Getting to spark plugs

[dermusikman]

I should start out by saying I'm a novice. I've ingested the "Auto Repair for Dummies" book and looked over enough shoulders to have the confidence to check and gap spark plugs, though. So I expectantly took off the plastic shielding over the engine, was pleased to recognize most of what I saw, and disappointed to see the spark plugs behind the intake manifold!

I've been warned that removing the head on a car like this is STRICTLY for professionals, so I'm scared to touch that intake manifold - though I'd think that air is air and it wouldn't be a problem. Is that safe to do? How else might I get to the spark plugs? It's a 2000, if that makes a difference.

It's not idling terribly, so this is a low priority thing. (exhaust, o2 sensor, and fan controls take priority.) but I'd like to know for sure when the time finally comes - which I hope to be sooner than later.

[wawalker]

The plugs are angled in the head, so that you can remove them w/o taking apart the intake manifold--all you need is an extension(s) that is/are long enough. The wires are fragile, so you will want to replace them at the same time--not very often does someone just do the plugs and not end up w/ a bad wire misfire. Put some anti-sieze on the plug threads and some dielectric grease in the plug boots--you'll thank yourself for this next time.

[huck731]

i just did my plugs not that long ago, yes i took the head off, yes i used the old wires. I have had abo****ly no problems, jstu be sure to get all the bolts back in tight, adn there is a bolt or 2 on the back of the manifold that is hard to get at, but it can be done with only a socket. if you do remove the monifold. get a new gasket. and if it makes you feel better, new plug wires to. i didnt get wires becuase i was on a budget.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by huck731

i just did my plugs not that long ago, yes i took the head off, yes i used the old wires. I have had abo****ly no problems, jstu be sure to get all the bolts back in tight, adn there is a bolt or 2 on the back of the manifold that is hard to get at, but it can be done with only a socket. if you do remove the monifold. get a new gasket. and if it makes you feel better, new plug wires to. i didnt get wires becuase i was on a budget.

You pulled the head off to change spark plugs?

[archiebug]

You dont need to remove anything except the leads to do the plugs!!! What a waste of time removing the inlet manifold to change em, talk about turning a 10minute job into several hours!

Also providing you pull the leads off using the metal boot you wont damage them! I our '00 bugs plugs a little while ago - its running perfectly and still on its original leads at 62k

[huck731]

i ment to say manifold there. I dont have the special plug wire puller thing. i did the job with some torx wrenches and a socket wrench. i could have done the job without pulling the manifold if i could have gotten to the 3rd plug from the left, thats the only reason i needed to pull the manifold.

[dermusikman]

thanks for the tips! i'm shocked to find that as HARD as these NBs are reputed to be to work on, typical maintenance stuff sounds remarkably straight forward. (as long as the snap pieces don't break, like with my driver's side headlamp - that's gonna be a project!!)

but i'm unclear on wire removal. i'll plan for the worst and get a set of wires when i finally get around to the plugs - but how do you pull them out? thanks for the picture of the tool, but how do you use the tool? is it just a matter of getting a good grip and not yanking from the cord?

[huck731]

pretty much

[middknight1]

there is a boot removal pliers out there that would grab the boot of the wire for the safiest removal possible but it is a pita to get to 2 and 3. when you put the spark plugs back in use a piece of rubber hose that holds the plug for you when you place it back in the engine that way you are not funmbling around with making sure that you do not cross thread and what not.

[Tinplate611]

I formed a spark plug boot removal tool using a wire hanger when I changed the plugs in my wife's 03 NB last month.

I folded the hanger in half across it's width and using pliers, closed up the resulting loops so they fit on either side of the plug wire boot. The loops catch the nubs on each side of the and allow you to pull using the folded middle section of the hanger as a handle.

I was able to remove all 4 boots this way with no damage to the wires. I found that moving the boots out of the way to get to the plug was more of a challenge than removal/install of the plug itself.

[archiebug]

I just used long nosed pliers to get my plug leads off

[huck731]

Originally Posted by Tinplate611

I formed a spark plug boot removal tool using a wire hanger when I changed the plugs in my wife's 03 NB last month.

I folded the hanger in half across it's width and using pliers, closed up the resulting loops so they fit on either side of the plug wire boot. The loops catch the nubs on each side of the and allow you to pull using the folded middle section of the hanger as a handle.

I was able to remove all 4 boots this way with no damage to the wires. I found that moving the boots out of the way to get to the plug was more of a challenge than removal/install of the plug itself.

I did the same exact thing when i changed plugs on my moms 95 jetta

[dermusikman]

been suffering a couple days of wet weather, and haven't had the chance to do any work. stupid St. Louis!!

learned i'll have to buy or borrow a couple parts, like the special spark plug socket! thankfully figured that out before i got under the hood.

but i was shopping the spark plugs at Walmart, and noticed the Bosch Platinum 2 explicitly say "Do Not Gap!" my "Auto Repair for Dummies" book suggests at least checking pre-gapped plugs - is this an exception? i notice it has two side electrodes... has anyone used these? worth the (couple extra) bucks? reliable?