McMiata Man

I'm trying to change me plugs, and I think a previous owner has left the rubber thing from a plug key on the plug.

I've trying poking things up to try and snag it, but there's just not enough room to get a decent pair of long nose pliers in there.

The car is a 97 classic, and it's the far right plug, as you look at the engine.

Thanks in advance.

Turbotits

iTrader: (2)

Take the existing one out your plug socket. Then go at it with a bare socket. Obviously once its out put your rubber protection back in lol

McMiata Man

Thanks. I've been trying that. I never use those boots for precisely this reason, lol.

I'll spray some WD on my plug key to try and persuade mating ;-)

poolio74

Ive had this problem in the past,Pain in the ****!they really should design the rubber plug to stay in better!

Steve001

iTrader: (7)

You could add some 90 degree long nose pliers to your tool set

McMiata Man

I doubt they would be long enough. Once "round the bend" they would need to be about 5 inches long to reach the obstruction :-(

KAS35RSTI

iTrader: (73)

You should call out Mr Bean to come along with his Hoover!

McMiata Man

lol, not helping

Steve T

iTrader: (14)

When I was changing the plugs on my daughters Yaris yesterday the rubber stayed on one of the plugs. As above I used the same plug socket minus the rubber . Steve.

mattkilley

bendy magnet works every time

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

Since when is rubber magnetic?

As already mentioned, take the rubber boot out of your spark plug socket. Should do the trick.

wazlee

iTrader: (3)

This happened to me on my Classic

I tried to put the socket back over the rubber and it must have been at an angle & it pushed it down further...

Long nose & angled pliers didn't seem to open or grip properly due to the hole size.

As it was right at the base of the plug I ended up leaving it there - after a few weeks & with the the engine heat cycles the rubber went hard & fairly brittle enough to chip away at it with a small pick - a few hours later it was out

McMiata Man

Thanks for all the replies people.

My wife was using the car all day yesterday and when I went to try again last night.... it was gone.

I have a feeling that it wasn't actually a plug key boot, but in fact the rubber end from the HT lead which had come off, but re-attached itself when I put the lead back on.

Anyway, it's replaced now, but stil running like a pig, lol. On to the next thread ;-)

Cheers.

Steve001

iTrader: (7)

Glad it's sorted mate

just small suggestion for your tool chest

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

If anyone is in the same boat just find any tube that slides over the plug and touches the rubber, and add a little super glue, jobs a fish.

Steve001

iTrader: (7)

I was going to suggest the same thing, however the OP said he had sprayed a shed load of WD40 so the glue would'nt take

sorted now though

nicam49

Got a top tip from YouTube, spray silicon into sparkplug socket before using it, that way it easily slides onto and off of the plug without unduly stressing and possibly dislodging the rubber part.