Or break! Well - not really broken, but what a pain. I set out to change my plugs today. Made sure I had a long enough extension, the right size and depth socket, etc. My new NGKs came in today so I figured I'd put em into my 04 with 31k miles.

2 hours later and only 2 successfully changed plugs later, I gave up.

It turns out my crafstman socket is a hair too fat. It was a major pain in the **** to get it to even turn inside the plug hole. I had to put a little mobile-1 on it to get it to turn easily!

I'm going to the dealer for my 30k changes on Saturday morning, so I'm just going to take it easy the next two days just in case I didn't get a plug in with the proper torque and pay them to change the last two and make sure the first two are properly torqued.

I took special care to not cross-thread the plugs going back in too.

So not worth the labor $$$ saved. Of course if I had a thinner socket it would have been cake, but c'est la vie. Note to others thinking of changing plugs - get the thinnest 13/16th deep socket you can get!!

 

Dude, i can change my plugs in like 5 minutes. Its really not that hard....

 

They do make a special socket just for plug removal.

 

I've changed plugs on every one of my last 4 vehicles. I'm definitely investing in a thinner deep socket.

 

wow, i did mine in like 5 min too, but i guess if you dont have the right tools then i can see your problem......go out and spend $10 on a 13/16 SPARK PLUG SOCKET, its worth the $ and you will thank me later.

 

 

another trick for getting the plugs started when the hole is deep is to use a length of rubber hose (fuel hose) and stick it on the end of the plug. Feed the plug into the hole and start to thread the plug. If it starts to cross thread the hose begins to slip and wont allow it. This is a very old trick....

 

Get a locking 10" extension and a plug socket. Plug sockets have a grommet that will hold the plug when you put it in/pull it out. Good tools are definately a good investment.

Extension:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Socket:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Decent cheap tq wrench:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

 

The plugs in my car were installed by my wife and she is a little less mechancial than the average woman. So, this is an easy job. BTW, if you can find one, get the plug socket with the magnet inside - way better than one with a rubber insert.

 

I have Craftsman tools, 3 plug changes no problem. The above mentioned trick with the fuel line works great also.

 

rofl, I guess everyone has to start somewhere =)

 

Another trick I picked up to assure you dont cross thread a plug is to very slowly rotate it counter clock wise until it clicks meaning the threads are lined up and then screw her down.

 

Good suggestions guys - yeah, I have a craftsman 101-piece "mechanics" toolset which has a 13/16 deep socket that's not a "plug socket". I'm heading to Sears today so I can do it the easy way. I never needed a specific plug socket for my previous cars (Acura TL, Honda accord) so I figured I could still get by. Lesson learned.