Spark Plugs

The shop manual has you take the following steps:
- Remove windshield wiper motor and link
- Remove outer cowl top panel subassembly
- Remove no. 2 cylinder head cover
- Remove ignition coil assembly
- Remove spark plug

It might be possible to do it with less prep removal, but it'll be a few more years before I do it.

 

I will try and see if I can do it tomorrow and I will let you know.

 

I believe Galaxee posted a procedure for renewing the PCV valve. That should show most of the disassembly outlined above.

 

I had similar issues with a previous Civic: you had to disassemble half the car to get at the spark plugs: 2 stages of cowl at bottom edge of windshield, and a nice wire harness (with no connectors) going over top of the valve cover.

I miss the old days, when step one of changing the sparkplugs was: pull off spark plug leads.

 

I just got done changing the spark plugs on the 2012 Prius. Video will be up soon, took me 2 hours and 30 mins with filming to complete this tutorial. Video is pending...

BTW this process is only for GEN 3 Prius only, from 2010-2012 or 13 from what I know.

 

AS PROMISE! here is the video to the Gen 3 spark plugs remove and install. It is 28:30 minutes long, the complete removal is to 16:55, 16:56-28:30 is putting everything back together.

 

Very good sir, thank you.

 

Thanks for that NutzAboutBolts, very thorough, realtime tutorial. Good also for anything 'round the back, like block heater for instance.

Did you find that mentioned 20 ft/lb torque value for the plugs somewhere. I just searched the Repair Manual (quickly), didn't see anything. Really not impressed with the Manual.

Gotta say too, and Toyota is not alone in this: there's an insane amount of removal needed to get at the plugs with modern cars.

 

Should have seen what I had to go through to change the rear bank on the Wife's old Grand Caravan V6.

 

Probably similar to my Chevy Venture.

 

I have a buddy who works for Toyota, so thats where I got the torque specs.

As for the process, use electrical or air tools, it'll make the removing process sooooo much faster. I did everything by hand tools so that I can show you that doing it manually is possible.

Thanks everyone for subscribing and viewing

 

Fantastic!

Thanks!

 

Thanks for posting, I watched half of it. It does sound like more work that the recent spark plug job I did on a V6 engine that had to have intake manifold removed.

NutzAboutBolts, fess up, you didn't replace the plugs, you just put them back, didn't you?

 

haha yes I just took it out and reinstall it. I just put anti seize and die electric grease on it so that the next time, it wouldn't be so hard to take off.

Like, share, and thumps up!

 

there has got to be a better way........

 

Do let us know when you find one.

 

I did read a post online about another way. The post said that you have to remove the engine mount and tilt the engine forward to be able to have access to the spark plugs.

I would do this process, but it requires you to either jack the engine up from the oil pan or somewhere underneath once the plastic under cover is removed and then tilt it which can cause further damage on the bottom if not done right. So I rather go this route since it's easier.

Let me know if another method works.

 

I had a look at them: there's about a fist's width of room above the valve cover, if you haven't done any bodywork removal.

If you could get an extension and socket down the tube there'd be plenty of room to put the socket wrench on the end and loosen the plug. The trick looks to be then fishing them out: if your socket has the rubber insert to grip the plug you bring the plug up. But then the top of the extension would hit the cowl, and you're stuck. Maybe a series of 3" extensions?

Or use piece of largish diameter vacuum hose to snake the plug out, and back in. And then a socket on a short extension to get it threading back in?