How In The Hell Do These Plug Wires Come Off?

nuclear_ned · May 5, 2011

Well, I got my shipment of plugs in today to tune up the good old 5.3 2004 silverado. Cars I have had in the past just have the plug wires pull right off. I remember a friend of mine telling me these were different. You had to turn them a half turn and then they came off. So I turned the boot a half turn and nothing. I eventually pulled it off and completely screwed up the wire. A spring popped out of the end and it left the insides on the plug. I figured I did the operation wrong So I put the wire back on. Naturally the check engine light came on and the engine misfired.

My question is this... Are you supposed to grasp the metal portion and twist it and does this require a special wrench? Should I just replace the wires altogether? I figured I would go down to the auto parts store and just buy a replacement wire rather than spending 50 bucks on a whole new set.

Any advice would help.

Wires · May 5, 2011

Well, I got my shipment of plugs in today to tune up the good old 5.3 2004 silverado. Cars I have had in the past just have the plug wires pull right off. I remember a friend of mine telling me these were different. You had to turn them a half turn and then they came off. So I turned the boot a half turn and nothing. I eventually pulled it off and completely screwed up the wire. A spring popped out of the end and it left the insides on the plug. I figured I did the operation wrong So I put the wire back on. Naturally the check engine light came on and the engine misfired.

My question is this... Are you supposed to grasp the metal portion and twist it and does this require a special wrench? Should I just replace the wires altogether? I figured I would go down to the auto parts store and just buy a replacement wire rather than spending 50 bucks on a whole new set.

Any advice would help.

They should just slide on/off like normal. But, they tend to bond to the plug, so they won't budge. I found grabbing the metal part with a pair of pliers and twisting it side to side to break them loose worked. Then you can just pull them off. I did do the same as you though. You grab the wire and not the boot, and you'll have a couple of pieces.

I think the spring just contacts to the block to make a ground around the plug boot for EMI....

az'03Silverado · May 5, 2011

I usually twist the boot first to break it away from the plug, then move the boot in a circular motion while pulling. They're a pain in the butt though. Just takes some doing. I've broken more than one though. Usually a good idea to have a new set on hand.

nuclear_ned · May 5, 2011

I usually twist the boot first to break it away from the plug, then move the boot in a circular motion while pulling. They're a pain in the butt though. Just takes some doing. I've broken more than one though. Usually a good idea to have a new set on hand.

Thats pretty much what I did but ended up leaving some metal portion of the interior of the boot on the plug with some of the interior wiring hanging out of the boot.

ujtruck · May 5, 2011

I pulled mine out with a wise grip

gnet158 · May 6, 2011

You should always change the plugs & wires at the same time. Unfortunately the good ones are available locally or cost a bit much.

Doug_Scott · May 6, 2011

If a complete wire set is only $50 I would change them at the same time. I would also look at using some dielectric grease on the plug insulator as well. I am not sure if that is recommended anymore, if it is not, some one will correct me.