Solved: Needed help - 30k spark plug change and truck will not start - 2014 V6

Solved Update:

Changed my spark plugs and the truck would not start. Replacing the failing OEM battery was the solution. Maybe it was bad timing as the OEM battery was 2.5 years old. I applied dielectric grease improperly and got some on the spark plug connector. I cleaned the plugs and boots reinstalled them and installed a new battery. I'm back on the road. Thanks TW.

Original post:
Changing my spark plugs at 30K miles and I have made a rookie mistake somewhere.

I changed each plug one at a time using Denso OEM plugs and torqued them each at 15 ft#. I added anti seize and a dab of dielectric grease to each plug and torqued the coils at 7.5ft#

Reconnected the electrical connectors well and snapped them in place.

The dash display flickered and I can hear a very faint "groan" like she's not happy.

No joy turning the key. I get nothing but a few dash lights. I checked the battery voltage and it reads 12.38V.

Any help or ideas while I go through it all again? I'm pretty bummed as I really went slow and focused on the job.

Maybe too much dielectric grease?

I am stumped at this point.

Thanks for any assists.

 

Have someone measure the voltage while cranking, sounds like a battery issue and you're just being super cautious.

 

You did the plugs one at a time? My guess would have been you mixed the wires up, but that doesn't sound like the case... I've never use the grease before so I can't comment on that. Good luck man

 

Does the engine turn over? How many times did you try? Did you disconnect the battery while doing the plugs? I doubt you mixed the wires as they are specifics length going to each coil.

 

this is just a thought.. but where did you put the di- electric grease? di electric means it does NOT conduct.. Meaning you DO NOT put it on any connections. It is there to prevent track over and leakage from dirt and contaminants. So you only put a very small amount around the edges of the plug wires, being careful to make sure none gets on the actual connection.....

 

Battery reads 5.5v when the key is turned then back to 12.4V at rest. I

did them one at a time and don't think I could have mixed the wires up. They are set lengths.

I just went through all six and retorqued etc.

No change. This sux.

 

so its not turning over at all? make sure your battery connections are tight

 

Doesn't turn at all. It's an electrical issue seems like.

@Lthompson I think I may have applied the grease wrong.

Pulling them out and cleaning them.

 

Doesn't turn over at all has zero relation to spark plugs.

 

Yeah I originally thought it was turning over but not starting,, ie no spark. If its not turning at all, you got a battery/electrical issue. Try jumping it

 

Battery should not go below 9v at cranking. Prove the problem with a test, a jump or a known good.

 

Sounds like your battery is dead. Bad plugs/plug wire connections won't prevent cranking. Per above, see if you can jump start it. If automatic, make sure it's in Park.

 

Did you have the key "on" or in accessory while you were swapping plugs by chance? That would explain it if it is a weak battery.

I killed the battery in my Outback once because I was listening to music while I was replacing carpet.

 

I had been driving mine around fine and I took it to the dealer one morning for some work, Right after I left, they called and said my truck wouldn't start. The remote wouldn't even unlock the doors. Just all of the sudden after no issues at all.. I was like "are you in the right truck" It was odd.. I went back,, twisted the cable connections on the battery posts.. Turns out they were slightly loose.. Started fine after that. Battery could be bad.. could just have a bad connection.

 

Battery was disconnected while swapping plugs and it was fine up until this job.

The
battery connection is good.

If I applied the grease wrong would the computer not see a good connection to each plug and not allow it to start?

It's pouring rain and really hot outside. So please excuse any typos.

I'm on my iphone.

 

I agree with others, sounds like a battery problem. Make sure your terminals are tight...

 

As everyone stated, you can grease the hell out of the sparkplug connection but the computer doesn't read it. It would still crank but not actually start. Stupid idea but had to do it a lot on my jeep. Put truck in neutral if positive it's not the battery then try to start it. My neutral safety switch was a tricky bitch and thought the jeep was in R when it was t engaged all the way so if rock it or put in in Neutral

 

OP, I'm assuming the engine does not turn over when you turn the key to start it - correct? If so, chances are your battery is discharged or has gone bad. As others have said, try jumping it and see if it starts. If it turns over but does not start clean the areas where you applied the dielectric grease and try again.

While your battery is only two years old it's not impossible for it to have gone bad. Hot weather is one of the hardest things on a battery. In any case, a battery charger is a handy thing to own and they're not terribly expensive. Might be a good time to invest in one. Use the money you saved doing the plugs yourself.

 

Any chance the engine is locked up? Something fall inside the cylinder head?

 

Dude just try a jump start. Fast easy and cheap to eliminate a likely problem. Stop asking more questions and go try it.