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How to Replace Spark Plug Wires

91preludesi | Mar 10, 2011 |

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The best way to install new spark plug wires is one at a time. If you remove all of them at once you may not remember what order they went in, or how they were routed. This can result in a wire being on the wrong plug which will cause a misfire. A misfire will result in poor fuel economy and over time will damage the engine.

The best way to remove a plug wire from the spark plug is to grab the top and twist it back and forth while you pull it out. This will make it easier to remove it. Some wires have a rubber boot on the bottom of them where it sits on the plug. These can sometimes present a problem. When you pull the wire out, this little rubber boot will sometimes stay behind. If it does, you won't be able to put a socket onto the plug, or install the new spark plug wire. To remove it straighten out a metal coat hanger. At the very end bend it back so that it looks like a "J". Insert the coat hanger into the spark plug hole. Try to get it between the spark plug and the boot. Now turn it slightly so that the hook is facing towards the rubber boot. Pull the coat hanger out slowly. It may take a couple of tries, but the boot should come out with the hanger.

Now remove the spark plug wire from the distributor cap. Use the same twisting method that you used to remove the wire from the spark plug. With the wire removed, hold it up and find the new spark plug wire that is the same length. Take the new spark plug wire and push it down onto the distributor cap. You may or may not hear a click. To see if it is properly seated, gently pull back on the wire. If it does not come off easily then it is seated correctly. Now place the other end onto the spark plug. Push down on the spark plug wire. You will most likely hear a click. If you do, then the spark plug wire is seated properly. Again, gently pull back on the spark plug wire. If it does not easily come out then it is correctly installed.

Repeat this process for all of the wires. You should try to keep them separated as much as you can. You don't want them to look like a bird's nest. Wires that lay across each other could eventually lead to a misfire. The spark will start to shoot through the spark plug wires to each other and not to the spark plug.