Spark Plug Stuck
Spark Plug Stuck Well my buddies and I decided to do a plug and wire swap on my 00 Trans Am the other day. We soon realised why plug changes are so dreaded. The previous owner had never changed the plugs (or anything other than the oil for that matter) since he bought the car from the factory about 97k miles ago. Needless to say all of the plugs were hard as hell to get out. Between the four of us we managed to get every plug out, including #8, from above and below. The exception was #6, that plug was stuck tight. We tried different lengths of sockets, from the top, from below, everything. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the plug out without snapping it in the engine???
Edit: The gasket on the AIR pipe basically disintegrated too during the change. I made a gasket out of Mr. Gasket and it hasnt made that "ticking" noise that Install U says it would make if it was dammage. My question is is that gasket good to leave on there or should i head out and grab another one like the metal one that was on there? Thanks in advance everyone.
Edit: The gasket on the AIR pipe basically disintegrated too during the change. I made a gasket out of Mr. Gasket and it hasnt made that "ticking" noise that Install U says it would make if it was dammage. My question is is that gasket good to leave on there or should i head out and grab another one like the metal one that was on there? Thanks in advance everyone.
Last edited by DropTopBird; Aug 2, 2006 at 01:59 AM.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 164
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From: Ft.Worth,TX
Had this same problem on many of occasions. The best method I can tell you is to put the ratchet onto the socket and hold the bottom of the socket pretty firm while you hit the top of the ratchet with a mallot or a dead blow hammer. Gently keep hitting it harder and harder til it brakes loose. Sometimes found that using a hammer works better but is more prone to damaging something. Use extreme caution when doing this. Hope this helps
Unless you feel like pulling heads be careful. I had the very same problem when I bought my formula 101K miles and original plugs where still in the motor. I snapped number 6 off in the freaking head trying to break it loose. I even let penetrating oil sit on it for a day and it still wouldn't break loose. The best thing I can tell you is to start the car. Let it heat up a little bit and then use gloves and yank it out. I found that with the car heated up they are much easier to get loose because the aluminum expands. Let the car heat up man or risk pulling the heads. Trending Topics
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Verdad Gallardo Well I went at it again today. My neighbor had a piece of copper pipe that fit right over my socket. I bent it so it would fit under the hood and that plug came right out. I didnt even really have to push. The block was also heated a little bit so that might have helped too. Thanks for all the help guys. Problem solved 
Always Always use antiseize. I just pulled some out of a friends car last night. 120K miles stock plugs never changed. These things where seized to the freaking head. I had to beat the **** out of most of em with a breaker bar and hammer to get em out. Started at 8am ended at 11:30 pm 
trying to get them done. I will never volunteer to do plug swaps again without first seeing the motor. 
Needless to say that guy got a quick 
. Oh and something else that helps when using the breaker bar is 
.
trying to get them done. I will never volunteer to do plug swaps again without first seeing the motor. Needless to say that guy got a quick . Oh and something else that helps when using the breaker bar is . 