Q45 spark plugs

[jefftrexler]

Today I decided to go ahead and change out the spark plugs in my '91 Q45 since I havn't had it done within the 3 years that I've owned it. I started out on the drivers side...removing the cover (wow...what a ***** that is!) and getting everything out except the rear-most plug boot. One screw on the boot won't come off! To make the matter worse, the screw looks like the slots are stripped.

*****EDIT*****I found a thin-wall 8mm socket and it was able to pop out this last remaining screw. YAY! On to a new line of questions...Anyone know how to get the rear-most allen screws that are on the cover on the passenger side out? They are hiding behind the ABS system. Also...are there any tricks on getting the spark plug out of the rear-most cylinder on the passenger side? It looks as though the ABS system shall be in the way of that too. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

Oh....BTW.....this is how cyl. #1 spark plug looked when I took it out. Look at that oil...YUCK!!!http://home.attbi.com/~q45guy2/06090005.JPG

[Q451990]

Definately time for a rocker cover reseal! Some members have had some success smearing RTV on spark plug port wall (makeshift)... If the oil problem is bad, you can also have corrosion in the coil boots.

I just use a standard allen wrench for the back right allen screws (which I always had to replace if the dealer worked on the car since they just leave them out). You just have to be patient. #8 can be removed with a combination of extensions... although I don't remember the correct sizes at the moment.

Heath

[elwesso]

Man, I feel your pain........ ITS TERRIBLE, HOW CAN THEY DO THIS TO SOMEONE!!!!!! No 7 and 8 cy are both terrible, its not fair.... I had to use a 2ft extension to get them out!!!!

I also used regular allen things, fortunately I had a big box to choose from, so I just kept trying until i found the right one.....

[jefftrexler]

Definately time for a rocker cover reseal! Some members have had some success smearing RTV on spark plug port wall (makeshift)... If the oil problem is bad, you can also have corrosion in the coil boots.

Only the plug wells for Cylinders 1 and 7 showed a little oil....not a whole lot. The boots themselves look just fine with no corosion whatsoever. I finished up 1,3,5,7 today...and shall be tackling 2,4,6,8 tommorow morning. I've just to remember to pop some advil and hour before so my back don't hurt so much. :eyecrazy

[DAEDALUS]

U-joint bits work well. Also, some allen tools have ball ends that allow maybe 30 degrees of tilt. Not good for high-torque apps, but for the cover screws, they'd be fine.I use a deep 5/8 socket on the plugs, and a short (4"?) extension. Socket in first, then extension, then wrench. A magnetic pickup tool pulls out the plug if you don't have a clipped plug socket.

[elwesso]

I didnt have one of those, so on some i had to use really skinny needle nose plyers, and a on 7 and 8 cy i had to use duct tape (wrapped it around my finger)....

[jefftrexler]

Well I've got 2,4,6 and 8's plugs in and am fastening down the boots when there was a SPARK! The battery was disconnected and the control module (attached to the black cover) was disconnected as well. The spark happened when the small grounding wire thats fastened to the valve cover via a bolt next to cyl #2 boot touched one of the bolts that fastens the boot to the valve cover. The picture below shows what I'm talking about. Now my question is....Did this harm anything????I've halted this project until I can get some feedback on this for I don't want to get an answer after I've got everything back together and then learn that I have to replace something. So please....if you know anything about this....respond soon. THANKS!!!!

[elwesso]

Probably just static electricty or just some left-over charge....... I wouldnt think that it would harm anything, the coils are well insulated...... You can always plug everything together without buttoning it up to make sure nothing was harmed!!

[Q451990]

I've never had a spark there before. Honestly, I don't remember that ground wire or ever even disconnecting the battery when replacing plugs for that matter. I suspect this is one of those hook-it-up-and-see-if-it-works situations. I've never heard of this before.

BTW, What's the grey wire and clear plastic thing in the lower left corner of the picture?

Heath

[DAEDALUS]

I've had that happen and I completely forgot about it! Well, 2 months after doing the plugs, guess what? I started missing on the #2 cylinder. I may have caused some latent damage that got worse over time, leading to arcing on that coil. I replaced the #2 and #4 coils, and all is well.Do like Wes says. Put it all back together and start her up. If anything is wrong, you'll know where to look. Replacing the plugs is a real pain, but if you have to replace the #2 coil later, I promise it won't be too bad.

[jefftrexler]

BTW, What's the grey wire and clear plastic thing in the lower left corner of the picture?

Thats the red 4 gauge power cable that goes back to the trunk for my 300watt amplifier, DVD/MP3 player, LCD screen and neon lighting network. I took the color out of the rest of the picture because that is what I wasn't focusing on....just the stuff in the colored area.

I've had that happen and I completely forgot about it! Well, 2 months after doing the plugs, guess what? I started missing on the #2 cylinder. I may have caused some latent damage that got worse over time, leading to arcing on that coil. I replaced the #2 and #4 coils, and all is well.Do like Wes says. Put it all back together and start her up. If anything is wrong, you'll know where to look. Replacing the plugs is a real pain, but if you have to replace the #2 coil later, I promise it won't be too bad.

Well from everyone's suggestion I guess I should just go ahead, plug it all back in and start it up. It just worries me because there was a small shower of sparks with a POP sound when they touched....not a little static SNAP sound. Also....one of the bolts that hold the #6 cyl boot in place busted. Is it ok that the boots be held in place with 3 bolts instead of 4? Only the head of the bolt broke off.

[DAEDALUS]

When I caused a spark, it was pretty big too. I think 3 bolts will be OK. Can you get the broken stud out?

[jefftrexler]

Well I got everything back together and it starts and runs just fine....although I am still getting the tell-tale signs that the guides are about to give up the ghost. The guy that I was gonna have do it keeps blowing me off (friggin prick)...so I may just end out paying my neighbor a few hundred bucks to do it. He's got just about every tool anyone could even want. Hell....his garage would probubly make the T3 tech's drool. LOL!