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Stuck Plug Wires

ikahead

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ikahead Enthusiast

ikahead

Posted
Posted

Hello all, I'm a first time poster here and have a question for you. I am trying to remove the spark plugs on my newly acquired 2003 5.3l sierra with 61000 miles on it, but the wires seem to be stuck on the plug. I had cases before with wires being stuck, and they almost always came apart no matter how careful I was. Is there a certain way that these wires has to be removed, or do I just have to really yank on them? Thanks.

99-2door Senior Enthusiast

99-2door

Posted
Posted

These wires can be on there pretty good sometimes. Twist the end while pulling. If one is stubborn, I use a real small pry bar to push the bottom of the boot away from the engine. Haven't had one break yet.

 

Good luck

unit731 Senior Enthusiast

unit731

Posted
Posted

Aren't all spark plugs 100,000 miles plugs now?

 

Is one plug bad or are just replacing them for better gas mileage or something else?

Genuinefine409 Enthusiast

Genuinefine409

Posted
Posted
Aren't all spark plugs 100,000 miles plugs now?

 

Is one plug bad or are just replacing them for better gas mileage or something else?

 

 

I never had spark plugs come close to that(a friend did and when he changed them he said he noctied a big difference), I guess i could've made it to it but they needed replaced long before 100,000.

 

When you put your new wires on, get some dielectric grease and smudge on them, it'll help get them off next time, unless next time is like 5 years, i think that stuff evenly dries up. I use it on the coil side and the plug side of the wire. Never had any stick yet.

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

Stan, you just have to yank them off. You can try to be careful but I would not try to re-use them. Have a new set on hand, and just pull the old ones off with force. Even if they come off and look good, I would not reuse them because they will likely be damaged internally. Ditto on the dielectric grease in the boots and I would add to use some anti seize on the plug threads. Just use it sparingly. Also, make sure you pull the plugs when the engine is cold. Plugs coming out of hot alum heads will sometimes bring the threads of the head with them. Not a good thing.

 

Unit 731, yes they are supposed to be 100K mile plugs and they will certainly last that long if you want to do it. Will they be doing their job at peak efficeincy at 100K, I would not think so. Just like your Dexcool Coolant is a 5 year coolant. It will last 5 years but I would certainly not recommend leaving it in there that long.

Norseman Senior Enthusiast

Norseman

Posted
Posted
Stan, you just have to yank them off. You can try to be careful but I would not try to re-use them. Have a new set on hand, and just pull the old ones off with force. Even if they come off and look good, I would not reuse them because they will likely be damaged internally. Ditto on the dielectric grease in the boots and I would add to use some anti seize on the plug threads. Just use it sparingly. Also, make sure you pull the plugs when the engine is cold. Plugs coming out of hot alum heads will sometimes bring the threads of the head with them. Not a good thing.

 

Unit 731, yes they are supposed to be 100K mile plugs and they will certainly last that long if you want to do it. Will they be doing their job at peak efficeincy at 100K, I would not think so. Just like your Dexcool Coolant is a 5 year coolant. It will last 5 years but I would certainly not recommend leaving it in there that long.

 

I must agree with everything Trey just said. I would add just one thing --- wear some mechanic gloves they will save your knuckles.

gmcjoe Senior Enthusiast

gmcjoe

Posted
Posted

My OEM delcos were toast by 80K on my 2000 5.3l GMC, the 100K thing is total BS

 

I just changed my plugs again this past weekend, I've been running Taylor 8mm wires for 100K miles or so and two came apart from the clip that goes around the plug. I replaced them with Bosch wires with a lifetime warranty :ughdance:

 

Regarding removing the wires, I agree with the grab/twist/pull method.

 

Remember to use some dialectric grease when re-installing the wires :ughdance:

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

Joe, I can tell you that it does not matter what brand of wire you use when it comes to the ends pulling off. I do believe there is a difference in the quality of wires but a 100k miles of underhood heat will make most any of them break somewhere when they are being removed. The bad thing is that sometimes you cannot see the break and they cause problems down the road if they are re-installed.

 

Good luck with the Bosch wires. I wonder if they will warranty them if the end pulls off?

Draenor Senior Enthusiast

Draenor

Posted
Posted
The bad thing is that sometimes you cannot see the break and they cause problems down the road if they are re-installed.

No, the bad thing is when you go fooling around in the engine compartment with the engine running. You'll find out which one has the break. :ughdance:

Tylerz71 Enthusiast

Tylerz71

Posted
Posted

I have a silly question; How exactly do you know its tie to replace plugs/wires? Will a light or something come on?

I ask this because I have 93,000 miles on my gmc, and to my knowledge they have never been changed. Ill go check under the hood to be sure...

Norseman Senior Enthusiast

Norseman

Posted
Posted
I have a silly question; How exactly do you know its tie to replace plugs/wires? Will a light or something come on?

I ask this because I have 93,000 miles on my gmc, and to my knowledge they have never been changed. Ill go check under the hood to be sure...

 

Putting a new set in there right now sure wouldn't hurt none.

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted

Tyler, I really am not sure about the cost of the AC Delco wires and I will not knock their quality. At the risk of sounding like I am trying to sell you something, I would highly recommend Prestolite Wires. They are the supplier for our (CARQUEST) premium wires and supply the wires to almost 70 % of the OE mfgs in the world. In other words, there is a good chance the AC Delco wires you buy were made by Presolite. There are certainly other good brands out there, Standard Ignition, Bleden(NAPA's supplier) etc etc. Just make sure you are getting a premium wire because almost all parts stores will offer 2 levels of quality.

 

If you look into our wires, be sure and ask for the Premium wires, which are Prestolite. We also offer an economy line of wires which are good wires but not the same as the Prestolites.

 

PS You may notice in my sig I have Taylor 8.2 wires on my own truck. They are great wires but I ordered them because I wanted Red wires and Prestolite did not offer them. Like ithe color really makes a difference. :) and

ikahead Enthusiast

ikahead

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Stan, you just have to yank them off. You can try to be careful but I would not try to re-use them. Have a new set on hand, and just pull the old ones off with force. Even if they come off and look good, I would not reuse them because they will likely be damaged internally. Ditto on the dielectric grease in the boots and I would add to use some anti seize on the plug threads. Just use it sparingly. Also, make sure you pull the plugs when the engine is cold. Plugs coming out of hot alum heads will sometimes bring the threads of the head with them. Not a good thing.

 

Unit 731, yes they are supposed to be 100K mile plugs and they will certainly last that long if you want to do it. Will they be doing their job at peak efficeincy at 100K, I would not think so. Just like your Dexcool Coolant is a 5 year coolant. It will last 5 years but I would certainly not recommend leaving it in there that long.

 

 

I just bought the truck with 61000 miles on it and wanted to inspect the plugs, but I think I'll take your advise to go ahead and change out the plugs and wires at the same time and not have to worry about it for another 50000 miles. I also have some dielectric grease on hand for the installation. Thanks.

gmcjoe Senior Enthusiast

gmcjoe

Posted
Posted
Joe, I can tell you that it does not matter what brand of wire you use when it comes to the ends pulling off. I do believe there is a difference in the quality of wires but a 100k miles of underhood heat will make most any of them break somewhere when they are being removed. The bad thing is that sometimes you cannot see the break and they cause problems down the road if they are re-installed.

 

Good luck with the Bosch wires. I wonder if they will warranty them if the end pulls off?

I never said they broke because they were Taylors, I think they broke because they were so well used/old.

 

The only reason I didn't replace them with Taylors was nobody locally carried them and I had no time to order them online and wait for them. Delcos were $75.00 and the Bosch wires were $50, that and the fact that Bosh makes some good wires are why I went with them :)

 

Regarding the warranty, lifetime warranty means if they break they will be replaced IMO, 10K miles or 100K miles. We'll find out next time around :cheers:

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