That was seriously the 2nd easisest car that i've ever changed the plugs on ... took me about 12 minutes...... not bad at all.... tune up is now officially done... after getting paid next week i'm going to change out the tranny fluids and tc fluids.
Just changed the spark plugs
- Thread starter lt1fire
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Be sure to read threads here before you start the job. I've seen all kinds of real time help needed, and 911 calls due to mistakes that could have been easily avoided with a little reading prior to diving in with wrench in hand.
If you did 6 of them in 12 mins included 2 in the back and removed the plug cover, air intake tube that’s pretty quick.I did mine in 2 hrs not to mention 30 mins break check all the little thing make sure everything goes properly 
Did you use some type of step stool, or ladder. I thought it was a little tricky having to deal with a lift. I pulled my aircleaner out and sat in the engine compartment. It made it a little eaisier getting to the back plugs.
Last edited:
I did a similar thing where i removed the air cleaner assembly and placed my left foot on the frame rail by the exhaust manifold and my right foot on the bumper, but never really sat anywhere for fear of breaking something with my fat ass. It was hell on my legs but I didn't break the rad!
12 minutes is pretty damn fast. Are you one of those guys who say "I'll be there in 10 minutes but it actually takes you 30?" ;p
- Thread starter
- #7
alright you guys got me I cheated the wires i had already put in the day before... was going to do them both at the same time but toytoa gave me used 2 used plugs in the box. so the wires were already done just sitting off of the plugs waiting for the new ones to go in... all i had to do was put the anit seize and lube on the new ones pop the old ones out ... most likely it took 15 minutes.As for the lift not really a problem at 6'7 it doesn't really get in my way... stood at the side to pull all the plugs out and put the 4 5 and 6 back in and stood on my huge bumper to put in the 1 2 and 3 plugs.... not bad at all
- Thread starter
- #8
I didn't have to move the air tube out of the way.... they were all pretty easy to get to
I figured it was a mandatory step to bust the bypass nipple off your radiator when changing the spark plugs?
- Thread starter
- #10
Don't know maybe it's different for the 3FE engine ???
Very, the 1fz plugs are centered on top of the head and sit about 4 inches down. PIA for the rear ones, too much in the way.
Jack
I just replaced the plugs in my dad's 97 (I've got a 97 also) and plug #6 was a PITA with those tubes in the way. Probably took and hour +. If I'd known it was such a pain I'd have sprung for the platinum plugs to extend the service interval (which I'll do with mine. . .sorry dad
I wouldn't say they are the worst, but they do take a little work. I did mine last weekend, took 40 minutes start to finish, including checking the new plug gap, and torquing each plug properly with a dial indicator torque wrench. And yes, I am anal.
Thats exactly what I did
me: Look honey, $15 for spark plugs and doing it myself will save $60 and only take an hour
30 minutes later after I broke the nipple off leaning over the raditor to get SP #6
Me: Damn
wife: so tell me how much money you saved again?
Me : mumble mumble (while looking at my shoes)
I think I restored her faith when I rebuilt the front axle, but wives never forget anything
Difficulty Changing The Plugs
Hi,
Well you all beat me in time. I took a run at it, although was nursing a severe beerache at the time, and decided to try again a different day.
My challenge was getting the damn plug wire to pull back from the plug. I'm as strong as a bull but my hands couldn't get a good enough grip on the rubber boot part to pull it back. The twist/squeeze nerver worked for me either. I am sure they need changing, and I have a nice set of Boschs to replace them with.
Advice on a tool or method?
Sean
Hi,
Well you all beat me in time. I took a run at it, although was nursing a severe beerache at the time, and decided to try again a different day.
My challenge was getting the damn plug wire to pull back from the plug. I'm as strong as a bull but my hands couldn't get a good enough grip on the rubber boot part to pull it back. The twist/squeeze nerver worked for me either. I am sure they need changing, and I have a nice set of Boschs to replace them with.
Advice on a tool or method?
Sean
From another thread (link in post #5) Lisle makes what looks like a handy tool. Never tried it so don't know.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=1499709&postcount=7
It took me about 15 minutes to change the plugs, including coming here and finding out the spark plug gap, and about 30 minutes to change the wires.
The 1fz-fe is a breeze for plugs!
Try looking at any front wheel drive V6 engine in a van.... Half of the upper intake track and manifold is removed to change the plugs on the 06 sienna. Just stupid hard.
My dad's Arrowstar 4.0l needs the engine lifted to change a couple of the plugs.
Try looking at any front wheel drive V6 engine in a van.... Half of the upper intake track and manifold is removed to change the plugs on the 06 sienna. Just stupid hard.
My dad's Arrowstar 4.0l needs the engine lifted to change a couple of the plugs. 
