tilting a 3800

Hi guys,

I attempted to change the spark plugs on our '04 Grand Prix and stopped once I realized I couldn't pull the spark plug wires off the plugs located at the firewall side of the engine.

I looked at my Haynes manual and found that I need to disconnect the battery cable, disconnect the air intake hose, remove the coolant over flow tank, and then the motor support bolts and tilt the mounts up and use a pry bar to tilt the engine forward to allow more room to replace the spark plugs.

I looked over the forum and saw that someone uses a ratchet strap to move the engine after unbolting the motor supports. I think my Haynes manual doesn't cover the 2004 to 2008 Grand Prix models very well and I can't see why I need to remove the coolant overflow tank.

Any insight of the best way to tilt a Series III 3800 engine to change the rear spark plugs?

You don't need to tilt the engine to get at those plugs.
However, probably 50% of us do because it's more comfortable.
There's no need to remove anything. Just unbolt the front/top motor mounts and ratchet the engine forward.
OR.
You can unbolt the motor mounts then push the car a few inches and use the parking brake to hold it at the point of highest tilt.

yea rolling it forward helps alot for that, and also im pretty sure you have to remove that pesky o2 thats blocking the sparks, if you dont have too, it certainly helps..

You need only to roll it forward and nothing else. I don't even unhook the intake tube since it's an accordian and you are pulling it together.

No negative battery cables needed
No overflow needed
No intake needed.

Try changing the second plug in the back with headers in the way.....

...your point?

Originally Posted by deadsnake

Try changing the second plug in the back with headers in the way.....

Not as bad as changing the #6 plug when the waste gate is in the way.

thanks guys. I will try to unbolt the dog bones and move it a little. I agree it is reachable without doing anything, but it is difficult getting the plug wires off the plugs and if I had a little extra room in there it would be easier to work.

The car has about 75,000 miles and has the factory plugs and ignition cables. Maybe I should buy new ignition cables too.

I just did all 6 plugs this morning, my finger tips are sore from pulling at the plug boots, but they're really not that bad, didnt tilt the motor or take anything apart at all.

The key is just to wiggle hard while you pull on it hard, and pull on the boot, not the wire, it will come loose slowly. If you wiggle hard and pull hard, then let it go and push the metal cover down a little bit at a time, it will come looser while giving you a larger area to grip as the metal sleeve slides farther down each time. It might seem like it isnt coming off, but it definitely will, I just put a soft blanket down on top of the motor to lay on. Leaned on the capped off middle nozzle on my supercharger vacuum tree on the top and snapped it off though... I just jammed a plug in it for now, lol.

For the last one where the o2 sensor is, either take out the o2 sensor first, or I got it most of the way off by hand where it was pulling loose but not coming all the way off. I just used both hands, right hand with a pair of robo grip pliers on the boot and the other hand on the boot itself, propped myself up with my forehead on the soft weather strip at the back of the engine compartment and pulled until my face turned red, popped right off, lol.

try one thats 11 years old. I had to rip the back wires off with channel locks!
Put some di-electric grease on them to make it easier next time.

Grease makes it 200% easier to get off next time, and a 99 cent packet from advance or where ever is enough to do all 6 plugs.

Thanks again. I was wiggling hard on those wires and I pulled on them by the boot. I bought a pair of plug wire pliers, but it's difficult to find space to use them along the firewall.

I will try FriboRage's idea of pushing the steel boot cover down as I pull the boot to allow more boot to grab. Maybe some silicone spray could find a way down between the boot and steel cover too. I'll try FriboRage's advice before I tilt the engine. Our car doesn't have a supercharger or headers. It's pretty much my wife's grocery getter.

I changed the plugs on my '65 GTO in about a half hour a month ago. Cars aren't as easy to work on like they used to be.

these wires need a good twist back and fourth, then give em a yank. no twist no break the seal on the plug. worst comes to worst, take a straight blade knife and cut the boot down low, along the spark plug, then rip it off.

Originally Posted by txslow6

Not as bad as changing the #6 plug when the waste gate is in the way.

...with a turned #6 primary

Removing the engine cover and lift bracket make things much easier. Having headers ....a two year old could do the plugs. Having a turbo.. keep all that power in mind while you fight. It's worth it..but what a pain.

I find that pushing the metal sleeve toward the engine, then twisting to breat the boot to plug seal, then pull/wiggle works very well.

I once decided not to mess with the wires. A long screwdriver and hammer got the wires (and part of the plug off). Only downside is if a piece of the plug inside decides to break off. Ehhh I didn't worry.

Here is a guaranteed method to removing plugs & boots, I crafted it a few months ago. Once I got these peericks off, I replaced everything using diaelectric grease & I can get the plugs off using my mind alone.


No ratcheting engine forward, plugs are OEM 144K miles, all wires broke off boots in rear.

The following instructions are pure gold & will provide results if conventional methods don't work:

1. Fire up & consume a medium rare to rare steak (t bone of course) and a minimum of 12oz
2. Take down 2 beers at a brisk pace & follow with one red bull (30 min max)
3. Wait an additional 5-10 mins for personal supercharging effect (beers & bull)
4. Throw yourself on he motor (dress pants and all)
5. Remove big bracket at rear
6. Take the hand that best fits, combine that with supercharging effect and imagine your hand is the same one in the Foo Fighters music video "Everlong" - sweet vid please watch
7. Let out savage native indian scalping cry
8. Grab boot & treat it like your worst enemy
9. Boot will yield
10. Explain to wife & kids the screaming in the garage
11. Go watch the game

Originally Posted by Elite6

Here is a guaranteed method to removing plugs & boots, I crafted it a few months ago. Once I got these peericks off, I replaced everything using diaelectric grease & I can get the plugs off using my mind alone.


No ratcheting engine forward, plugs are OEM 144K miles, all wires broke off boots in rear.

The following instructions are pure gold & will provide results if conventional methods don't work:

1. Fire up & consume a medium rare to rare steak (t bone of course) and a minimum of 12oz
2. Take down 2 beers at a brisk pace & follow with one red bull (30 min max)
3. Wait an additional 5-10 mins for personal supercharging effect (beers & bull)
4. Throw yourself on he motor (dress pants and all)
5. Remove big bracket at rear
6. Take the hand that best fits, combine that with supercharging effect and imagine your hand is the same one in the Foo Fighters music video "Everlong" - sweet vid please watch
7. Let out savage native indian scalping cry
8. Grab boot & treat it like your worst enemy
9. Boot will yield
10. Explain to wife & kids the screaming in the garage
11. Go watch the game

I know this is old but i'm laughing my balls off right now.

lol. ive never had the pleasure of changing spark plugs on a v6 FWD. ive owned 8 cars in the past.9 years. all but one were FWD 4pots. the one that wasnt, was my 87 LTD. never had a better time changing plugs/wires. i loathe the day i decide to dive under the hood of my Olds.

Stop being a wuss and realize it's not bad unless the plugs are a million years old. Then it's still not bad.

With regard to the tip of using dielectric grease, what would you grease on the new spark plug? Just the tip or should you give the ceramic a decent coating so the boot doesn't stick to it?