How To: Spark Plug Change (1 GR-FE)

I didn't read through all 96 pages but has anyone replaced their coil packs?

 

I just changed mine Sunday and had no problems. It idled a little rough, but cleared right up. I think that was Do to the Throttle Body cleaner.

 

Changed mine couple weeks ago. No problems like You are describing.

 

If it's running good now I wouldn't worry.

 

Did this a few weeks ago but I guess I did short cuts as I did not remove the air filter intake but just pushed it out of the way and also did not remove the bracket on the driver side. I did however disconnected one side of a vent hose on that side. I did use a wobble extension as well. Also used anti-seize on the new plugs and even used some dielectric grease on the boots. Denso plugs gapped at .040. Maybe an hour or less for both sides but I have done this a couple of times before on other 1GRF's. As others have stated, the NGK had bigger gaps than the Denso's.

 

I'm just wondering about the brain

 

You could always disconnect the negative battery terminal for the minimum of 10 minutes and let it reboot. Like I mentioned if the drive quality is as good or better, I would leave it.

 

I want to thank Chris for this thread. I've owned my 2011 DCSB 4x4 for about 6 months and I'm just getting around to a plug change. I felt it needed it as the truck felt sluggish. Truck has 189,000 miles on it and the first owner kept really good care of it, all service was done at the dealership but the records didn't show a plug change. Well, I found out today that it still had the factory plugs. Truck runs so much better now. I used the Denso plug. Here's a pic.

 

Another big thanks to the OP! I just did this after taking my truck to the dealership for the 120k maintenance. They wanted something like $260 to change the plugs. No f'ing way! I had them do the fuel system cleaning, and I took care of the filters and plug change myself.

This was my first time to do a plug change on the Tacoma, but it was one of the easiest things I've done to it. Took a little over an hour, and that includes searching on the ground for the engine cover nuts that went flying when my wife decided to help me by "cleaning off" the rubber mat they were sitting on. Bless her heart. She was only trying to help, and luckily we found both of them!

Anyway, I was surprised to find:
1. Factory setup on my plugs. Either the dealership did them the same as the factory before I bought the truck (I've put about 55k on it since buying it used), or these have never been replaced in 154k miles
2. Oil on the driver's side plug nearest the firewall. Did some searching and found that's apparently a common thing. Weird, but glad I'm not the only one!
3. This is ridiculously easy to do yourself assuming you have a few basic tools.
4. The spark plug socket was a fantastic investment.

Overall great experience, and excellent writeup by the OP!!!

 

Thanks for the great write up!

 

2nd change. Don't use anti-seize if your doing it every 30,000. Mine came out real easy and I didn't use it the first change. One with oil. No worries.

 

I bought my 2010 tacoma with 13K miles on it a few weeks ago now and have some new spark plugs coming in today for it. I love finding these nice write ups and DIYs on simple stuff like this. Makes it that much easier when you go to replace them.

I dont think the plugs have any issues, but the truck did sit for more of its life than being driven so not sure what kind of corrosion (if any) there is. So I might as well replace them with Iridium plugs and not worry about it for a while. I am also hoping that it might improve MPG, but doubtful.

 

Changed my plugs last night, passenger side had Denso's and Driver side was NGK like everyone else has posted. Still cant figure out why they would use 2 different brands.

The Densos were worn to .048 and the NGK's were .051

I disconnected the battery before the change, and when I started the truck up, it reved up like normal but went past where it usually did then shut off??? I turned it back on and drove it and it was fine. It does seem to idle at a lower RPM though. Also shifts smoother. Just seemed strange that it shut off like that.

 

It's normal for the truck to do that after the battery has been disconnected.

 

Just got through changing my plugs
This write up was perfect
First time I've ever changed spark Plugs took me 1hr 15 min
I love TW

 

Did my first DIY spark plug change at 89,900 miles. I had been bringing to the local repair shop but with TW help and motivation to save $250 in labor, the change was easy. The driver's side was definitely a little more time consuming with less space so I did it first. Thanks very much for all your tips!

My favorite new tool was a swivel spark plug socket. It really helped with the tight spaces on the driver's side.

$10 GEARWRENCH 3/8" Drive 6 Pt. 5/8" x 6" Magnetic Swivel Spark Plug Socket - 80546

https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-8...2298&sr=8-1&keywords=swivel+spark+plug+socket

Here are the old plugs with about 30,000 miles on them. Gaps ranged from .046-.048.

 

Just bought a 2010 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner dual cab with 100k miles in it, since i have no idea when the spark plug was replaced so Ive decided to just change it.
Did some research about having 2 different brand spark plugs and they said that it was actually done by Toyota factory. If this was the original plugs I think it was
pretty amazing that the old spark plugs was actually not that bad as far as the engine was running. But I only noticed the some difference when I test drove the truck with a set of NGK iridium plugs gapped at .041, the engine is more responsive, it accelerate better. heres a picture of my old plugs, by the way old plugs gaps have expanded to .050 + the old plugs are denso and ngk,
1 type each bank.

 

I don't post hardly at all, but I do lurk. Had to chime in here though. I have changed spark plugs before but not on a Tacoma. 60,209 miles, first change. Took me 1 hour and 40 minutes on the nose, working slowly and methodically. It will go much faster next time. This write up is outstanding, thanks for posting it.

 

Thank you OP for the write up. My truck is sitting at 39.5K on the button but my stock plugs looked beat. Took me about 1 1/2 hrs or so working by myself.

 

Thanks for the write up!

Another with NGK and Denso despite the dealer swearing they did the 30K mile maintenance (I'm at ~40K). Parts counter person has been there for over 15 years and never ever seen an NGK on the shelf..... much less sold one! Why do Toyota dealers have to lie! The Tacoma sells itself! Seriously who ever turned down a sale over spark plugs?

Followed steps out lined but did not remove snorkel, just the box and hose.

Would have taken ~30-45 minutes but the danged rubber insert in the socket got stuck on a plug. I couldn't figure why the coil wouldn't seat! Had to go fashion a hook to fish it out. Be smart and lube the inside of the rubber grommet in the socket!

Still maybe an hour start to finish. I had gapped the plugs previously so not included in time.

Attached is compulsory photo! They look ok to me for 40K miles on a 2013. Let's see if that knock is gone now.

Thanks again,