 6", 8", save a lot of time and metal gaskets.
i've done a few v6 rear bank spark plugs from top of the intake plenum manifold with any problem, a 30 minutes to 45 minutes job.

to remove the intake plenum manifold, u will need a metric #10 hex bit, and an extension bar, make sure the bit goes all the way, other wise, you may strip or round the bolt.

grump78 · 10-31-2008, 10:38 AM

Okay thanks guys, first to answer your question Chullen yes I did remove the hose from the PCV valve and moved the three wires from the front 3 banks that run to the rear 3 out of the way but even still I was only able to remove the boot off of the plug nearest to me(approaching from the driver's side). If you could show me how you are doing this yes that would be great appreciated.

Tim

chullen · 10-31-2008, 10:44 AM

yeah that is no problem I will make a diy tommorrow and post it up for you before i go to work also try approaching from the passenger side you don't need to pulll the wires off the coils just let them hang if all you are doing is changing the spark plugs

bigbird · 10-31-2008, 03:05 PM

considering how easy(for me at least) it is to remove the plenum(not take it all the way off). ive found it MUCH easier to just do it that way. but thats me, ive done it both ways and thats what works best for me.

chullen · 11-01-2008, 12:16 PM

I will still be making a DIY but not till monday on my day off work alot this weekend and a super long shift on sunday

Phantom_TRD · 11-01-2008, 12:50 PM

Gah, One of the hardest cars I've done a spark plug change on . Although I've always had inline 6's or 4 cyc. cars , so

. If you do loosen or remove the intake , isn't their a gasket that needs to be replaced ? I did it from above passenger side, it just takes many odd extensions ,bizarre body positioning,blood,sweat and some tears . My neighbors must have thought some odd things watching me go at it

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