96 ES300 $3.99 part Not Available must pay $149 at Dealer
07-19-08, 01:56 AM
#1
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
96 ES300 $3.99 part Not Available must pay $149 at Dealer
I recently changed all spark plugs on my lady's 96 ES300 and discovered her previous retarded wrench placed a dual tipped spark plug in one of the bays and the remaing 5 were standard singled tip plugs. I was horrified but no big deal replaced them with new plugs anyways.
The issue was the bay with the dual tipped plug was apparently miss-firing. I am guessing the idiot wrench was trying to force it to fire some how. Luckily it was the front bank. I looked down the bay and noticed a spring. Used a magnet SST and retrieved it. I pulled off the spark plug cover off the next bay and the rubber sleeve slipped off then I discovered a spring inside the sleeve. Apparently the spring is a conductor for the spark plug wires.
Problem, the diameter of the spring I found was too thin so it just fell through the hole and down on into the bay, the idiot wrench's attempt to fix it probabaly. I widened it the best I could to insure it wound not fall through and properly conduct the current but was really insecure about it.
I went to the Lexus dealer and they do not sell the spring by itself, I had to purchase a new spark plug wire cover assembly at $149. Screw That!
I went to Home Depot and found a plumbing SS spring set kit about 3/4" long and 3/8" wide a close to perfect fit. Adjusted the end to ensure conduction. Dropped the little sucker in and it did not fall through, reconnected the plug cover. Bingo fired right up no miss fires. Cost $3.99, Smile on my face Priceless.
Jim
The issue was the bay with the dual tipped plug was apparently miss-firing. I am guessing the idiot wrench was trying to force it to fire some how. Luckily it was the front bank. I looked down the bay and noticed a spring. Used a magnet SST and retrieved it. I pulled off the spark plug cover off the next bay and the rubber sleeve slipped off then I discovered a spring inside the sleeve. Apparently the spring is a conductor for the spark plug wires.
Problem, the diameter of the spring I found was too thin so it just fell through the hole and down on into the bay, the idiot wrench's attempt to fix it probabaly. I widened it the best I could to insure it wound not fall through and properly conduct the current but was really insecure about it.
I went to the Lexus dealer and they do not sell the spring by itself, I had to purchase a new spark plug wire cover assembly at $149. Screw That!
I went to Home Depot and found a plumbing SS spring set kit about 3/4" long and 3/8" wide a close to perfect fit. Adjusted the end to ensure conduction. Dropped the little sucker in and it did not fall through, reconnected the plug cover. Bingo fired right up no miss fires. Cost $3.99, Smile on my face Priceless.
Jim
Last edited by DRACO A5OG; 07-19-08 at 02:36 AM.
It's nice when things work out the way you want.
07-27-08, 03:40 PM
#5
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
When the girl behind the Lexus counter told me the price, I said, WTF?!?
Then I said "Well it's Home Depot Time" She looked at me like I was a Crazy Dude. Crazy like a Fox
I later found out Auto Zone sell them for half the price. Still too much for a gosh damn spring.
Then I said "Well it's Home Depot Time" She looked at me like I was a Crazy Dude. Crazy like a Fox
I later found out Auto Zone sell them for half the price. Still too much for a gosh damn spring.
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