confused about spark plugs, please help
 

K guys, I am familiar with the site and I used the Search feature and after looking at different posts I decided to go ahead and ask anyway. Keep in mind I am no mechanic and dont have much knowledge on up keep. Therefore I am asking silly questions!

I have been getting poor gas mileage for the last few yrs. I have 31's on gears I am not sure of(stock 27). I got to thinking my spark plugs and wires are shot so I looked up the last time they were changed. March of 2000!!! mmk! the truck at the time had 99146 miles on it and now has 143011 or so. thats 44 thousand miles without change! Um I think that is bad?

So I am looking for a few answers.

1. I assume this is wayy past its time for plugs and wires?
2. What brand? OEM is the best? Buy those at toyota dealer?
3. How difficult is this task?

I think that is all. Thanks for all the help, you guys are all the best. Thanks again, Kyle

Edit* after posting this I saw VA's thread about his plugs. Hey VA or anyone else for that matter, do you have any recommendations for changing these puppies eventhough i will not be doing the job by myself. Thanks!

ngk, or denso are the best spark plugs... they are actually the oem specified approved replacement plugs

as for wires, check out this site somehwere... there is a company that makes custom ones fairly cheap.....

it is way past due for your plugs/wires

While your at it, change the distributor cap and rotor. The rotor is inside the distributor cap, and the dist. cap only has two screws that you loosen. very simple and effective.

Keep in mind I am no mechanic and dont have much knowledge on up keep. Therefore I am asking silly questions!
_______________________

whaaaaaat is the distributor cap, and rotor. What do they do. In the mean time I will be reading my manual(haynes)

I'm so confused i forgot what i was gonna ask.

1. Way past time
2. Go with the stockers. You can get plugs at the dealer, or check your owners manual for the part # and ask for it at the auto parts store...they're the same as the dealer plugs.
3. It's very easy, and so is the cap/rotor.

The distributor is the device that sends spark to the proper cylinder at the proper time, and the cap and rotor are wear items that should be replaced regularly.

Your Haynes manual should have instructions. Better yet, get a Factory Service Manual. Expensive, but WAY better. HTH

would it be cheaper to take it to my mechanic and have him do the work or go out and buy the tools to properly do the work myself?

I just did mine last Friday and it didn't take long, maybe an hour? Yours is a different engine though...

The actual changing process is a cakewalk. The difficulty comes in figuring out how to get the harder to reach ones.

This is a basic "repair" or tune up that everyone should or learn how to do, All you will need for a special tool is a spark plug socket (>$5) a socket wrench and a couple of extensions.
You probobly looking at a $100 to have someone do it for you but a quarter that if you do it yourself.

Give a man a fish.......
Teach him how to fish....

If you run into any problems while your changing them just get online and ask how to fix the problem.
:)

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day..."?

My father and I combined have logged nearly 700,000 miles on 5 Toyotas, and we found this out - factory plugs and factory plug wires. Period. Doesn't make sense but the motors run better and get better mileage on factory plugs. Also, on my 22RE 4Runner I went through 4 sets of plug wires, one VERY good expensive set, and ended up buying another set from the stealer. They perform the best. Just my .02

you guys have GOT to be kidding me. Easiest job on your truck!? I am no worlds strongest man but I am quite strong and I have yet to get the first wire off. I am resting since my arm was 'pumped' and I could no longer grip. Maybe I underestimated the job and better get it to my mechanic before any other harm is done.

I think that they have a tool to pull the boot from the plug, Not sure what causes it but they stick and can be a PITA,

If it was mine and it was stuck, I would try to break the plug....But thats just me.... :ignore:

Try another one...

I am assuming this is a V6...on the driver's side, you will have to take of the hoses that feed air into the trottle body. Also, grip the old wire by the boot and not the wire. It may take a little effort, but it will come off. The dist. cap has 3 8mm(Ithink) screws. The hardest plug to get to is cylinder #5 (pass. side/back). I just kinda feel my way one that one. Once you get the dist. cap off, the rotor is the thing that looks like a triangle/arrow shape. Just pull, and it comes off. Putting a new one on is idiot proof. If you get some plugs that are tough to get out, get a can of pb blaster. Soak the plug and just work it loose/tight. I wish I knew you were doing this for the first time, I would have taken some pics.

LOL - you're right - they can be stuck thoroughly and of course a b**ch to reach and pull at such an odd angle. Actually a plug wire puller (like $5) is a good investment. It's easy to yank the wire out of the boot, and they never seem right after you put em back together.

Here is another link:
http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.p...eferrerid=5289

Thanks everyone for your time and information. I have all of the wires on and 5 of the spark plugs in. I am doing the #5 sp tomorrow. It will be ok to drive and see the performance difference with that 1 bad spark plug right? I had one problem with the number 3 plug. I broke it off but luckily got it out, whew. Thanks again everyone for your help. This project, gone into prepared and calm is nothing to worry about. Regards, Kyle

Not only is it cheaper doing it yourself, but it's gratifying after you're done (and the rig is running...:D ). It also gets you familiar with your rig such that you'll begin to notice things that aren't right before they become catastrophic.