Thread: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....!

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  1. #1 Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    GTX Level Member Elite6's Avatar
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    Fronts required massive force to remove, rears no frickin hope - barely get arm in there & with a Raped Ape grip no chance of getting those off. I actually ripped out the wire portion leaving just the boot. I gotta ratchet the engine up so what ratcheting point is best to use (pics would be nice) & how far should you pull engine forward?

    I got some new wires & plugs so I don't care how they fair during removal
    Last edited by Elite6; 12-13-2011 at 06:04 PM.
    2005 E55 - stock
    1999 GTP 2dr - 9" HAI | Headers | 1.84's | 3.4 | Ported SC|
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  2. #2 Re: Spark plugs will not budge - grrr....! 
    GTX Level Member OH4CompG's Avatar
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    Take a long flat blade screwdriver and a hammer and break the porcelain on the plugs off. The boot will come off with it. That way you can get to the base of the plugs with a socket and pull em. Do this at your own risk. I only suggest it since you've got new wires and plugs. Also only do this if you don't care about the steel plug boot protectors.
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  3. #3 Re: Spark plugs will not budge - grrr....! 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    I've done them this way. The one caviat we should mention is when breaking a plug..part could go into the cylinder. Like I said though..i've done it and never had an issue.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  4. #4 Re: Spark plugs will not budge - grrr....! 
    I live here. SlowNA06's Avatar
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    So, this post isn't about spark plugs, but spark plug wires, right?

    Just jerk them off.

    You think I'm kidding. Hint: I'm not.

    Twisting a little bit doesn't hurt, either.
    Irridium spark plugs last 100k mi and work just as well as copper. Copper is a waste on N/A and only lasts 15k mi. Don't use Platinum.
    Use 195* tstat unless you can thoroughly explain why not; 99.9% don't need a lower temp.
    Almost any oil filter, ever, is of higher quality than ACDelco. Spend $6+.
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  5. #5 Re: Spark plugs will not budge - grrr....! 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    If nothing else run them out with an impact, or put on your big boy pants grow a pair and get them out of there with a socket.
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  6. #6 Re: Spark plugs will not budge - grrr....! 
    GTX Level Member Elite6's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dsmuts View Post
    If nothing else run them out with an impact, or put on your big boy pants grow a pair and get them out of there with a socket.
    The title is misleading, it's the spark plug boots & at 265lb & benching a lot more than my weight I figure I need to ratchet the motor forward... Was thinking of smashing plug tips off but worried about damaging head threads or pieces falling in.
    2005 E55 - stock
    1999 GTP 2dr - 9" HAI | Headers | 1.84's | 3.4 | Ported SC|
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  7. #7 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    Moderator dsmuts's Avatar
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    nothing should fall in. Autozone has a boot puller but i don't think that it is really much help
    98 GTP modded 1.9's, sd headers, 3.4", zzp 1.0 230K miles scrapped.
    04 Comp G zzp stb's, UMI ta's, Speedbuilt sways, bully flo heads, XP, zzp headers, fsic, thrasher shift kit, 60#, 2.6" corsa 2.5", Inferno hood
    01 gt z7 turbo tep trans zzp motor
    08 g8 gt cam exhaust 11.87@118
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  8. #8 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    GTX Level Member Elite6's Avatar
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    OK so got them all off... No ratcheting engine forward, plugs are OEM 144K miles, all wires broke off boots in rear.

    The following instructions are pure gold & will provide results if conventional methods don't work:

    1. Fire up & consume a medium rare to rare steak (t bone of course) and a minimum of 12oz
    2. Take down 2 beers at a brisk pace & follow with one red bull (30 min max)
    3. Wait an additional 5-10 mins for personal supercharging effect (beers & bull)
    4. Throw yourself on he motor (dress pants and all)
    5. Remove big bracket at rear
    6. Take the hand that best fits, combine that with supercharging effect and imagine your hand is the same one in the Foo Fighters music video "Everlong" - sweet vid please watch
    7. Let out savage native indian scalping cry
    8. Grab boot & treat it like your worst enemy
    9. Boot will yield
    10. Explain to wife & kids the screaming in the garage
    11. Go watch the game
    2005 E55 - stock
    1999 GTP 2dr - 9" HAI | Headers | 1.84's | 3.4 | Ported SC|
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  9. #9 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    GTP Level Member BlackGT97's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elite6 View Post
    OK so got them all off... No ratcheting engine forward, plugs are OEM 144K miles, all wires broke off boots in rear.

    The following instructions are pure gold & will provide results if conventional methods don't work:

    1. Fire up & consume a medium rare to rare steak (t bone of course) and a minimum of 12oz
    2. Take down 2 beers at a brisk pace & follow with one red bull (30 min max)
    3. Wait an additional 5-10 mins for personal supercharging effect (beers & bull)
    4. Throw yourself on he motor (dress pants and all)
    5. Remove big bracket at rear
    6. Take the hand that best fits, combine that with supercharging effect and imagine your hand is the same one in the Foo Fighters music video "Everlong" - sweet vid please watch
    7. Let out savage native indian scalping cry
    8. Grab boot & treat it like your worst enemy
    9. Boot will yield
    10. Explain to wife & kids the screaming in the garage
    11. Go watch the game
    lmao....i can see someone doing that lol
    1997 Grand prix GT Black Coupe- The beater
    1998 Grand prix GT Black coupe- Top swapped, XP cam
    2008 Grand prix Midnight blue- The slow but nice car
    1999 Chevrolet Silverado red ext. Cab
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  10. #10 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    I live here. SlowNA06's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Elite6 View Post
    OK so got them all off... No ratcheting engine forward, plugs are OEM 144K miles, all wires broke off boots in rear.

    The following instructions are pure gold & will provide results if conventional methods don't work:

    1. Fire up & consume a medium rare to rare steak (t bone of course) and a minimum of 12oz
    2. Take down 2 beers at a brisk pace & follow with one red bull (30 min max)
    3. Wait an additional 5-10 mins for personal supercharging effect (beers & bull)
    4. Throw yourself on he motor (dress pants and all)
    5. Remove big bracket at rear
    6. Take the hand that best fits, combine that with supercharging effect and imagine your hand is the same one in the Foo Fighters music video "Everlong" - sweet vid please watch
    7. Let out savage native indian scalping cry
    8. Grab boot & treat it like your worst enemy
    9. Boot will yield
    10. Explain to wife & kids the screaming in the garage
    11. Go watch the game
    Dear god in heaven
    Irridium spark plugs last 100k mi and work just as well as copper. Copper is a waste on N/A and only lasts 15k mi. Don't use Platinum.
    Use 195* tstat unless you can thoroughly explain why not; 99.9% don't need a lower temp.
    Almost any oil filter, ever, is of higher quality than ACDelco. Spend $6+.
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  11. #11 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    I remember a picture of 95NASTA kneeling barefoot on his motor to do a plug change or something like that. Funny as heck.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  12. #12 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
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    All humor aside, I spent the better part of 5 hours today replacing all plugs and wires except #'s 4 and 6 in the rear. I pulled the engine forward to the 2nd hole in the mount( this was the easiest part of the operation, and I'm not musclebound) After that I still did not have enough room to get good leverage on the wire boots to pull them off. I could twist them fairly well, but there is not enough room to pull them off. My car is a 2001 GT, 3.8L . I assume the engines and room in the engine bay are pretty similar to other years. Those of you who claim to change all your plugs in 10 minutes, well......Interested in buying a used bridge? After my hands heal and I get some relief help for tugging on those boots, I'll give it another shot. Give me any pre-80's car and I will do fine working on them. I've been a backyard mechanic for nearly 40 years, and I'm convinced of the back-scratching relationship between car design engineers and the auto service and repair industry. Either that or they were just idiots when designing things. Godspeed to all who venture on this painful but neccessary maintenance task on their vehicles.
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  13. #13 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    GTP Level Member BlackGT97's Avatar
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    let the car run a minute and let everthing warm up (it should expand everthing), but of course the motor will be hot. I did mine when it was hot, took me like 30 min to do it.
    1997 Grand prix GT Black Coupe- The beater
    1998 Grand prix GT Black coupe- Top swapped, XP cam
    2008 Grand prix Midnight blue- The slow but nice car
    1999 Chevrolet Silverado red ext. Cab
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  14. #14 Re: Spark plugs boots will not budge - grrr....! 
    Donating Users SarasotaGTP's Avatar
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    I know I am gonna get called a wuss but oh well. O2 socket and pull it out then even though you have the same amount of room, there is nothing too fragile you need to be careful of back there. For me that made it much easier
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