Help! Spark plug wires stuck on distributor - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

wc1972 · 05-25-2011, 06:39 PM

I have a 99 camry with 130K miles. In the past years, it always started rough in humid weather, like after showers. I changed the spark plugs to NGK G-power, it might helped a little.

To really tackle the problem, I bought NGK TE58 spark plug wires to replace the one on the car, which I believe is the original one. When I tried to pull the wire boot from the distributor, I used a screwdriver to push the pin on the boot, but the pin would not give. It appeared to stuck on the distributor.

Could you tell me a way to loosen the wire and take it off the distributor? The car is 99 camry with four cylinders. Thanks.

pmesfun · 05-25-2011, 07:50 PM

Try pushing down then pop the clip off.

wc1972 · 05-25-2011, 08:05 PM

Will let you know.

wc1972 · 05-26-2011, 08:53 AM

Tried to push it down, but it would not move a bit. Are there some special tricks to remove the wire? What kind of screw driver should I use? Should I push on the pin while pulling the wire/boot?

Desperately need help! Local garage want $50 to replace them (I provide wires), hard to swallow as I paid only $3o for the NGK wires.

wc1972 · 05-26-2011, 09:50 AM

I just checked the Hyanes Repair Manual. On the manual, it said that in order to disconnect from the coil pack, a small screwdriver should be used to release the locking claw from the boot protector. That is all!

How small should the screwdriver be? Should the screwdriver be pushed down, or laterally to the boot?
Still confusing.

Mike Gerber · 05-26-2011, 03:18 PM

I don't remember the wires on my generation 4 Camry, but look at the tab on your new set of wires. Try moving the tab on those wires to determine how it releases from the coil packs. That should show you how to release them.

Mike

wc1972 · 05-27-2011, 08:19 AM

Thank you a lot, Mike Gerber. I looked at the photos of ignition coils online and got some ideas.

It turned out that the "locking claw" needs to be pushed outwards from the bottom edge of the boot in order to be released. Done with a small screwdriver within 10 minutes.

$50 saved, years ahead without worrying about the wires.

Mike Gerber · 05-27-2011, 08:24 PM

Glad it worked out for you. $50 to put 4 plug wires on is criminal.

Mike

wc1972 · 05-27-2011, 08:37 PM

It is kind of hard for me to say of my feeling for that guy. A few weeks ago, he put an oxygen sensor on for me, charging me $50. It took him literally five minutes to do it, although he did check and cleared the codes (which I could clear myself). On the other hand, two other garages asked $100 for the same work.

It was, of course, before I knew where the sensor is located.