HOW TO: Change Spark-Plugs

[RageOfFury]

I just finished swapping out the NGK plugs for Autolite Double Platinum plugs(APP5224). Was quite easy to do. Took me about 30 minutes. I took my time.

Here's how I did it:

1-Disconnected the wiring harness that plugs into the air filter tube and then removed it.

2-Moved the coolant tank out of the way. Was quite easy, unscrewed both 10mm nuts, pulled and moved it to the side sort of.

3-Did 1 spark plug at a time as follows:

-Unscrewed nut that holds down the boot, disconnected wiring harness from boot. Pulled boot out.
-Used compressed air to clean out the hole.
-Removed old spark plug.
-Coated the ceramic of the new plug with dielectric grease.
-Put some anti-seize on the threads.
-Installed new spark plug.
-Cleaned the boot real good and reinstalled it. Tightened the nut down and hooked up the wiring harness to it.

4-After I was done with the passenger side, I reinstalled the coolant tank.
5-When I was done with all 6 plugs, I reinstalled the air filter tube and replugged the wiring harness to it.
6-Started her up and she ran nice and smooth. Idled at 600 rpm.

I went for a 15mile drive afterwards. Nice and smooth. eclipsee_gold_cup.g:

 

[ThunderbirdJunkie]

how will this destroy the plugs using a standard (metal) gapper?

It scrapes off the platinum coating on the electrode(s)

 

[jnaut]

It scrapes off the platinum coating on the electrode(s)

Plus it causes the streams to cross. Never cross the streams.

 

[demille73]

It scrapes off the platinum coating on the electrode(s)

Any ideas where to find a plastic one?
I tried 5 stores and no luck.

 

[rallenm09]

Anyone have any idea why I can't pull out the coil pack? I changed the first spark plug on the driver side easily but went on to the next one and I couldn't get the coil to come up. The bolt and plug were disconnected but wouldn't come up. I also tried to get the 3rd one in the back on the driver side and that won't come up either.

 

[yellocoyote]

They may just be stuck in place, especially if it's been a long time since they've been out. How hard did you pull?

 

[rallenm09]

I pulled pretty hard but I don't know if I had enough leverage as i'm bending over with not much room to get under the hood.

 

[|V3nom|]

I pulled pretty hard but I don't know if I had enough leverage as i'm bending over with not much room to get under the hood.

try twisting them to break the seal. sometimes they just require extra effort.

 

[rallenm09]

i ended up going out the next day and giving it another try and they finally started to have been getting better gas milage, went from 15-19

thanks for the easy tutorial

 

[Jack_Of_Spades13]

Possible spark plug problem

I tried to change my spark plugs yesterday. I did the first one ok, but then I got to the second. It seemed stuck. So I pulled and pulled, nothing. Then I got the breaker bar, pulled and pulled and nothing. Even worse the rubber part came out of the spark plug socket and I couldn't get it out. This prevented me from putting the cold pack(?) back in over it. I went to the auto parts store and asked them for advice, nothing. So I went back home (night at this point) and kept trying to think what I was doing wrong. How come the first spark plug came out but the second wouldn't? Then it hit me...LEFTY is not LOOSEY and RIGHTY is not TIGHTY. I had tightened the spark plug even more! So as soon a the sun rose I was out there. Sure enough I pushed the other way and the plug came loose. But not without a little crunching. I was able to put the new plug in but my question now is....

Will I be able to get this one out by the time they need to be changed again? I didn't put anti-seize on it because I heard you can over-torque a plug that way and that plugs now are supposed to have a special coating over the threads to prevent any seizing.

Thank you to anyone who even read all this. I'm new to joining this forum and I find it very informative.

 

[theroofable]

I did mine the other day. Took less than an hour, I did put the anti seize on, and hand tightened until I met resistance.

 

[Jack_Of_Spades13]

I just finished swapping out the NGK plugs for Autolite Double Platinum plugs(APP5224). Was quite easy to do. Took me about 30 minutes. I took my time.

Here's how I did it:

1-Disconnected the wiring harness that plugs into the air filter tube and then removed it.

2-Moved the coolant tank out of the way. Was quite easy, unscrewed both 10mm nuts, pulled and moved it to the side sort of.

3-Did 1 spark plug at a time as follows:

-Unscrewed nut that holds down the boot, disconnected wiring harness from boot. Pulled boot out.
-Used compressed air to clean out the hole.
-Removed old spark plug.
-Coated the ceramic of the new plug with dielectric grease.
-Put some anti-seize on the threads.
-Installed new spark plug.
-Cleaned the boot real good and reinstalled it. Tightened the nut down and hooked up the wiring harness to it.

4-After I was done with the passenger side, I reinstalled the coolant tank.
5-When I was done with all 6 plugs, I reinstalled the air filter tube and replugged the wiring harness to it.
6-Started her up and she ran nice and smooth. Idled at 600 rpm.

I went for a 15mile drive afterwards. Nice and smooth. eclipsee_gold_cup.g:

How do you remove the coolant tank? How do you get those nuts off the bolts that are attached to the firewall. And could you tell me how you did step 5 as well?

 

[theroofable]

How do you remove the coolant tank? How do you get those nuts off the bolts that are attached to the firewall. And could you tell me how you did step 5 as well?

It comes off with two bolts on the top , I believe 10mm. I did not take of my air tube so cant help you there.

 

[seabass1858]

All I did was take the air tube off and with multiple extensions, I was able to get to all of them. No need to take the coolant tank off.

 

[Robsama]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who posted in this discussion. I've been away from the forum for a bit and over the weekend I changed my plugs. Without the pointers I got from here it would have taken me MUCH longer and I probably wouldn't have been as calm and had as much fun as I did. Next up - installing an EVIC.

Thanks everyone!

 

[hmmrdwn]

Thanks for great tutorial. Was able to get job done easily. Always good to know about the stumbling blocks.

 

[zach540]

Thanks for the tutorial, as a first time KJ owner, it greatly assisted me. However, I do have an issue, while disconnecting the wiring harness from the coil pack, I lost 1 of the O-Rings/Gaskets to the connector, does anyone know where I can get more? I found 2 other connectors without them on it, probably won't hurt anything, but they are there for a reason.

Thanks in advance,
Zach

 

[uss2defiant]

can probably get o-rings from your local autopart store.

 

[CobraNutt]

Removing the coolant tank from the firewall and moving it out of the way eliminates the need for any 'wobbly" connectors. Straight shot to the back plug once the tank is out of the way.

 

[tritis]

Pep boys has the wrong spark plug gap listed for the 2004 jeep liberty 3.7L and tried offering me up 0.035 OR 0.044 to the point I second guessed myself and went out to my car to double check. And yup, 0.040 right there under the hood.