im doin some maintanence on my 4runner with the 3.0 and i just can't figure out how to get my spark plugs out. i got the drivers side, you just take off the air tube but the passenger side is all jammed up in there. do you take off the plenum or go in through the fender? just dont see how you could do it without something being taken off. thanks for the help.
-Kyle

 

I didn't have to take anything off for either side, just used an extension.

 

how do you get all in there i got my hand in there to change the wires but dont see how u can get in there with an extension and see what ur doing. has anyone tried to go in through the fender?

 

it helps too if you want to remove the battery from its place as you are doing the passenger side. I used extension when i replaced mine but its nice to check if there's dirt going with the sparkplug as you put it in place and by removing the battery, it helps to provide a working space.

Likewise, you can clean the battery posts too thouroughly when its out there.

 

I have never had any problem getting the passenger side plugs out. They were easy compared to the drivers side.

 

You don't have to remove anything. The 1 and 3 plug (front and middle) are easy. All you need is a longer extension. The 5 plug is a little more trickey. You have to pretty much do it by feel. I have small hands so it wasn't too bad for me. Just be careful threading it in there. Make sure you use anti-seize and it should thread it fairly easily. I can't remember if I put the new plug in the extension and then started threading it or if I started it by hand.

It can be done. It just takes some patience.

 

Use a sparkplug socket that has the little rubber grommet inside to hold the plug on insertion, with about 18" of extension, and a U-joint swivel on one end. I just did mine after a seafoam treatment. Man, I hate doing the driver side. This time I tore up the intake tube, taking it off. It was getting a little stiff anyway.

 

My pass. side back plug hole stripped out when I put my new plug in. Actually, it may not be stripped, but it only goes in half way before it stops turning. May want to run a thread chaser through them before you put the new plugs in to clean the gunk out. Sure wish I would have...

 

ight, maybe i was just missing somethin since everyone seems to be doin them fine. ill try again tomorrow. thanks for the help guys.
-Kyle

man that sucks about ur threads. i was readin about that and would hate for that to happen to me. what do you do if it is stripped. do you gotta take the head off and all that good stuff?

 

Passenger side #5 comes out real easy with a 24" extension and a u-joint. 24" best tool I ever bought for changin that last plug. Cut time by 3/4!! Driver side #2 is tight since dist. is so close on '91 V6. Just got to work around all the plumbing... gets easier with practice. Good wrenchin'

 

Yeah, extension and u-joint. Be carefull going back in so you don't cross thread.

 

I bought a T-handled spark plug wrench that has two swivel joints in it from AutoZone for like $8 it works awesome.

 

I used the rubber hose trick when rethreading spark plugs. It is tight enough to turn the plug but if it crossthreads the hose will just spin on the sparkplug. I haven't changed the sparkplugs on the 4runner yet, but it looks easy compared to the 8 plugs that I just changed on my '96 B2300.