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

the is a good video to show spark plugs and removal of engine cover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlctP8RErRw

 

One final question before I try this.. why do you need 2 6" extensions? I have one.

 

To reach the plugs on the driver's side.

 

thats kinda what I was thinking......... Its been awhile since I was in there and figure 2 6" extensions would get ones hands and ratchet above alot of crap in the way

 

Exactly. You can reach the plug with one extension, but no room to move the ratchet with all the crap in the way. I ended up using one 6" and two 3" extensions since that's all I had on me lol.

 

OK, I'm doing this now, and just putting my first new plug in on the passenger side, and the new torque wrench I got from Harbor Freight is NOT clicking. I'm worried about going too tight.

 

fyi, i've done this twice and not used a torque wrench

 

Maybe its just me, but I would not trust a torque wrench from Harbor Freight.

 

the one i bought was dead-on (+/- 1 ft.lb.) compared to a Kobalt and Snap-On.....time will tell if it stays that way

 

I took off the extension, reset the setting, then it worked. And yeah I was hesitant to buy it and read all the reviews, and the general consensus was that it's fine for someone like me who isn't a mechanic and won't be using it every day. I'll only use it once in a blue moon probably.

 

Just changed my plugs today took me bout hour and half with a break, all the old plugs were anywhere from .41 to .53 driver side being the bigger gap.. They were the original ones from 06, had 63,260 miles on them... Truck idles so much smoother now and is much quieter... Hopefully it will help the MPG'S come up some... Very easy job to do.

 

Just cannot get the wiring harness off the first one of the driver's side. Not enough room and both thumbs hurt from pressing down so many times. I even put a flathead on the tab and tried pulling it off and couldn't.

 

or you could just wedge your hang in there (painfully), push on it with a screwdriver, have the screwdriver slip, gouging your hand, and have fucked up, bloody hands.....ya know.....like a man.

 

OK, I'm debating which one to do. So this way would be manly you say?

 

Thanks! Got it.

 

Wedge your hand in there (painfully), push on it with a screwdriver, have the screwdriver slip, gouging your hand, and have fucked up, bloody hands. Wrap it in a shop towel. When SWMBO sees it and screams, calmly say "Think I should go to Kaiser for that?"

When you get to Kaiser and the doc asks what happened, do NOT say "I tried to cut my hand off"... They have no sense of humor. They will slap a 5150 on you so fast your head will spin, then you'll have to turn in your guns until a judge (hopefully you get one with a sense of humor) realizes that you were kidding and rules in your favor.
But you will still get forms from Kaiser for the next 6 weeks asking if you were the victim of a crime, or if it was an injury that might be covered by Workers' Comp....

Geez... When I sliced my arm open working on the Suburban, ALL I SAID was "I got a boo-boo" when the doctor bitch asked me what happened.
"You did this to yourself?"
"Working on my truck, knife slipped"

What a pain in the ass that was.

I hate Kaiser.

 

Yes that front driver side was a pain, even more of a pain to get it back on... I used small flat screwdriver and was able to wiggle it off...

 

Same here, no issues.

I've bought quite a few things from there lately. So far I've only had one tool break. I believe it was . Used it twice and it seized. At least it has a lifetime warranty.

 

Just back it off to zero when you put it away.