Need Help! Spark Plug removal - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Savio · 09-02-2011, 08:27 PM

Hi all,

I went in today replacing the valve cover gasket and spark plugs and wires. Well, I got the valve cover installed but now I'm only able to change 3 out of the 4 spark plugs.

It seems like the one is the 2nd position from the left, is somehow longer than all the other spark plugs. I use the same spark plug socket to remove and install the other 3 but the one in the 2nd position is not reaching. I can see that the spark plug is fouled and the top of the spark plug is greyish with threads coming out.

Any ideas on removing or any ideas what is happening would be wonderful. I have about 45 minutes of sunlight left.

Thanks!

Savio · 09-02-2011, 08:54 PM

here's a picture:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

***Zembonez*** · 09-02-2011, 09:08 PM

Maybe part of the wire end stayed on the plug? Hard to tell looking at that pic. Look in the end of the wire and see if the socket portion is still there that clips on the spark plug.

97ToyCar · 09-02-2011, 09:35 PM

Looks like the carbon conductor broke off the end of the wire and stayed put on the plug. Well, no worries, I've had that happen to me too. Just take a long pair of needle nose pliers, and get down there and pull off whats left of the connector, then remove spark plug as per usual. Make sure the socket you are using has a rubber insert. Since the 5SFE uses the double electrode plugs, no gapping is needed. Coat the threads with a little copper based antiseize, then install. I like to thread them in by hand, turn until they stop, then just a tinch more, and I leave them alone. Never had one pop out, ever.

cmryhldr · 09-03-2011, 08:57 AM

I had this same problem a few weeks back on a '99 4runner v-6. I could not get any needle nose pliers on the connector due to space limitations. I took a deep well 5/8 socket ( no rubber insert) and taped it to a long extension to be sure I could pull the socket back out of the hole if I needed to. Then I gently tapped on the end of the extension with a hammer and crushed the connector enough that the socket would engage the flats on the spark plug and removed the plug. Had to get a magnet to pull the plug out of the hole after it was loose.
cmryhldr

Savio · 09-03-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmryhldr

I had this same problem a few weeks back on a '99 4runner v-6. I could not get any needle nose pliers on the connector due to space limitations. I took a deep well 5/8 socket ( no rubber insert) and taped it to a long extension to be sure I could pull the socket back out of the hole if I needed to. Then I gently tapped on the end of the extension with a hammer and crushed the connector enough that the socket would engage the flats on the spark plug and removed the plug. Had to get a magnet to pull the plug out of the hole after it was loose.
cmryhldr

I thought about doing that but do not want any broken pieces of the spark plug going into the cylinder. I'm going to try to buy long needle nose pliers to pull it off (Crescent Double-X Long Nose Pliers PSX200C). Sears doesn't open until 10am

cmryhldr · 09-03-2011, 09:58 AM

I should have been more detailed in my earlier post. I used a 1/2 inch drive 5/8 deep well socket. It is almost 1 inch deeper than the 3/8 drive spark plug socket. By using the 1/2 drive socket you don't have to crush the connector very much.
cmryhldr

cmryhldr · 09-03-2011, 10:36 AM

Here is a photo. From left to right: 3/8 drive spark plug socket; 1'2" drive deep socket and the plug and connector that were causing the problem/

EEngineer · 09-03-2011, 11:02 AM

Congrats! Problem solved

carsrus · 09-03-2011, 11:14 AM

If nothing works out go to napa, they have a pair of needle nose jsut for this. I paid 23$ for them when this happened to me......... But theyve been a pretty good addition to the tool box.

Savio · 09-03-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carsrus

If nothing works out go to napa, they have a pair of needle nose jsut for this. I paid 23$ for them when this happened to me......... But theyve been a pretty good addition to the tool box.

Thank you all for your responses. I was able to get it out with the help of 11" long needle nose pliers from Harbor Freight. They were only 6 bucks and gave me some piece of mind.

http://www.harborfreight.com/11-inch...aws-39538.html

Those pliers were 3/4" in width which was perfect for the 1" spark plug cylinder. It gave me enough room to open it up and remove.

I have all new NGK IX in now with NGK wires and it's running great! ( still have other issues but good enough for now)

Thanks all!

Savio · 09-03-2011, 12:57 PM

Here is a pic of the culprit and what I used to defeat it

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

***fenixus*** · 09-03-2011, 02:23 PM

glad you fixed it on your own, grats

was just about to suggest using long needle nose pliers, but I see it's all been covered here and case is closed already, nice

btw, I love Pittsburgh tools from HFT

, all of them are so awesome (and so cheap!).

On a side note, it inspired me to visiting the city of Pittsburgh (and visited the Andy Warhol's Museum while there hehe) ... that whole city looks like a giant construction yard, road works everywhere LOL (my GPS got me lost once or twice), no wonders they make such nice tools