Spark Plugs Change or not at 60K?
#91
Just finished 5/6 spark plugs last night. I can tell you that #5 going from passenger side to driver side was very difficult, and I'm sure I did not use the elegant method. #6 looks to be physically impossible. I have the manual straight from Lexus and its sort of lacking, in my experience.
I was up against the clock and growing quite frustrated, so I buttoned up the car to make sure I could start it and off I went. Live to fight another day.
Will have to devise a plan on how I'm going to tackle #6 and hopefully can get it posted. Looks like there is a very deep and hard-to-reach bolt that anchors the main Engine Wire to the "Intake Air Surge Tank Assembly", which I'll need a dedicated angled ratcheting wrench for, rather than a flex head ratchet (with drive) that I was using.
I was up against the clock and growing quite frustrated, so I buttoned up the car to make sure I could start it and off I went. Live to fight another day.
Will have to devise a plan on how I'm going to tackle #6 and hopefully can get it posted. Looks like there is a very deep and hard-to-reach bolt that anchors the main Engine Wire to the "Intake Air Surge Tank Assembly", which I'll need a dedicated angled ratcheting wrench for, rather than a flex head ratchet (with drive) that I was using.
#92
Just finished 5/6 spark plugs last night. I can tell you that #5 going from passenger side to driver side was very difficult, and I'm sure I did not use the elegant method. #6 looks to be physically impossible. I have the manual straight from Lexus and its sort of lacking, in my experience.
I was up against the clock and growing quite frustrated, so I buttoned up the car to make sure I could start it and off I went. Live to fight another day.
Will have to devise a plan on how I'm going to tackle #6 and hopefully can get it posted. Looks like there is a very deep and hard-to-reach bolt that anchors the main Engine Wire to the "Intake Air Surge Tank Assembly", which I'll need a dedicated angled ratcheting wrench for, rather than a flex head ratchet (with drive) that I was using.
I was up against the clock and growing quite frustrated, so I buttoned up the car to make sure I could start it and off I went. Live to fight another day.
Will have to devise a plan on how I'm going to tackle #6 and hopefully can get it posted. Looks like there is a very deep and hard-to-reach bolt that anchors the main Engine Wire to the "Intake Air Surge Tank Assembly", which I'll need a dedicated angled ratcheting wrench for, rather than a flex head ratchet (with drive) that I was using.
Last edited by s3v3n; 01-20-21 at 05:26 AM.
#93
I'm thinking if I can remove the clamp from the Engine Wire closest to the windshield, that should provide enough clearance.
Do you have any pics?
#94
Just finished 5/6 spark plugs last night. I can tell you that #5 going from passenger side to driver side was very difficult, and I'm sure I did not use the elegant method. #6 looks to be physically impossible. I have the manual straight from Lexus and its sort of lacking, in my experience.
I was up against the clock and growing quite frustrated, so I buttoned up the car to make sure I could start it and off I went. Live to fight another day.
Will have to devise a plan on how I'm going to tackle #6 and hopefully can get it posted. Looks like there is a very deep and hard-to-reach bolt that anchors the main Engine Wire to the "Intake Air Surge Tank Assembly", which I'll need a dedicated angled ratcheting wrench for, rather than a flex head ratchet (with drive) that I was using.
I was up against the clock and growing quite frustrated, so I buttoned up the car to make sure I could start it and off I went. Live to fight another day.
Will have to devise a plan on how I'm going to tackle #6 and hopefully can get it posted. Looks like there is a very deep and hard-to-reach bolt that anchors the main Engine Wire to the "Intake Air Surge Tank Assembly", which I'll need a dedicated angled ratcheting wrench for, rather than a flex head ratchet (with drive) that I was using.
#96
Lexus has this replacement as a requirement to maintain the Emissions Warranty.
I finally got the last spark plug out and a new one in, but I had to do it in a roundabout way and unfortunately, the metal brace that keeps that portion of the engine wire anchored to the main engine block is no longer screwed down. There isn't a tool in the world to get that bolt back in. The plastic engine wiring is locked onto the metal piece via some sort of tab lock. It has to be undone to access the 6th plug the way Lexus intended you to. Unfortunately, this tab lock is at the *bottom* of the engine wiring and it's impossible to see how the tab works and thus how to unlock it.
Therefore, on the 3IS at least, I had to unbolt what I'm guessing you guys call the "screw from hell". Unbolting it was actually quite easy. Going in reverse was dang near impossible. It's also not called for in the instructions - it's the clamp at the far right of the next image. Notice the dotted line box is highlighting the *underside* of this clamp.
In examining the design while I was under the hood, I have to say I think this metal bracket/clamp (called the "Wire Harness Clamp Bracket" according to the service manual) doesn't serve any real purpose. The large wiring harness ("Engine Wire") that envelopes the entire engine like some tentacles (the bolded graphic on the above pic) is secured in so many places that by the time it exits out toward the 6th spark plug, it's already completely secure and not moving an inch. Heck, I had someone rev the car while I was under the hood and can confirm that even when unbolted, it doesn't vibrate/shake/move in any way at all.
I've been unable to locate the exact part number, but will try and post here when I do.
No matter, the spark plugs have been serviced and today I will be tackling the ATF, front and rear diff oils. It's like the SAT Exam - just move on to the next question
Last edited by nitroracer; 01-21-21 at 05:57 AM.
#97
Hi planning on changing my plugs in upcoming weeks. Will buy probably from Rockauto as they are like half price of Canada's price (14 instead of 27 CAD). Does anyone noticed cracks on boot? Did you buy boot kit also? I am at 120K KM where service was supposed to be at 96K KM
#98
Hi planning on changing my plugs in upcoming weeks. Will buy probably from Rockauto as they are like half price of Canada's price (14 instead of 27 CAD). Does anyone noticed cracks on boot? Did you buy boot kit also? I am at 120K KM where service was supposed to be at 96K KM
#99
As this will be your first plug change, I'd like to think the boots will be just fine.
Worse case if one needs replacing, swap the coil with another one on the engine that is the easiest to get to...that way if you need to change the boot it will be quick and easy.
But honestly they should be fine.
Worse case if one needs replacing, swap the coil with another one on the engine that is the easiest to get to...that way if you need to change the boot it will be quick and easy.
But honestly they should be fine.
#101
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carrwash13
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
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12-12-11 10:42 AM