[CrawlingEye]

I just went to change my plugs to the set of NGK V-Powers that I've had sitting around for a while, and as I was pulling my barely 4 month old set of bosch wires off the plugs (after giving it the required 1/4 turn to break the seal) the boot started falling apart (the top piece came off the boot itself), so I grabbed 'em with my needle nose pliers lightly by the boot itself (plastic part) and pulled.

Cyl 1 was fine, Cyl 2 was fine, but Cyl 3 the bottom part of the boot itself actually detached the seal that goes around the plug itself on the plug, so now I have to try and figure out a way to remove it from the boot, any suggestions guys?

Thanks...

 

[victor]

use a long screw driver and pry the rubber part out. careful no to nick the tube. good luck. it happened to me also.

 

[CrawlingEye]

use a long screw driver and pry the rubber part out. careful no to nick the tube. good luck. it happened to me also.

tried that, it's not budging.

 

[victor]

sorry, but good luck anyway.

 

[CrawlingEye]

Just called my usual shop and I can't take it down due to flooding from Ivan, but that they would try a coat hanger or flat head, I think I'm going to try a coat hanger and see if that works any better.

 

[victor]

do you have long nose pliers??? if your pair is long enough, you might be able to pluck it out. i'm sure if you keep at it, it'll come out. it's just frustrating, at least mine was.

 

[amerikim]

I used a coat hanger that i shaped into a hook. Tried using super glue on the end of a thin stick but the glue didnt hold. I couldnt find a pair of needle nose long and thin enough to get down there. The coat hanger was the only thing that worked with determination, sweat and a back that hurt from all the weird angles.
Thanks for the warning about the Bosch wires. I was considering them next payday. We should have a sticky on dangerous stuff we shouldn't buy. Looks like I will order the NGKs.

 

[CrawlingEye]

I used a coat hanger that i shaped into a hook. Tried using super glue on the end of a thin stick but the glue didnt hold. I couldnt find a pair of needle nose long and thin enough to get down there. The coat hanger was the only thing that worked with determination, sweat and a back that hurt from all the weird angles.
Thanks for the warning about the Bosch wires. I was considering them next payday. We should have a sticky on dangerous stuff we shouldn't buy. Looks like I will order the NGKs.

Well, Bosch will give me a free pair for these since they come with the lifetime warranty, but I'm going to place a HIGH priority on the magnecore wires now, as I'm already tired of this. All this work and I've only gotten half of the piece out. I just went to Sears to get a new flathead screwdriver to work with too. I've been working at it with a piece of a hanger and the screwdriver with a flashlight for a couple hours now. It's really a pain in the ass.

 

[Bishop13]

That sucks, that happens to me everytime I pull out the #4 wire. I've tried the super glue thing and the hanger thing, but the best solution is to use the hanger, somehow sharpen the tip to as close to a very fine point as possible then angle it 90 degress at around 1 cm from the tip. Lower the hanger down and pierce the boot and slowly lift up and out, like fishing...it might accidentally scratch the sides tho, so I suggest piercing the spark plug portion as spark plugs are easier to replace

 

[ripley's99]

well, i have heard nothing but bad things about bosch plugs & wires, so the trouble you're having doesn't really surprise me too much.

i got a set of the magnecor wires for my 5SFE and they are great. here is a photo of them in my engine bay and one pic to show the comparison in size from stock.

Keri

 

[CrawlingEye]

Nice, Keri. I think the Magnecore wires will be on my short list of things to get.

I just got done changing over to the NGK plugs after cutting a coat hanger and bending it. After the 3rd Cyl finally was clear, the 4th Cyl had the same problem, luckily it only took me about 5 minutes to fish that one out, I guess all the experience with the previous Cyl finally paid off.

Now driving around with the NGK V-Power's in, there's definitely a lot smoother of acceleration and quicker throttle response. I'll say they were well worth the $7.80 I paid for the set of 'em.

I'm driving around right now with 2 Cyl not having seals around the bottom of the boots, I'm fine with driving like this for a couple days until I can get my new wire set. My next wire set I pay for will definitely be the Magnecores though. Today was complete bullshit and time simply wasted.

Edit: I'd like to mention that my old plugs were Bosch Platinum +4's, incase anyone's wondering which plug works better on a 5SFE, the V-powers seem to work a lot better.

 

[amerikim]

LOL, when that happened to me, I wrapped insulation tape around the end of the cap to form a crude seal until I got a replacement rubber. I figured something was better than nothing.

Magnecor's prices seem a little high , but that's my thoughts. NGK Premium wire set 9436 TE42 Wire set includes coil wire $81.30, is a little high already but I can't find Magnecor at better.

Any recommendations for Distributor and Rotor though?

 

[CrawlingEye]

LOL, when that happened to me, I wrapped insulation tape around the end of the cap to form a crude seal until I got a replacement rubber. I figured something was better than nothing.

Magnecor's prices seem a little high , but that's my thoughts. NGK Premium wire set 9436 TE42 Wire set includes coil wire $81.30, is a little high already but I can't find Magnecor at better.

Any recommendations for Distributor and Rotor though?

MSD makes distributors, although I can't say they make one for the 5SFE's. You'd have to give 'em a call.

I haven't changed the cap and rotor yet though.

 

[cam2Xrunner]

Why didn't you use the platinums? Or did you? Thats what is reccomended for your camry. http://www.toyotaparts4u.com/e_catalog/part_detail.asp?ID=486&CID=305&SID=1993&ZID=53

 

[CrawlingEye]

Why didn't you use the platinums? Or did you? Thats what is reccomended for your camry. http://www.toyotaparts4u.com/e_catalog/part_detail.asp?ID=486&CID=305&SID=1993&ZID=53

V-Power's = platinum

 

[cam2Xrunner]

I'm sorry but v powers aren't platinum. Especially at 8 bucks for all 4. They are closer to 9 bucks each. http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/products/cars_trucks_suvs/vpower.asp?nav=11200&country=US

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/products/cars_trucks_suvs/platinum.asp?nav=11300&country=US

 

[Sundown311]

I would go with iridium plugs
I have NGK IX iridiums and they work great.
F.Y.I.
Iridium

Iridium is a precious metal that is 6 times harder and 8 times stronger than platinum, it has a 1,200(=F) higher melting point than platinum and conducts electricity better. This makes it possible to create the finest wire center electrode ever. Prior till now, platinum had been favored for long life or performance spark plugs due to its high melting point, also the technology did not exist to machine and bond iridium on a spark plug electrode(at least in a cost effective manner). Iridium industrial spark plugs have been around for years, but still sells for over a hundred dollars per plug. Just now is the technology available to effectively use iridium in a spark plug for automotive applications. The strength, hardness and high melting point of iridium allows NGK to manufacture there iridium ultra-fine wire center electrode to 0.7mm. One of the finest firing points in the industry! (Thus far there has been no problems reported regarding use of iridium plugs with nitrous oxide.)

 

[CrawlingEye]

NGK markets the V-Powers as their 'performance plug' and so far they've delivered. I've had no misses and no detonation, plus I've gotten a smoother acceleration and a car feeling much quicker to respond to throttle. I'm happy regardless of the material.