Plugs and Wires sounds easy huh??

[Robdaparamedic]

HOLY mother of Jesus, I did my plugs and wires on my 2002 LeSabre and it sounds much easier than it was. It has 110k miles on it and needless to say the wires were caked on there pretty good. The front 3 went as easy as you can imagine. The tip there is keep something between the plug your pulling and the fans/radiator. This way when you pull the boot, your hand or pliers don't go through the radiator and poke a hole. The back 3 plugs were an absolute nightmare. They are extremely difficult to get at and when I did the wire came apart from the boot. I actually got the driver side rear plug from under the car and reached up through the tunnel for the exhaust. From start to finish it took me the better part of 2 hours. I have changed plugs and wires on over a dozen cars and vans and these were the most challenging by far. Even getting a pair of channel locks on them didn't give you any room to pry the boot off. I'm sure this was made more difficult due to the fact that they had 110K on them but I've never had the boot separate from the wire. It's done and I wish I could say there was a significant difference in the preformance, but there isn't . OH well, happy motoring.

Rob

[happydog500]

Thanks for the tips. My friend at the Buick Dealer laughed when I told him how hard they where to get to on mine.
He said the procedure was to take a front wheel off and reach right up. When I did that, it was very easy.
I found out after trying to get the back ones (from above) left handed (I'm left), they where made for a right handed person. A bunch easer with socket in right hand then left.

Glad you got it finished,
Chris.

[Robdaparamedic]

Some guy was trying to tell me the same thing. There's no way to get at rear plugs by pulling a tire. Another guy was trying to tell me to roll the engine forward. Once again, someone that thinks they know more than they do without seeing the job. That was the situation on a 3.1 GM that had front/top motor mounts. I had 2 of them and could easily get at them without "rolling" the engine. 2.0 chevy, all you had to do was pop the altenator and you have easy access. This 3.8 was a project which was worse because of how long they were on there. I found using my LEFT hand was easiest for getting at two of them and the driver side one from underneath. Insane job either way. opcorn:

[happydog500]

Must of changed things from 97.

I couldn't get the wire off for a long time also. I spun the boot around and around as i pulled.

When the macnic turned the wheel, I looked in and the plugs where right there, very easy to get to.

Like I said, must of changed since then. With the wheel off, I can reach up in behind the motor and there is lots of room to work with.

The thing I hated most about fooling around the top was the stupid bar running across the top of the plugs. Did yours have that?

Couldn't understand why they put a bar there, until I realized if you go from the side (wheel off), it wouldn't of mattered anyway.

Glad your done with it,
Chris.

P.S. If I could figure out why my pictures don't show up here, I could take a picture of what mine looks like with the wheel off. You can reach right in.

[Blue Bowtie]

Be happy that you don't have a Ford or Kia V-6. You get to pull the intake plenum to change the rear plugs. On some, you get to replace the timing belt every 60K miles. Plugs at 100K seem pretty easy after that.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by happydog500

The thing I hated most about fooling around the top was the stupid bar running across the top of the plugs. Did yours have that?

Couldn't understand why they put a bar there, until I realized if you go from the side (wheel off), it wouldn't of mattered anyway.

When changing the rear plugs, the first thing you should do is remove the strut tower brace ("that stupid bar across the top of the plugs"). To remove the brace, simply remove two nuts on each side, then lift the brace off and set aside. The more practice you have changing the rear plugs, the faster you can do it. I usually allow 30 min to do the front & rear and that includes a 10 min break in-between. I use a 3/8 ratchet with a 3 in extension on a 5/8 plug socket for the back plugs. I don’t like flex ratchets, or universals when installing plugs, you can loose the feel for alignment and proper torque, as well as risk the possibility of cracking the ceramic insulator. I remove all the plugs from the topside, and have never found a need to go through the fender-well or under the car. The back plugs, # 2 & # 4 can be removed from the passenger side and # 6 from the drivers side.

[Robdaparamedic]

That's how I got it done but I took the radiator overflow canister off also. Like I said, the whole job wasn't supposed to be so difficult. The fact that the wires were on there for 110K is what made it difficult. The wire would disconect from the boot, and the metal clip would still be on the plug. Being a 2002, I didn't think it would be that bad. I just did my wife's van and they were original with 122K. Removing that bar was a must and I believe it is connected to the altenator.

[C man]

I replaced my wires when I first got my park avenue. The front ones were easy. The back ones not so easy, but not as hard as it seems that everyone makes it. You do have to almost lay on the engine compartment, but I'm tall so it didn't bother me to much. I think it easier to go from the top. I didn't remove the strut bar, I used it for support. I'm replacing my spark plugs again soon so I'll have plenty of fun.

[polarzak]

I have been changing plugs and generally doing my own work, from engine/standard transmission rebuilding, electrical work, brazing exhaust pipes, etc. etc. for many, many years.
When it came to changing the rear plugs on my 2000 3.8 LeSabre, I gave up and took it to my local garage. Maybe I am older, lazier, or just a little more affluent than I was, but I do raise my glass to all of you who got them out yourselves. You deserve a round of applause (or a round of beer)

[jase386]

Well Great. Now i guess ill have to try mine, so I can add my

2000 lesabre, looks easy to get to, figure ill pull out the heater hoses just for extra room, and replace those anyway just for preventive measures.

[Rasp]

I'm doing mine this weekend as well. Hope it goes well. BTW does removing the front tire work or not for reaching the plugs.

[Rasp]

BTW mine was a 2001 Buick Lesabre

[Rasp]

Oh my god those back plugs are hard to get to. I can easily reach them but my problem is getting the damn boots off. My friggin hand is cut up and as of yet I still haven't gotten two of them off. The middle back and the passenger side back one.

I'm taking a break and try again in about 20 minutes. I'm going to have a coronary if I keep at it. And I'm in shape.

For some reason there is a lot of swearing around my car today.

[Rasp]

Well it's a few hours later and those two bloody wires are still nice and snug. I'm definately getting new wires today.

Any idea on how to best get those damn wires off? I'll cut them I swear I don't give a crap about those wires. lol

I don't have room for pliers or anything, just my hand. I actually get a decent grip with my hand I just don't have the strength to pull them off. I keep taking little breaks and then going back for another yank. (that didn't sound like I wanted it to. lol)

[HotZ28]

Put a pair of gloves on, it will give you more courage to pull harder. Be sure to twist the boot left/right as far as you can several times!