Broken spark plug wire removal.

Found out the hard way DON'T buy cheap! These after market things pull apart and are locked onto the plugs. The hard plastic insulator is brittle and breaking off in chunks. Pulled the valve cover but the tube the plugs are in are not removable as far as I can tell.

I can't be the only one to have run into this. Please save my day on something I am over looking. I found this video but am hesitant to try prying the tube out like he did with slip joint pliers.

 

Is this for the 3.4L engine? I have a test engine in the garage I will try this on if you like.

One of my cars with this type of spark plug tube just unscrews from the head. So sometimes i lose track of which engine has which type of tube.

 

OEM do it too, just replaced mine on my 3gen 4Runner
Long nose needle nose pliers to get into the plug bore.

 

This is the 2.7 in a 98 Tacoma. Been using needle nose as well as surgical clamps. All I get are pieces. I would settle for that if I could get them off. I tried channel locks trying to unscrew them but no dice.Will try some carb cleaner maybe it will dissolve the sealant that is holding it.

 

I tried wrapping a tube with sandpaper on my 3.4L and used some BIG channel lock pliers. I couldn't budge it. I recall NAPA or Harbor Freight selling some long reach straight tip needle nose pliers that might work.

 

I guess my route is going to be keep breaking chunks off until I get to the metal clip on the end of the wire. I did get one out and that is the part that won't release. It had pulled out of the tube and the wire finally parted. I had to use a 1/2" drive deep well and the extension only half in to clear it. Retrieved the plug with a magnet.

 

If you have a shop vac.... or compressed air... use them cuz you don’t want crap falling into you know where...

 

YEE HAW got em out and changed. Ended up using an Irwin compound long reach needlenose pliers from Lowes. Broke the insulator into chunks then adapted the shop vac to 3/4 PEX with the help of a piece of foam insulation. Changed out 1 coil and plug wires. She runs great again.

 

Congratulations!

 

Use dielectric grease when you put the new ones on. It might help with taking them apart again in the future as well as helping insulate them from moisture.