3rd Gen Tacoma Spark Plug Replacement.

No worries. I think I can get my truck into the garage tomorrow and film the procedure. Thanks for bugging me.

 

About to order my plugs, anyone know if there is going to be a difference *in performance* between the quoted .031 in the manual vs rock auto which is showing .032 gap? I'd assume not since they are the same part # as the OEM plugs. I will just gap them anyway.

Edit: Rockauto doesn't ship to Denver for tax reasons

 

Yes, it's .001 different.

Edit: but I'd think that was a typo based on part# matching

 

I ordered them anyway. I checked the gap before I installed them and they were the right ones. That was 45k miles ago, still running strong

 

Crap. I knew I'd have to go back out for something

 

My nearest Toyota dealer is 1-3/4 hours away and they said it would be $325 to switch out the plugs so with help from the OPs photos and instructions I was able to do the job myself fairly easily. The toughest part was disconnecting the wiring connector from the coils. One thing I might add is that you don't have to remove the black brackets. Just remove the upper bolts and loosen the lower ones about 2 turns. Then the top of brackets will easily pivot out of the way. I ended up dropping my socket and universal so I had to remove the drivers side front wheel, which made accessing the lower bracket bolts a bit easier. Now just the tranny fluid replacement to do and my 60K mi service is done.
Thanks OP for your photos and info.

 

I just did mine today. Taking my time it took 2 hrs. 20 mins passenger and 1 hr and 40 mins driver.

I used:
18” of 3/8” extension
Pliers
Flat head
Pick tool
10 mm socket
12 mm socket

I only removed the lid of the air box a few connectors and the top bolt of the left bracket. I did have to unclip a few lines.

 

Nice, I should work on this myself this weekend. I already got some beer

 

OEM plugs? How was the gap from them

 

Yeah OEM plugs. They were exactly on spec.

 

Decided to get this done tonight and thanks to all the tips here it only took 1.5 hrs. I could reach everything with extensions and a wobble. Like the prior comments I only got the top of the airbox out of the way, removed no brackets except the one on the passenger side that's over one of the plugs, and a few hoses/connectors. Thanks TW!

 

Glad it went well. I figured I'd try to give back a little too. Does anyone know why our plugs are only good for 60k miles rather than 100k miles like most iridium plugs? My wife's Honda CRV, and family's Acura ILX and RDX are good until 100k miles with iridium plugs.

 

Use to be less, but here is a thread for your reading if you want to see other thoughts:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ging-spark-plugs-so-soon-30-000-miles.333774/

 

If you check the asterisk on the maintenance guide, it states something about it being an EPA/emissions compliance thing.

Which they CAN legally void your warranty for not following the 60k schedule. Not saying that they would, but I've seen it happen on other makes with EPA compliance items

 

People pay the dealer to do that stuff? Wow. I pulled my plugs at 75,000 miles and they were clean and right on for gap - so back in they went!

 

Yep, ended up having them changed around 99k I think... don’t really remember but I did have the dealership do it.

 

the 60k replacement is bullshit. Even my local dealer says they won’t change them until 100k.

I’m at 96k and will change mine soon. You are pissing money into the wind if you change them at 60k and even worse if you pay the dealer to do it.

 

I took the intake off. Really wasn't that bad. Just one of those deals where if you know what you're looking at, makes it go quick. Took me about two hrs. Next time it'll probably take me about an hour.


70k

 

Depends on which iridium plug is used
https://www.sparkplugs.com/learning-center/article/129/how-long-will-my-iridium-spark-plugs-last

 

Ok