How to: Installing 3rd gen spark plugs

[rmartin929]

Champion plugs and drivers side

Thanks for tutorial!

Few notes on my experience. Be very careful with the plastic caps on the coil wires (especially older trucks) - I broke 1. However, a little chicken wire sufficed as temp fix.

Driver's side is harder on V6. There's a metal bracket near plug closest to firewall. Remove top bolt loosen lower (12mm top/14mm lower) so you can move this.

I used Champion double platinum (7318) - supposedly made for waste spark systems. They have platinum on both contact points. 5 year warranty. Anyway, $4 at Pep Boys and $2 rebate so a good deal I hope.

Running very good after cleaning throttle mouth (do this while it's exposed) and new plugs. Smoother idle, better response and acceleration! :driving:

 

[TheDurk]

Thanks for tutorial!

Few notes on my experience. Be very careful with the plastic caps on the coil wires (especially older trucks) - I broke 1. However, a little chicken wire sufficed as temp fix.

+1. It's part # 19539-11030. Some people have been told it's not available separately, but my counter guy had no problem getting it. I ran the full 30K change interval with a zip tie on one wire, but I'm back to stock now.

Chicken wire would not be my ideal choice...easy path to ground and might cut over time. Plus, forgive me, just sounds a little ghetto....

 

[RC57]

do the coil packs ever need to be changed?

Only if they go bad. They are considered a 'lifetime' part. They do go bad, like any electric component. But I suspect 90% will outlive the cars they are in.

I read somewhere worn plugs will stress the coils (higher firing voltage), shortening coil life. Don't wait for the engine to start running rough before changing out the plugs. Plugs are cheaper than coils. Bad plug wires have the same effect.

 

[elmo_girl316]

Escaping Spark Plugs

I have just replaced my spark plugs again and they keep loosing come out very easily. I used a tork wrench to put them in so I know that I am putting them in tight. I had one completely unscrew and go shooting out of the block. Is anyone else having this problem?

 

[rbdhd]

What about changing the plug whire when you change the plugs? I have 147K miles on my 99 and was thinking it would be a good idea to do the wires now as well as the plugs.
What else would be a good thing to change when you do the plugs and wires?

dhd

 

[RC57]

See if you have your Warranty and Maintenance Guide from Toyota. Look for service items that should be done every 30k miles. 150k miles falls under this category. (At 180k add timing belt / water pump and any other 90k stuff.)

Things that come to mind-

Coolant drain and fill (I use Toyo Red, although it appears we may _finally_ be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on coolant compatibility with Prestone, Peak, etc. coming out with universal coolant. You might also consider changing all the hoses at this time, although that may be overkill. There's a bunch, and they seem to last almost forever.)

Tranny drain and fill (You're supposed to use Dex III, but that spec has been killed by GM so take your pick amongst the "meets or exceeds".)

Inspect your brakes. Have you flushed the brake fluid in a while?

And isn't 150k the recommended clear coat replacement interval?

-RC

 

[ScottyD]

spark plug change

zcruiser, thanks for your post on how to change spark plugs. You have the same make and modal year as my 4runner. I think I blew it though when I rewired the plugs. I got confused and I'm not sure if I put the wires back in the right order. Do you know what wires goes to what cylinders? I've been trying to find a diagram on line that will tell me but no luck. Can you help.

 

[kball]

Look up, seven posts....

 

[zcruiser]

Look up, seven posts....

and it's so pretty!

Plug wiring diagram

 

[Volley]

Used this write up today and I agree seeing what connections needed to be removed was nice. And as a newb I didn't know about the dielectric on the coil packs, etc. Thx for taking the time!

 

[zcruiser]

Found another diagram that has a little more information.



Lightning bolts should be coming out of top 2 plugs, though.

 

[Perrone]

I just wanted to say thank you so much for this. I've never had to change the plugs on my runner and this made it so easy.

 

[TN_Soljah808]

I changed my plugs and wires today with one problem. I checked the gap of my OEM Denso plugs and all six weren't even close to the proper gap. Has anyone else had this problem? I know one of the DIYs I have read states they come pre-gap.

I removed six Bosch plugs that weren't gaped I don't know how important the gap is but it was working fine. I know the Bosch plugs had 3k from me but, I don't know how long they have been in there.

Anyone know about this gap?

 

[TN_Soljah808]

Exactly. I wonder how many used a flat gauge like I almost did and opened the gaps up to .060 accidentally?

Just found this! Damn looks like i'm at .060. I used a flat gauge...

 

[zcruiser]

Well, it's good to start with the right gap but we all know the gap will widen as time goes on, and the OCD's among us will re-gap our plugs once a year...

I mean, these were still firing (sorta)...



Technically I could have regapped them and put them back in for another 30K or so.

 

[Deaner]

Just curious.... what is wrong with Bosch plugs??? i just bought some today for the Runner, they are the "top of the line" Bosch plugs with 4 pointers around the electrodes..... Are these not going to work good on my truck?

 

[josh.bunch]

Some unsolicited advice from me... buy a can of compresses air from Office Depot/Wal-Mart/Wal Greens and spray it down inside the cylinders after you pull the wires out, before you remove the plugs. It will clean everything out so nothing falls down in there.

I made this mistake when in college with an F-150. I had a really dirty engine compartment and I had some leaves fall into an open hole and it F'ed things up really bad. I ended up selling it to someone because I couldn't afford to have the engine rebuilt or replaced. Everyone else may know this already but I didn't, and paid big time.

FYI... I'm changing my plugs, wires, and ignition coils this weekend, going with NKG. I bought the rig with 140K and now I'm at 266K and I have never changed them. As far as I know they weren't changed before I bought the truck either. Surely they were a more responsible owner than I am.
:happens:

I dont have any issues, I just figure its about that time.

 

[SRSRunner]

Nice writeup, but do you guys really not know how to change a sparkplug?

C'mon man, even you had to ask a question at somepoint. There plenty of people out there that are unsure about even an oil change let alone the plugs. There's a reason why when you google something about a 4runner this site comes up. It's because people are willing to put forth the effort to do write ups like this. Great write up! A good edition to the sticky threads.

 

[cajieboy]

Great write-up and pics. Thanks for taking the time to do this, and it's appreciated. Learned a few pointers too!

 

[awdjunkies]

Def. a great sticky, especially if you are coming from a totally different line up of cars. (boxer, v6's,4g63's etc..) :banana: