Changing spark plugs

[motitutty]

Hi everybody,

I'm planning to change my plugs and wired soon. I took a glance at the location of the plugs. My problem is, how the heck I can replace the rear plugs, there is barely room to fit a tool.

Any idea or suggestions making life easier? (Besides taking it to a dealer) ;P

'99 3.8 Intrigue

Best Regards,

-M

[phewop118]

I've never done it, but I've seen 3.8's - you need to rotate the engine forward by about 30 degrees to change the plugs. How you do it, I'm not sure, but there is online info.

[motitutty]

Originally Posted by phewop118

I've never done it, but I've seen 3.8's - you need to rotate the engine forward by about 30 degrees to change the plugs. How you do it, I'm not sure, but there is online info.

Does anyone know how to 'Rotate the engine forward', hopefully without damaging anything?

Thanks,

-M

[LittleHoov]

you shouldnt need to rotate the engine forward, i had a series 2 in my Bonneville and changed them with no problems, granted there might be a bit more room with the Bonneville(H-body instead of W) but i wouldnt think you would need to do that.

all i needed to do mine on the series 2 was a ratchet,extension, and spark plug socket, start with the plug socket, then attach the extension then try and get the ratchet in there...give it a shot.

[prsoto21]

I changed mine using a long socket, a breaker-bar and vice-grips. It was a little bit of a hastle but worked out fine. Replaced with Bosch Platinum II's and it has been running great.

[LittleHoov]

ive heard horror stories of 3800s and Bosch products, but as long as theyre workin for ya...id recommend OE myself or some equivalent NGKs

[2nyce]

got someone to change mine and it took 2 hrs only paid the dude 30 bones

[motitutty]

Hmmm... I would pay someone 30 bucks to do mine... any takers?

-M

[harrymay]

does anyone know of any safe and easy ways of rotating the engine? i had a glance at the back of the engine when i changed my tranny fluid und filter, but i couldnt see anything. i would rather rotate the engine so i dont X-thread it.

[jmlangeveld]

http://www.autobarn.net/lienti.html

Lisle Engine Tilter. A special tool to used to tilt the engine forward so you can change spark plugs, oxygen sensor, etc. Very Easy with this tool.

[caruso81]

Originally Posted by jmlangeveld

http://www.autobarn.net/lienti.html

Lisle Engine Tilter. A special tool to used to tilt the engine forward so you can change spark plugs, oxygen sensor, etc. Very Easy with this tool.

OK...how in the world does this thing work?!? It looks like it should be painfully obvious, but it also looks too good to be true. I just looked at the rear plugs and thought I'd leave them for a while longer!

[DonSor]

I observed someone rotate the engine forward. it was a demonstration by the salesperson at the time when I was shopping for a car. The engine was a 3.8 transverse. All he did was to loosen two large bolts located forward of the einge and right behind the radiator and without a special tool, swung the engine up and forward. I suppose there is some other way to reach the plug.

Caution: some car manufacturers boast that the plugs need not be changed but every 100K miles. If you wait that long, you may find some of the plugs frozen or rusted out in place. Then you got yourself a bag of worms. What I do is "sound" (crack it open slightly and retighten) my plugs every 30K miles or so
as a precaution.

While on the subject, what do you think about replacing single electrode plugs with mulitple electrodes (2 or 4).