really feeling dumb spark plug question
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From: U.P. of Michigan
really feeling dumb spark plug question
I am trying to remove a spark plug and after pulling rubber cap I find orangish sleeve around plug which prevents socket from fitting over plug top. Tried pliers to gently twist orangish cap to see if it removed....didn't budge,,,What's up with this? I am a rookie owner and mechanic but want to learn since I really love my 1988 911. dwight
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The sleeve over the plug is actually a resistor that is a about four inches long. It gives the plug a little more pop when it fires. It should have pulled off with the wire, but no worries just give the resistor a little wiggle and pull and it will pop off the plug. Once it is off it should screw back onto the wire lead.
You should also know that the plug is in there deep. I bought an extra Porsche factory plug tool that comes with the tool kit because it is the best tool I have found to remove/install plugs. Others here might know a better tool, but I stick with the Porsche supplied tool and a 10mm hex key on my socket wrench to drive the plug tool.
You should also consider replacing your plug wires since the lead you detached from the resistor is now more prone to fail.
You should also know that the plug is in there deep. I bought an extra Porsche factory plug tool that comes with the tool kit because it is the best tool I have found to remove/install plugs. Others here might know a better tool, but I stick with the Porsche supplied tool and a 10mm hex key on my socket wrench to drive the plug tool.
You should also consider replacing your plug wires since the lead you detached from the resistor is now more prone to fail.
Last edited by Carlo_Carrera; Apr 27, 2010 at 10:16 PM. Reason: mistake
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Well that would make sense .... are they stock leads ? I imagine they are totally different to my leads that look like they are designed to get someone to the moon in 1968.
my fancy tool to remove spark plugs is a small extention duct taped to my socket..
my fancy tool to remove spark plugs is a small extention duct taped to my socket..
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Sounds odd. The ends that go on the spark plugs should look like the things on the left hand side of the picture below. When you pull the wire from the spark plug, that entire L shaped part should come out as a single piece.
I haddah Google dat
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You can probably remove the valve cover, since the intake gasket usually doesn't stick to the valve cover. You might do that to gain better access to the spark plug.
I use the factory spark plug socket, but use an allen bit and my Facom 3/8" socket wrench or the 3/8" Facom flex head depending on which cylinder I'm working on.
I use the factory spark plug socket, but use an allen bit and my Facom 3/8" socket wrench or the 3/8" Facom flex head depending on which cylinder I'm working on.
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I think he might have a set of non-OEM wires on his car, thus the orange-ish resistors. They might not have the elbow at the top.
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