Pulling the intake manifold on a 1MZ-FE

[fubar]

Hi everyone,

I was trying to change the spark plugs on my 2k1 Camry V6 and I noticed that the rear bank of plugs was hidden UNDERNEATH the intake manifold.

Unless someone has a magical tool that allows the removal of deeply recessed spark plugs in awkward locations, I'm going to assume pulling the intake manifold is necessary.

Would pulling the intake manifold require the removal of the fuel rails? (If it does, is there a flexible section of the fuel line near by that would let me move the whole thing out of the way rather than de-pressurize and remove it?)

Thanks everyone!
PS: Sorry for the post below, I have no idea why that happened. I pressed the submit button and it froze, so I cut/pasted the message and it posted twice. Please delete the blank duplicate post (the board gives me no options buttons on that post).

[Eye8Pussies]

yeahhhhh......basically, everybody just takes their car to the shop, cuz you CAN reach around, but you'll get all cute/scratched up...

[zoni]

i did the engine swap and put a 1mz in and forgot to change the plugs until i had the damn thing in there... so i had to do it with the engine in the car. the passengerside far right plug is accessable, but the rest arent. what I did was unbolt the rear engine mount, and jack the motor up, so i had more clearance in the rear of the intake manifold, cause there was NO way i was takin that thing off... but i didnt have my axles in the wheels yet, i dunno if you can get it up too far with the axles in the hubs and everything... so i guess you gotta take the manifold off... go for it! have fun! get a haynes manual and do it. its not TOO hard, but give it some time when you do it. make sure you tape and label the hoses... they can be a bitch to figure out later when you put them back together.

[Nick]

i did it 2 years ago, lets see what i can remmeber (on a 92 camry, but its pretty much the same)

the egr and the intake pleanum stay are the biggest pains, i bent them trying to put the pleanum back on, and it took 2 ppl with ropes and lumber to bend them back, i actually bent the egr pipe down, so i stuck an allen key in there and pried it back up

you'll have to undo the fuel connection on the intake pleanum, just put a rag over the ratchet so that you don't get fuel squirted in your eyes

i can't remember if the fuel rails have to be taken out, but i think you can get around it

oh and some people with lots of extensions and flexes have actually done this without taking the intake pleanum off

[kenny1773]

It is possible to change plugs without removing the intake.

I used a universal joint inbetween two extrensions and a swivel head 3/8" rachet.

It was possible to bend around and get to the plugs in the back with a little effort.

Replacing all six plugs my first time in a 1995 V6 LE took me about 45 minutes.

I am not a mechanic, I don't have super car skills and I did not think this was hard.

[fubar]

How long of an extension would I need? Like a 6" and a 12"? or two 12"'s?

Thanks!

[jackfrost1031]

not a 1mz-fe, but on my 2vz-fe I could do it with the use of two extenions, one about 2 in and one about 6. I couldn't use my large extension because it was just too damn big. Reaching my hand in wasn't hard, and I just slipped the ratchet to my hand between the firewall and intake. Once your arms under the intake, there's a descent amount of room to move it, at least on my 2vz. Leaning over hte drivers side fender I got two plugs, and moved to the other side to get the third plug.

hope that helps some

[kenny1773]

I can not remember exactly, I know it was NOT a 12"

Maybe two 6" or one 6" and one 4", once I figured it out it worked quite nicely, that much I remember.

[fubar]

I used a 4 inch extension, u-joint, 8 inch extension into a 3/8 ratchet (in that order). I can't find a position where the wrench can turn (the angle is too sharp for the u-joint to move).

Am I just doing this wrong (or is the manifold on the 1MZ-FE somehow different)?

Thanks everyone!!

[I4 to V6 Swap]

My roommate found a tool that was a socket for the sparkplug, with a couple of U-joints, and a T at the top to grip. It is just long enough to reach the plugs, and just short enough to fit to get the plugs. I asked him why he got it, and he said it was for all our cars, specifically mine because it was such a small area.

[fubar]

Hi everyone,

I'd just like to let everyone know that it is indeed possible to change the plugs on a 1MZ-FE equipped Camry without pulling the intake manifold.

Thanks kenny1773 and jackfrost1031 for the advice on using the u-joints, extensions and swivel head ratchet. The hardest was the one on the FAR right nearest the throttle body. Removing the PCV hose and two grounding wires on the passenger side of the intake plenum created enough clearance to squeeze my hand in to position the ratchet.

Maybe we should put this into an FAQ somewhere?

Again, thanks a lot everyone!!

[2wickedtoyz]

i have 6 coil paks on mine i had to disconnect them first then unbolt them then pull them out that my friend was the hardest part.

[fubar]

Six coil packs?! What kind of engine was that?

[zoni]

1mzfe fool... 6 spark plugs with a pack on each one...

[2wickedtoyz]

yeah and i like it all i do is buy plugs no wires,cap,or rotors. that's why i'm doing the same for my 3tc