How the hell do i get to the rear spark plugs

[caddyman379]

hmm, okay, i decided to stick with the engine i have.

i replaced the three front spark p[lugs, and battery.

the engine starts hard, and wont stay running for too long. the smell of gas is strong, and there are no fuel leaks.. when i changed the front three they looked pretty old, so i figure changing the back ones wouldn't hurt, as it seems fuel is going unburned.

Someone want to give me a step-by-step on removal of the rear plugs?

[tman]

you're gonna need a lot of patience, and probably a 6 pack to get you through this.

The rear plugs are horrendous to get to. I'd suggest getting some vice grips, and latching them onto the spark plug wire, and twisting and pulling the crap out of them until they com off. Don't worry about mangling them, you should replace the wires anyway.

[R_H24]

It will help if your good with hands in dark, or find a blind person to do this for you. Its tough but you can do it.

[kok328]

I attacked mine by kneeling on the radiator support, one elbow on the intake manifold and other hand pull like hell. You really can't avoid pulling the wire from the boot because the boots are covered by an RF/Heat shield. I reassembled the wires and boots prior to reinstall.

[fleettech]

[quote=tman2093]you're gonna need a lot of patience, and probably a 6 pack to get you through this.
QUOTE]

I like your thinking but only 2 per plug

[unibrowarrior]

Why do u guys have to scare him, it easy. Un-bolt the front roll restrictor, and use a prybar to roll the mototr forward. then side the bolt back thought the bracket. this will hold the motor rocked forward and will make it easy to get your hand back there. i am a large guy with large arms and mine fit no problem aftre doing this.

[StevePT]

Maybe I'm more flexible than the average person but I just get up on top of the intake manifold and with no extension on a 3/8" ratchet I can take out all three plugs without a problem.

If you have an upper strut tower brace, you will need to remove that.

[3bird]

on my 97 I had to undo the front stabilizer bars, then i actually used a comalong wraped around a iron pole to pull my engine forward a few inches, after all that just deal with the metal sleeves. and a few busted nuckles.

[mikelund]

I think Craftsman makes some articulating rachet extensions...plus see some earlier posts about rotating the engine forward slightly without come-a-longs.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by mikelund

I think Craftsman makes some articulating rachet extensions...plus see some earlier posts about rotating the engine forward slightly without come-a-longs.

I don't know which engine we are talking about here but on the Series II 3800 in '97 and up Regals it is tedious but not that big of a problem. It is not necessary to undo the engine mounts and rotate the engine. All that does is add more time to replacing all the spark plugs and/or wires.

For tools all I use is a spark plug ratchet which has an articulating head, a short extension and the spark plug socket. The most difficulty I've experienced is getting the wire boots off the plugs not accessing or removing the plugs. I use dielectric silicone grease and coat the tips and ceramic of each plug from now on for any future plug removal.

To remove rear plugs I remove the strut cross brace, undo the front 02 sensor wiring harness from the rear bracket, remove the 02 sensor from exhaust, remove the bracket where 02 sensor harness clips to. That gives plenty of room to remove the rear plugs #2, 4, 6. I've done all spark plugs to include wires in my Regals in two hours or less and have never rotated the engine forward to do so. BTW - The 2 hours includes drinking a few brews.