Tough Plug Wires

jigsaw71 · December 25, 2009

Hey guys, I got a 2000 silverado 5.3 and I have just over 100,000 miles on it. Have had it for a few years and I think it is time for a plugs and wires change but I have a problem. I think this may be the first plug change on this thing cause the plug wires are not coming off no matter how hard I try to pull them with a wire puller. I don't want to smash my knuckles by going ape on them but what are my options on getting these stupid things off? I am open to any suggestions you all might have. Also, is it common for the heat shields that surround the wires to move as much as mine are? I seem to have alot more play in them than would be safe. Is this a big deal? Thanks in advance for your help.

clemsonblozz · December 25, 2009

Hey guys, I got a 2000 silverado 5.3 and I have just over 100,000 miles on it. Have had it for a few years and I think it is time for a plugs and wires change but I have a problem. I think this may be the first plug change on this thing cause the plug wires are not coming off no matter how hard I try to pull them with a wire puller. I don't want to smash my knuckles by going ape on them but what are my options on getting these stupid things off? I am open to any suggestions you all might have. Also, is it common for the heat shields that surround the wires to move as much as mine are? I seem to have alot more play in them than would be safe. Is this a big deal? Thanks in advance for your help.

If you have new plug wires,, and you cannot get the wire off(which I had the same problem),, easiest thing to do is break the insulator off the spark plug.. That is what the wire sticks to..

They are just a pain in the ass.. easy to put back on though..

CapitalTruck · December 25, 2009

Get new plug wires (every 100,000mi, that is an okay expenditure), then yank the crap out of the old ones. No issue with the insulators.

txab · December 25, 2009

I've never resorted to breaking insulators.......

dlstewart01 · December 25, 2009

I've never resorted to breaking insulators.......

Me neither, If you twist the rubber boot it will usually brake loose.

smiledr996s · December 25, 2009

Ha Ha, I had the same issue when I bought my work truck, (used by well digging Co.) that was coated w/ mudd. I found it best totwist the plug boot as much as you can, then more until it came loose. I had some nice blisters, so maybe were gloves.

Steve

clemsonblozz · December 26, 2009

I have about a 3 foot 3/8 extension,,, and if ya put it on the insulator,, and whack it with a hammer.. done in no time.. If I were trying to reuse the wires,, I'd not do it that way though..

rjirvine · December 26, 2009

I have same year truck, had same problem at 100k, just like you. The heat shields just kind of sit there-loose. Just curious what kind of plugs you're gonna use. I think 41-952 @ .060 was stock. They don't make them anymore. 41-985 is replacement. I had terrible luck with those. Went with NGK 55's @ .044. They are copper core and are $2 each. I destroyed my wires getting them off.

desrtrat · December 26, 2009

when you replace the wires, get a small tube of dielectric grease, and run s small bead in the boots. run it back and forth between your fingers, and it will coat the inside evenly. do the same on the coil end. next time they will come off with out any issues..

good luck

BTW..a little anti seize compound on the plug threads works wonders also..

zedbear · December 28, 2009

I replaced my originals at 71K the other day. All but 3 came off easy. The ones that didn't I just yanked the wires right out of the boot, popped the boot off, pulled the metal terminal off with pliers and then removed plug.

jblakeney · December 28, 2009

I have pulled a bunch of plug wires off in my time. They usually become a part of the plug after a while on the vehicle. I have on occasion just broke the end of the plug off and removed the steel portion of the plug especially if I am putting new wires on (just remember to break the ceramic off DO NOT hit it and drive it in to the plug). If your putting plugs and wires on this method works great.

Edgewise, get a pair of plug wire boot pullers and keep twisting them... You may end up killing the metal boot that covers the plug wire boot. But New GM wires have the metal and I think they are available separate via GM. Have fun with #8 (works best from the bottom getting the boot off but I have a 2 post lift).....

DO NOT FORGET THE DIELECTRIC GREASE and next time things will go easier.

Jbo

dlstewart01 · December 28, 2009

I have pulled a bunch of plug wires off in my time. They usually become a part of the plug after a while on the vehicle. I have on occasion just broke the end of the plug off and removed the steel portion of the plug especially if I am putting new wires on (just remember to break the ceramic off DO NOT hit it and drive it in to the plug). If your putting plugs and wires on this method works great.

Edgewise, get a pair of plug wire boot pullers and keep twisting them... You may end up killing the metal boot that covers the plug wire boot. But New GM wires have the metal and I think they are available separate via GM. Have fun with #8 (works best from the bottom getting the boot off but I have a 2 post lift).....

DO NOT FORGET THE DIELECTRIC GREASE and next time things will go easier.

Jbo

Since the OPs question has been answered, I am going to high-jack this for one minute.

jblackeny, remember the discussion we had a while back about when the 4.3 V6 got the fuel filter in the tank, well I saw an 05 today that had the filter in the tank. it was a mid year production.

Now back to tough azz plug wires.

Keepontrying · December 28, 2009

Sounds like a good idea to put dielectic grease on the plugs sooner than later to make the later easier. My prior hemi had did not have plug wires, the cap was on the plugs. 2 plugs for each cylinder. one fired on the exhaust stroke to meet emissions.