I've got a 99 Caravan SE. Had the van in to the dealer for the clockspring recall yesterday and asked them to change the plugs while they were at it. They wanted $215.00 to change 6 plugs....needless to say I told them forget it and said I'd probably do it myself.
This is a 3.3 engine, how should I get to the back plugs? Anyone here done this before?
Thx in advance.
gas28man
07-21-2005, 03:04 PM
Yes. Change the front three (and put in new wires) yourself, and then pay a local mechanic $50 or $60 to install the back three (wires, too). Short of removing the intake plenum, there is no way for a shadetree to do this job without a lift (as you must come up from underneath) and some fairly exotic tools, not to mention some long fingers.
This question has been posed many times on this board. A couple of folks have removed the plenum. You have to get a gasket (dealer-only part, I believe) for about $7-$8, and there are frequent complications, vacuum leaks, etc. No one who posts here has said they successfully did it any other way.
Yeah, it's a bite in the ass to shell out the money for three spark plugs, but what's your time and aggrevation worth?
Rick
baldguy
07-21-2005, 04:15 PM
Well...that's what I was thinking too. I just couldn't see paying the stealership $200+ to change plugs...I knew it wasn't going to be easy on the back three.
Thanks for the quick reply....
mmahamm
07-22-2005, 03:30 PM
Yes. Change the front three (and put in new wires) yourself, and then pay a local mechanic $50 or $60 to install the back three (wires, too). Short of removing the intake plenum, there is no way for a shadetree to do this job without a lift (as you must come up from underneath) and some fairly exotic tools, not to mention some long fingers.
This question has been posed many times on this board. A couple of folks have removed the plenum. You have to get a gasket (dealer-only part, I believe) for about $7-$8, and there are frequent complications, vacuum leaks, etc. No one who posts here has said they successfully did it any other way.
Yeah, it's a bite in the ass to shell out the money for three spark plugs, but what's your time and aggrevation worth?
Rick
OR -
Buy 7 or 8 plugs and change the back ones yourself. The one in the back on the left (looking at the engine from the front) is very difficult but possible. I think I got it from underneath. But I broke one and had to go back to the parts store and get a replacement. That's why I say buy 7 or 8.
...oh plus I learned a lot of new words that are helpful when working on the car. Unfortunately, none of them are printable here.
jdabreeze
08-04-2005, 12:02 PM
I just did it on my 95 3.3 not hard. Just do it from underneath. Secure the vehicle high enough that you can slide under on your side. Bring a 3/8 ratchet, 2inch extention, and a sparkplug socket that still has the rubber holder donut in it( you'll need the sparkplug to stay in the socket as you pull it out and when you put the new one in.). If you are changing the wires watch the routing and have a helper feed them down to you. Took me about 30 minutes with 15 for the right rear plug thats behind a "torque strut?". the problem being I didn't have enough leverage to push the plug wire down hard enough for it to snap onto the plug but i did finally manage to do it. I put in premium platinum plugs so hopefully I wont have to do that again.
hardest part is getting the grease and oil out of your armpit afterwards :crazy: .
baldguy
08-04-2005, 12:08 PM
Now I haven't decided what I'm going to do.....whether pay someone to do the back three or do it myself.....I'm also wondering if this is going to be as difficult as it's going to be to change the 16 plugs my Hemi has...... :D
gas28man
08-04-2005, 01:29 PM
I salute you, jdabreeze. You're the first poster I've heard of that has successfully done this job at home.
Ya gotta remember, though, that the 96-00 was a ground-up redesign -- cab-forward and all that. I think I might have obstructions you don't. I suppose I can try again, though.
I seem to remember my mechanic telling me that the only way he knew how to do it was with an air ratchet and a cable extension, two things I wasn't willing to invest in.
Rick
baldguy
08-04-2005, 01:38 PM
Hmmmmm I have an air ratchet and a ujoint socket.....now you guys have really got me wondering.
