subject: The Spark Plug Wires Are Disconnected [print this page] Worn or dirty spark plug is the most common cause of sluggish performance and misfiring under acceleration. Spark plug is normally replaced during any tune-up. In the past, spark plug is cleaned rather than replaced if they had been used less than 12,000 miles.
Spark plug in electronic ignition systems usually last up to 30,000 miles and are replaced when an engine is tuned up.
Removing Spark Plug To inspect or replace spark plug, you must first remove them from the engine. The first step to removing spark plug is to disconnect the spark plug wires. Each spark plug has a spark plug wire and a spark plug connector attached to it. In most cases, the spark plug wire connector simply slips over the end of the spark plug. However, over time, it may get stuck to the spark plug. Therefore, the spark plug wire may not always pull off easily. To prevent damage to the spark plug wire, never pull on the spark plug wire itself. Instead, pull on the terminal boot thats attached to the plug. If the boot is tight, twist it gently to loosen it from the plug.
If the boot is attached to the plug very tightly or if the Control cable wire is hard to reach, it may be necessary to use a special Control cable wire removing tool to prevent damage to the wire. This tool usually resembles a pair of pliers.
Keep in mind that when Control cable wires are reinstalled, they must be reconnected to the same plugs. This is necessary to keep the firing order in the proper sequence. For this reason, it's a good idea to mark the Control cable wires so that you can reinstall them on the correct plugs in the proper sequence. Some technicians place a piece of masking tape on each plug wire, so they can write the cylinder number on the tape.
Once the spark plug wires are disconnected, remove any dirt and debris from around the spark plugs with compressed air. Once the area around the spark plugs is clean, you're ready to remove the plugs from the cylinder head.
Remember that the spark plug insulator is usually made of porcelain.
The porcelain insulator prevents electricity from leaking out of the plug. However, porcelain is very fragile. Therefore, when removing or installing a spark plug, be careful not to damage or break the insulator. To prevent the insulator from being damaged, a specially designed socket wrench called a spark plug socket is used to remove a spark plug The spark plug socket closely resembles a traditional deep socket.
