3URFE tune up... found wrong plugs (1 Viewer)

[weaponoffreedom]

So the other day, I went into town, and all of a sudden, I felt a misfire, all the warning light come on, etc. I limp home as i did not have my scanner with me, and it said misfire cylinder 3 P0303 if i remember right. Anyway, swapping #3 with #1 and the misfire moved to #1=bad coil.

So I ordered the proper Denso coils ( DENSO 6731309) for this engine, and 8 new plugs, (DENSO SK20HR11). To do a total repair, as the jackleg i bought it from had someone replace the coils with some aftermarket 1AAuto junk. 20k miles ago.

For a coil and plug job, this engine is pretty easy, not high creeper needed really. You need every extension for 3 to 12, a plug socket, and a 10 and 12mm socket.

In installing the new plugs, they felt a bit tight as they went down the threads.......squeaking and so on, everything to dont want to hear. I examined the plugs and found this:

Really, if you think on it for a moment, the spark has not really even been in the combustion chamber, it has been in the hole, so there was a good amount of nastiness in the threads. Luckily, I had a long cylindrical brush I have to AK47 gas tube cleaning, that work pretty good. In the picture you can see the discoloration of the new plug on the threads......that is how far up they were in comparison to where they are supposed to be. Surprised it ran at all.

Immedediate difference in startup and acceleration with the new stuff. Big difference. I typically do not use anti seize as it messes with the torque spec, but I did lightly coat two plugs which felt a bit tight.

It ran OK, for what I understood. Looking forward to see if there is any MPG gain.

I think i am lucky that this did not cause a much greater problem with the threads.

 

[bloc]

Personally I'd want to run a tap down those threads in the head. The carbon in there would really impact final torque reading and the only really good way to get it out is with a high quality tap. Also anybody's guess as to whether it could cause problems getting the plug out long in the future.

Good catch though.. a lack of attention to detail and/or "give a ****" on the part of many mechanics has a real impact on the used vehicles we buy down the line. It really pisses me off.

 

[2021 LC200]

This is why I like DIY as I have currently on oil drain plug which was cross threaded at Joe Myers Toyota and only found out DIY at 35k miles. Sad that most “professional” mechanics are not good or have experience and are always in a hurry to get things done.

 

[weaponoffreedom]

This is why I like DIY as I have currently on oil drain plug which was cross threaded at Joe Myers Toyota and only found out DIY at 35k miles. Sad that most “professional” mechanics are not good or have experience and are always in a hurry to get things done.

There is value in DIY, if you can do it and not mess it up. I mess minimal things up, or try to.

 

[weaponoffreedom]

Personally I'd want to run a tap down those threads in the head. The carbon in there would really impact final torque reading and the only really good way to get it out is with a high quality tap. Also anybody's guess as to whether it could cause problems getting the plug out long in the future.

Good catch though.. a lack of attention to detail and/or "give a ****" on the part of many mechanics has a real impact on the used vehicles we buy down the line. It really pisses me off.

I thought on that. The previous owner had this done almost exactly 20k ago. I ran a camera done one hole to see what I saw. I think the brush with a little solvent on there did a good job. Some of the holes would be very difficult to get a tap in there straight maybe. Some things are just by feel, and a few felt a bit tight so I removed the plug and brushed again, to satisfaction. I could feel the stop when it registered against the shoulder, and it felt right. Torqued them down to 15.

We will see.

 

[2021 LC200]

Yes, DIY can be an issue as well. I try to mitigate by spending time researching the repair manual, YouTube and forums. This helps me to minimize learning curve issues… I also pause and think or take a break when it does not go easy or well. But I agree DIY is not without risk. In fact maintenance itself can be detrimental when done wrong without knowing or sufficient understanding…

 

[DallasTide]

DIY is the only way you can know for sure that the work was actually done and done correctly. Plenty of resources here and elsewhere which in my opinion reduce "DIY risk" below the level of "s***ty mechanic risk". No one on the planet cares about your truck as much as you do. Plus I just can't stand paying labor for something I know I could do myself.

 

[2021 LC200]

Yes, totally agree DIY is the way to go. And IMO that is why complex jobs go to specialty places like the CCN, so what he sees are the more rare cases.

 

[weaponoffreedom]

Plus I just can't stand paying labor for something I know I could do myself.

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