Ughhhh!!! Number 6!

[hospitalbuilder]

So, one through five, cap, rotor and wires, took me less than an hour. Number six, you b*$t*rd! Currently waiting for the engine to cool down so I can retrieve the tool from its resting spot on top of my transmission. I hope I can get, it, but I am not really sure as my arm can only go in so far and a coat hanger is not providing much help. Any thoughts?

Secure your number 6 tool before you try and get it on the plug.

[hospitalbuilder]

OK, got it done, sorry for venting. Took me a few minutes of fishing before I got the tool on the 6 plug, but once I did that, everything went pretty easily. All in all not too bad a job. Shop quoted me $560 for the job, I spent $130 for NGK iridium plugs, OEM wire set, cap and rotor and about an hour and a half of my labor and all done. Although, I did have to add a few bucks to the swear jar after the number 6 effort. Thanks to this board for giving me the info necessary to get this done. Definitely a DIY job, so save your self some coin and give it a shot.

My spark plug tools had nary a scratch on them. I wonder if this is the first time the plugs have been changed? 180K, and I have had it for 90K. Either way this job was way over due.

[Qxxx4]

congrats! i got my mechanic friend to try and do it for me and we ended up cracking the ceramic around the electrode on my number six since i didnt have the tool (and it took 2 hours to break it in the first place). My Q was undriveable for 4 days until i found CASIO79 on kijiji who lent me his! then it took literally 5 mins to change out the plug

to everyone who thinks its possible without the special tool.....seriously. youve been warned lol

[Buzzman]

OK, got it done, sorry for venting. My spark plug tools had nary a scratch on them. I wonder if this is the first time the plugs have been changed? 180K, and I have had it for 90K.

Was the old #6 plug any different looking than the other five?Wouldn't surprise me if there are more than a few older Pathy's/QX4's out there with only five new plugs installed.

[hospitalbuilder]

I think all six of the old plugs were the same. I suppose that the previous owner could have had them changed by a shop, which did not use the provided spark plug tools.

I could not imagine trying to change #6 without that tool. In fact it was bit of a chore with it. My difficulty was getting the tool on the old plug, since you are really going blind. It took me ten minutes of prodding, with many starts and stops and much time spent with hand on hips, to get the tool on the plug and that was after I dropped it and had to fish it off the top of the transmission with a coat hanger. I was really considering changing the first five and taking it to a shop for # 6. My main concern was not that I could not get the old plug out, I knew eventually I would get that done, rather how was I going to get the new plug back in. If I had that much difficulty getting on the old plug, which was already in the right place, how in the hell was I going to get the new plug seated and the wire connected again. Amazingly, or very luckily the new plug seated right away, literally in two seconds and I was screwing it in. Also the wire also went right on, again literally in two seconds.

Now onto the rear brake job (drums mean yet another adventure).

[W O T]

Ha ive never touched drums myself either, dont even know what they look like inside!!

Ive built engines and rear ends, but I still havent touched a drum brake lol

[sixty4]

I want to do my own tune up as well, I need to find your old post. Can this #6 tool be purchased?

[hospitalbuilder]

They changed the engine, starting with the 99.5 QX4. Mine is a 99, and access to the # 6 is in conflict with the firewall, hence the special tool. I understand that the newer engine, aside from being stronger, also does not have an issue with accessing the 6 plug. You will definitely want to make sure you use a spark plug specific socket either way, but I think you may have a much easier time.

You should verify this, as I can only confirm what is on my rig. Pop the hood and take a look, if you can see where the boots on your wires, you should be able to access the plugs pretty easily. Good luck!

[sixty4]

How does your ride fee now after the tune up, I'm well over due 70K miles

[hospitalbuilder]

Feels OK, I have not noticed a significant difference, although I have only been on a few around town trips so far. I am not terribly sensitive to these types of things anyway (not a very precise fanny dyno).

My main point of comparison will be fuel economy, and I have not made it through a full tank yet so, time will tell.