Bosch Premium Spark Plug Wires not sitting tight

[fenixus]

I own a 2000 Solara (4-cyl), but am writing here, because all Solara dudes are gone somewhere... 5S-FE engine is same so question should get an answer here as well.

Yesterday I replaced my Denso Platinum+2 spark plugs with new Bosch Platinum+2 and at same time I replaced old (never touched) wires (one ignition coil was looking not right).

and now my observation. all of new coils snapped on the spark plugs, I heard it.
however two of the plastic/rubber casings did not fully get into the spark plug hole - they are not sitting tight.
by looking at engine i can say that wires on cylinders 3 & 4 are sticking out higher than other two (cyl 1 & 2). I tried reseating spark plugs in those cylinders and pressing down those wire plug to no avail. they are always coming out a little more than other two.

what's wrong with that? can it stay like that? any serious risk involved with 2 wires not sitting tight in the spark plug hole? It frustrates me a little, seems like Bosch Wireset is over-advertised ... 10 year old Toyota wires were sitting tighter than new Bosch set ...

thanks for opinions guys.

[uibalnme]

Bosch is garbage. Go get a new set of NGK plugs and wires.

[DxElite]

I've used Bosch plugs and wires for over a year after I bought my car and since it was readily available at Autozone it was just easier. Had no problems with them and car ran better after replacing the old plugs and wires. After learning more about the car, I heard the saying about only using Denso/NGK for jap engines and being new to the game switched over to NGK plugs and wires and it ran just the same, don't really get why people say to only use Denso/NGK for jap engines, I didn't have any problems with Bosch.
Anyways...
The Bosch wires I got sat perfectly like the OEM wires, you might have gotten a bad set. Try exchanging them, I wouldn't risk sand and stuff getting under the boot cover and down the plug shaft.

[fenixus]

thanks for opinions guys. in deed it was a bad set, one of ignition coils (shortest one) got detached from rubber boot (wire was intact) and I think same thing was happening to the other one slightly sticking out (not sitting tight in hole).

just got them replaced in autozone. new set fits perfectly and Bosch Platinum+2 plugs (same as Denso Platinum+2) working great.

although I was in rush so replaced all wires at once, I was able to keep same order of wiring to distr cap, i'm just curious if i kept same way of attaching wires on the last clip (narrow for 2 wires on top, wider for 2 wires on bottom) . can someone please take a pic of wires going through this clip and give distr cap numbers for wires? trying to keep thing in perfect order. thanks a ton.

[DxElite]

Wires going to the coil starting from the front of the car to the rear is 1, 4, 2, 3.
Picture has small white numbered clips on the wires showing the order as well.

[fenixus]

thank you DxElite, that is exactly how I fastened wires to this clip and distr cap (1-4-2-3)
I feel much better. just did a test drive (30 miles each way) on fast highway and all runs great. i think after replacing wires my car accelerates better than before. happy camper here!


EDIT:
one thing is sure, I will never buy plug wires from Bosch again. I wish I went with Duralast (Autozone offers only those 2 brands). Bosch, so good brand (used to be) and so crappy boots on ignition coils, shame. on the other hand their P+2 plugs are OK. I used Denso P+2 for past 3 years, looking exactly same, just replaced them for new Bosch, because simply I could not get Denso P+2 anywhere (out of stock), one store had regular Platinum (1 electrode), but i've read they do no run well with 5S-FE engines.

Didn't know NGK is japanese. will try them next time.

[touringcamry]

What are Platinum+2 plugs? Are they double platinum (platinum chip on the center and side electrodes)?

[DxElite]

You're very welcome fenixus. I have this new camera and I find just about any excuse to use it.

Originally Posted by touringcamry

What are Platinum+2 plugs? Are they double platinum (platinum chip on the center and side electrodes)?

"Platinum+2" is the name of the plug that Bosch plugs use. Basically it breaks down to what type of metal they use for the electrodes followed by how many side electrode prongs there are. Another example: "Copper+", made using copper electrodes with 1 prong.

[fenixus]

yup, that's exactly what i meant. i though other plugs manufacturers use same naming standard ... my bad, anyways Denso I had before were made of Platinum and had 2 electrode prongs (P+2 is shorter LOL)

[touringcamry]

Are the Bosch plugs double platinum? I can assure you that the Denso ones you had were and they had 2 side electrodes because that's what Toyota calls for, not because something Denso came up with. The ignition system in your car is kinda weird in that it fires twice per cycle so the 2 side electrodes and double platinum design are employed to prolong plug life.

You may find that the plugs don't last as long due to erosion if they are not double platinum. Not a huge deal on the 5S-FE though since it can be done in 15 minutes or less.

[fenixus]

yes, as i wrote a few times my Bosch Plugs ARE PLATINUM+2 which is probably Double Platinum in your naming convention ... as they have platinum electrode with TWO prongs. ALSO THEY LOOK SAME AS DENSO PLUGS I HAD IN PAST. i hope it makes it clear.

Pictures of my 3-year old Denso plugs can be seen here. my new Bosch plugs look exactly SAME
white smoke cloud on car start in morning

and here is what i got now:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...h-Platinum%2B2

[touringcamry]

Those Bosch plugs have nickel side electrodes unlikeyour old Denso plugs which have platinum side electrodes. Platinum +2 means 2 side electrodes. Double platinum refers to all electrodes having platinum chips which your Bosch plugs do not.

[fenixus]

oh i see now, excuse my dumbness LOL
well i don't care much since i change them every 30k miles as i did with Denso (whatever this model was named) even though they were rated for 100k miles or so (still got them) and cost me double price of this Bosch plug set.
Bosch ones run same good, no difference what so ever ... either way i will replace them in 30k miles or 3 years tops ... however new wires made the difference, car starts better and accelerates faster now.

anyway, as i said in 30k miles or 3 years i will perform another tune-up and replace wires and plugs again, but next tim ei will try NGK brand. Denso is very hard to get nowadays (3 years ago was no problem).

BTW: Autozone variety of plugs sucks nowadays. they seem not to carry Bosch Double Platinum at all and also best NGK i noticed is Laser-Platinum with 2 electrodes (prongs) but it still says Nickel Ground ...
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...Laser-Platinum

not to mention they do not even have Denso online while local stores have them, just not the 2-electrode tye, they only now have single electrode type and that in maybe 1 out of 3 stores. very sad ...

same about variety of plug wires ... autozone sucks, i think next time i do shopping i will try Advance Auto parts.

Which NGK plugs are good and where do you buy them touringcamry ?

...

ah now i see where I should have been shopping for plugs, advance auto parts have my denso!
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...S_891107059___

and NGK wireset ... no more autozone.

[touringcamry]

I've only ever changed the plugs on my 5S-FE once since I wrecked it at 8x,xxx miles. I replaced the plugs with Denso PK20TR11 at 60000 miles or so.

Those Denso plugs you have a service life of 60000 miles so you're really replacing them prematurely.

NGK Laser Platinums have platinum chips on side electrodes. Those are plugs used at the factory on some vehicles.

[fenixus]

yeah i know i replaced them "before schedule", but since i was replacing the wireset yesterday, i wanted to have new plugs as well and decided to match the plugs brand with wireset brand ... maybe not quite intelligent hehe

anyways needed to check plugs anyways, 3 years ago right after second hand purchase one original plug was in a terrible condition - all covered with thick brown sediment. that same sediment covered inside of spark plug hole and ignition coil. denso plug looked good, but when you look at old (original) wireset in thread i linked above you will see what i mean. i just hope this cylinder is intact and in better condition than the plug hole above it.

and trust me, i wanted denso, it was just impossible to get them in any autozone and i checked 3. since it was late already once i got to the last one, i took bosch instead, just wanted to finish the job (wireset was already installed). i didn't think of checking Advance Auto Parts, my bad...

how do you know that NGK Laser Platinums have platinum electodes? in autozone it just says nickel ground as it says for bosch platinum+2 ... sorry for so many questions, i'm quite a noobie in fixing cars (computer engineer here).

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...Laser-Platinum