Don’t you hate the sinking feeling you get when you realize you have stripped a bolt or broken the head off a fastener. The car project, whatever it was, suddenly got harder and less fun.

Near the top of the Don't-strip-or-break-it list are spark plugs. Nobody wants damaged threads in a cylinder head or half a spark plug frozen in place. Unfortunately, the potential for problems increases when high mileage spark plugs are left untouched in relatively soft aluminum cylinder heads.

Watch Pat Goss's hands-on tips for removing spark plugs without breaking them. Hopefully you will learn a few things that will keep the next spark plug change fun, not nerve wracking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oUsFFkH ... r_embedded

Listed under Extras and some specific car models, RockAuto has spark plug non-foulers and spark plug hole chaser tools that can clean up damaged threads. There are even tools specifically designed to remove broken spark plugs and bits of spark plug porcelain from the Ford Triton engines.

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www.RockAuto.com

Moderator, please move this Thread to TECH TIPS forum?

Years ago, I bought a 560SL in need of the 30K service which I set off to do myself. Half the plugs are tough to access. I didn't know that the only smart way to access #8 plug is with a hand up from under the engine. Went cross-thread on me. The engine is aluminum with coated cylinders, not steel liners. Any metal debris in there would do a world of damage. Anyone want to buy a replacement 5.6 litre Benz V-8? Not me. Flat-bed to the dealer and off with its head. Down $1500 and that's a long time ago!

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1980 280ZX 2+2
2003 350z Touring
2005 350Z Touring - Silverstone Gray
CT plate PHILSZ