Spark plug boot broken, need some help

[hadji_85]

I was changing my spark plugs and pulled the top of the boot off (i'm not familiar with the terminology) so i put the boot back on to the little column thing, got some vice grip pliers and put them on the boot in hopes to get the darn thing off:whoops: . (i had been trying with my fingers and spark plug boot puller for a while). Well i broke the little column (i think the pieces are in the spark plug column) and now i have an exposed wire. Needless to say i need new spark plugs.

How do i get that spark plug wire column/boot out?

 

[RavenTai]

I would try something like this, a good set of long needle nose plyers.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...9&group_ID=761&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[trojan_knight]

Mine did this the last time I changed the plugs and wires. I used needle nose pliers to get the plastic tube out but that left a rubber grommet glued to the plug itself. I used a terminal pick that curves around and looks like a fishing hook. You take that and shove it down next to the spark plug. Grab it with a pair of pliers twist and pull. It is a royal PITA

 

[hadji_85]

Arg, trojan jinx me. I now have the rubber gromet that seperated from the rest of the spark plug wire sitting at the bottom of my spark plug column. What methods have you guys used to get this out.

I attached a pic so you know what is stuck to the top of the spark plug.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Wow. I'd use the pictured plug as a model to go buy a pair of those dental pick things Trojan spoke of that most auto parts stores sell. Two because you can really pull then without as much fear of the pick simply pulling through. While you're gone, I'd fire some PB Blaster down there. It will work its way down and if you're lucky it might also eat away a bit at the rubber where it's touching the metal - dramatically loosening things. Be sure to use a vacuum to suck any bits out before pulling the plug so nothing falls into the cylinder.

 

[MoGas]

Put a little dielectric grease on the boots when you put it back together to prevent this in the future.

Dave

 

[Tools R Us]

Lisle makes a tool that works well for removing boot shards.

http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_detail.cfm?detail=926

I use silicone grease on all plug wire connections, helps with water sealing and makes removal a breeze.

 

[hadji_85]

Arg, worst case scenario

so i've been trying to get what i call the spark plug grommet that seperated from the wires out of the spark plug column

i bought some of those handy picks and only retreived part of the spark plug grommet. The part that is missing from the pics, represents the part that is still stuck in the spark plug column.

i've been picking at it for wayyyy too long now, i also bought a vacuum attachment in hopes of vacuuming it out. I blew some compressed air in there hoping to dislodge it, no luck. the fact thats its on the #6 cylinder isnt any help

what the hell should i do , i feel like i should just remove the last spark plug, if it falls in, it falls in, i'm sure it will burn off no problem

Should i continue trying to get the last pieces out of the spark plug column, and if i should what method should i use?

Should i just say it and just take out the spark plug hope those pieces dont fall in the cylinder and if they do then no big whoop.

should i let them go and and then retrieve them (what would i have to do to retrieve them from the cylinder).

 

[alkaline747trio]

I would take the plug out, and just hope for the best....but I don't have the patience I should.

 

[trojan_knight]

that is about what mine looked like when i pulled them out but i got lucky they would just tear on one side and come out in one peice

 

[IdahoDoug]

You should keep trying to get it out. Lay a wood plank from the right fender to the engine's front tow eye - pad the fender. Bring a hand mirror, get a light on your head, and use the pick with your other hand. When you've got it loose and just chunks are in there take a soda straw and tape it into a vacuum crevice tool so the straw will reach all the way down and start pulling the little bits up and out.

I'd try very hard not to get something down there that might either bend a valve stem (think hard rubber between edge of valve and piston top) or chunks of rubber lodging in the EGR valve (#6 cylinder directly feeds EGR) or catalytic converter (melting onto catalyst, etc). It just makes good sense to put up a fight on this. Hope you've already ordered a new set of factory plug wires from Dan, too....

DougM

 

[hadji_85]

if the pieces of the spark plug grommet fell into the cylinder,what steps would i take (what would i have to take apart)? and how much time would it take? Would there be other things i would want to do while i was there?

 

[jaymar]

if the pieces of the spark plug grommet fell into the cylinder,what steps would i take (what would i have to take apart)? and how much time would it take? Would there be other things i would want to do while i was there?

Engine rebuild?

Found some interesting things by googling
"Ripped Spark Plug Boot Remover"

How did this come out--what happened in the end?

 

[BILT4ME]

He got it out.

So did I on mine.

Worst case if bits do get in there you take out all the plugs, unhook the coil wire and crank the engine to blow the particulate out the spark plug holes.

 

[jaymar]

He got it out.

So did I on mine.

Worst case if bits do get in there you take out all the plugs, unhook the coil wire and crank the engine to blow the particulate out the spark plug holes.

Ha!

 

[Ronny Grady]

A bicycle spike works to pull out the spark plug rubber gromet as well:

 

[BILT4ME]

Ha!

That's actually a serious comment.

Same way you purge coolant from a suspected head gasket failure. Pull the plugs and crank the engine.

 

[jaymar]

That's actually a serious comment.

Same way you purge coolant from a suspected head gasket failure. Pull the plugs and crank the engine.

Oh yeah. Love it! Is what I meant.

 

[BamZipPow]

Here's a tool that anyone can make for a couple of bucks to cut the frozen boot from the plug on just about any vehicle.
Making an Inexpensive Broken/Ripped/Torn/Melted/Fused Spark Plug Boot Removal Tool