Spark Plugs

[bherder]

Hey all! (94 Caravan 3.3L)

Last weekend, while I was under my kid's Caravan, replacing the O2 sensor (THAT was fun..) the thought occured to me that 'Ya know... One of these days, I might have to put a set of new plugs in this..'
Well, the front bank is easy to get to, the rear bank however....

I know there will be NO 'easy' way to do this... But there has got to be a way that will lessen the bloody knuckles and chances of me cussing and throwing tools around the shop.

Any tips on this?

[vabear]

The easiest way is to let a technician do this. Barring that I took the cowl piece off as well as the tub under the windshield and it made things easier, I guess this is why the plugs are listed as a 100,000 mile replacement item.

[Dodgevanman]

When I turned wrenches for a living I did the these plugs from underneath. It was still a PITA. The 80's/early-90's minivans were a lot easier to work on.

[RickMN]

Remove the windshield wiper tub assembly. It will take you about 20-30 minutes, but it will open up the entire back end of the engine. You won't cut yourself or use any curse words. Much much better than going in from the bottom.

[bherder]

Hey guys, thanks for the tips!! :D

I like vabears' idea of 'Let someone else do it' ... Thats always the easiest! ;)

However I can see pulling into the local tech and having him say"Oh ... It's one of THOSE. Well, normally I'd charge $XX , but because these are such a PITA, I charge $XXX" kinda' thing.

I'm not going to do it right now (The van runs like a top and I just spent 2 grand on it for a remanufactured tranny) but it is my son's 'going back and forth to college on weekends' rig and I don't want him stuck out in the middle of nowhere... so this is 'off in the future' ....

I think when it comes time, I WILL buy the 'Titanium triple-platimun thermo-nuclear $15.00 each' type of plug... And some very good wires....

So I guess there is a couple of ways to go on this... It doesn't look like it's going to be a walk-in-the-park anyway you look at it.. ;)

[ricco7777]

Hi,
I've got a 97 caravan with 125K with the original plugs. I'm in the same boat. I noticed you wanted to put in a premium plug. My reseach shows only a cheap Champion will work for the long haul. The exotic plugs don't seem to work. You might spend the money and not get the desired results. I heard you can remove the front mtr mount and torque the motor so it leans to the front to give some access to the back plugs. I dread the thought of having to do that job!
Good Luck! :crazy:
Rich

[vabear]

You can remove the intake grill in front of the windshield and then the tub that sits below that and there should be enough room, it is a PITA to be sure.

[vhs]

I just did my 98 Caravan 3.3 from underneath with jackstands and a stretched arm, it wasn't so bad, you have to move back towards the rear of the van and work up at an angle instead of being directly underneath. Two hours and an 8 year old handing you new plugs helps!

[TomQuick]

I too have been contemplating doing plugs on my '97. It has around 135,000 on it. I've only owned it for a couple of years, but I don't believe it has ever had new plugs. I was looking at possibly removing some of the brackets on the passengers side of the engine, and then shoving my arm in through the opening there, but I will look at it again, to see what kind of clearance I would gain by removing the wiper tub.

[martinv]

1994? Thats one of the easier ones ;) Try it on a 1997 model.

This is one reason I am considing trying to find another 92-95 caravan to replace my 1992 caravan that has 338,000 miles on it. I have a 97 and 98 and find I prefer the old one. Seats more comfortable, steering not so touchy (I do mostly highway driving), Flat surface on the dash for mounting my gps, etc. And the A/C only works on my 1992!.

It seems to be a goal for the designers to have no extra space in the engine compartment.

[martinv]

I too have been contemplating doing plugs on my '97. It has around 135,000 on it. I've only owned it for a couple of years, but I don't believe it has ever had new plugs. I was looking at possibly removing some of the brackets on the passengers side of the engine, and then shoving my arm in through the opening there, but I will look at it again, to see what kind of clearance I would gain by removing the wiper tub.

That seems to be what my Chilton manual seems to call for. It's not easy either. The driver side may work, but there is a bracket that supports the intake manifold that I can't get enough leverage to get the rear bolt loose. Even if I got it off, it would still probably be difficult to reach the furthest plug.

The only way I haven't investigated is the what RickMN said:

Remove the windshield wiper tub assembly. It will take you about 20-30 minutes, but it will open up the entire back end of the engine. You won't cut yourself or use any curse words. Much much better than going in from the bottom. I plan to try this on my 1998 caravan.

I had the entire engine out on my 1997 to replace a broken cam shaft. I made it a point to put in new plugs while I had the engine out.

I wonder if those that desiged this vehicle ever tried replacing spark plugs.

[acton mike]

I have done the plugs from up top on a 1994 3.3

the drivers side plug and the center plug are difficult but not impossible; you need a couple of extensions

putting them back in is a bit if a challenge

use a short piece of windshield washer hose and push it over the end of the plug and then fish it into the hole and start the threads by turning the hose; with a bit of patience the plug will thread; you cannot generate enough torque to bugger the threads

For the passenger end plug you need to take of a support bracket that runs from the block to the alternator bracket -it is impossible to change the plug with this bracket in place

you can change the plugs from up top; not fun but if you do not have access to a hoist it is a heck of a lot easier than trying to do them from the bottom with the van on the ground or up on ramps/jack stands

have patience and good luck