Justwondering
Well-Known Member
My Silverado (2000 4x4 gas) was stumbling up hills this past weekend and couldn't get enough compression to back up an empty gooseneck trailer. Very embarrassing.
When I got home after my 4 hour drive, I stopped in the city and bought 8 new spark plugs on the way.
Today after I finally got the chrysler home, I watched and read some info and then started the spark plug exchange.
Here's my situation:
1. First spark plug looks like the center metal (electrode?) is completely flat. Nothing is black, but everything is oxidized and brownish. Definitely doesn't look like the new one. Was able to get the wire off by hand.
Old one out, new one in. 7 minutes
2. Second spark plug looks like more of the center metal (electrode) is present but it looks more like a nipple than the new one does. Is not black, everything is brownish. Was difficult to get the wire off. Lots of twisting and had to resort to vice grips to finally wiggle it off.
Old one out, new one in. 12 minutes
3. Third spark plug was horrible to get the wire off. I think I broke the wire. There was a black plastic bit about 2 inches long with some rounded metal on it that was left on the spark plug when I finally got the wire off. It is not black, everything is brownish. It had the most metal left of the center metal (electrode).
These are the spark plugs on the passenger side going from the front of the engine towards the back.
Lost my daylight at that point and the other 5 will be done tomorrow.
My questions:
1. Is is normal to break the wire to get it off the plug?
2. Should I just plan to replace all the wires as well?
3. The wires plug in to the plug at the bottom and a square box at the top (coil?). Should I replace all the coils as well?
4. Do I use a torque wrench and tighten them to 20 pounds or 'just a little more after I hand tighten them'?
5. My special socket for spark plugs was way too big a diameter for use so I used a regular deep socket. Is that okay or does it harm the spark plug since it does not have the rubber insert?
When I got home after my 4 hour drive, I stopped in the city and bought 8 new spark plugs on the way.
Today after I finally got the chrysler home, I watched and read some info and then started the spark plug exchange.
Here's my situation:
1. First spark plug looks like the center metal (electrode?) is completely flat. Nothing is black, but everything is oxidized and brownish. Definitely doesn't look like the new one. Was able to get the wire off by hand.
Old one out, new one in. 7 minutes
2. Second spark plug looks like more of the center metal (electrode) is present but it looks more like a nipple than the new one does. Is not black, everything is brownish. Was difficult to get the wire off. Lots of twisting and had to resort to vice grips to finally wiggle it off.
Old one out, new one in. 12 minutes
3. Third spark plug was horrible to get the wire off. I think I broke the wire. There was a black plastic bit about 2 inches long with some rounded metal on it that was left on the spark plug when I finally got the wire off. It is not black, everything is brownish. It had the most metal left of the center metal (electrode).
These are the spark plugs on the passenger side going from the front of the engine towards the back.
Lost my daylight at that point and the other 5 will be done tomorrow.
My questions:
1. Is is normal to break the wire to get it off the plug?
2. Should I just plan to replace all the wires as well?
3. The wires plug in to the plug at the bottom and a square box at the top (coil?). Should I replace all the coils as well?
4. Do I use a torque wrench and tighten them to 20 pounds or 'just a little more after I hand tighten them'?
5. My special socket for spark plugs was way too big a diameter for use so I used a regular deep socket. Is that okay or does it harm the spark plug since it does not have the rubber insert?