Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Changing plugs on 2001 Avalon V6

2002 TOYOTA AVALON SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT


This information is FYI. The car manual says that the car comes with IRIDIUM Spark Plugs that need changing at 120,000 miles. My car never missed a beat – but at 124,000 I decided to change the plugs. I removed the factory NGK IRIDIUM IFR6A 11 plugs from the engine – all where extremely clean, with some sign of wear on the center electrode. They probably would have lasted a lot longer, however I was glad I pulled them as two were a challenge to loosen up.
I searched out the internet and found:
Original plug NGK IRIDIUM IFR6A 11 no longer available – new part is IFR6T 11
Also listed is the DENSO IK20 (5304) These were about two dollars more (about ten dollars each) – so I bought DENSO plugs.
The front bank is easy – I used a 5/8 inch spark plug wrench with appropriate extenders to unscrew and pull the plugs out of their holes. For replacement – I used a regular long 5/8 inch socket as if you use the spark plug wrench – I couldn’t pull out the socket due to the rubber form in the socket and the extenders would just disconnect leaving the socket attached to the plug.
The rear bank – I reached around from the right side of the engine and pulled loose the rubber hose for the PCV valve(SQUEEZE THE CLAMP WITH OUR FINGERS) . Then remove the PVC valve from the left end of the engine. I also removed two ground wires bolted onto the plate on the end of the intake manifold, plus I unbolted the small assembly connected to the intake manifold plate. These two steps give ample access to removing the rear plugs from the left side and the right side.
While fearing this effort – it turned out to be straight forward and relatively easy. I have put 5,000 miles on these new DENSO plugs – car seems to have more power and I am happy with the change. Total cost was about $60 plus cost of new PCV valve. For those that fall for the dealer saying the plugs need changing at 60k or 90k ----
http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/avalon/111461-spark-plug-replacement/
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I changed them on my camry V6 a few months ago. I can see why people remove the plenum to get to the right bank but i guess its not impossible if you have the right tools.
Without removing plenum, I found The coil pack on # 4 has to be removed first, the pcv hose too. And there are two wires bolted to the plenum with a nut which are in the way and have to be removed. Then you can access the tough one, #5 plug behind the plenum. I accessed #4 and #5 from the passenger side, leaning on the fender which i covered with a towel first.

Harbor freight has a long long spark plug socket that is tailor made for this and it is $5. I found my sockets are either too long or too short even when used together. Its not fun but can be done.

Re the notorious #5 plug it took me about 30 minutes for this one plug. I used a regular foam insert spark plug socket, one small 3/8" extension and one wobble socket adaptor (which i could have gotten by without, but it made the extension just long enough).

And the most important tip: tape the sockets and extension together so they dont pull apart! I taped them together with duct tape and pulled on them to make sure they would not slip apart. Because the last thing i wanted to be doing is fishing for a spark plug socket back there where you can barely reach.
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1748838
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http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_to_change_the_3_rear_spark_plugs_for_the_2000_Toyota_Avalon_you_cannot_get_the_one_on_the_right_from_the_passenger_direction_out_because_it_is_blocked_by_the_firewall_when_pulling_plastic_out


To change spark plug first remove coil over connecting clip ensuring to depress connector release. Next remove coil over retaining bolts. Remove coil over carefully directing coil toward driver side until rubber end able to flex out of sparkplug access tube. Remove sparkplug using sparkplug socket with rubber insert. Had to remove ratchet to gain enough clearance. At this point you should be able to remove sparkplug by tilting extension & socket toward drivers side of car. Then lay horizontal & remove toward passenger side of car. If unable to gain access in this manner you probably have too long an extension. Take care as not to damage spark plug coil over as they are considerably expensive.