This video is exactly what I needed, thanks for making this. It's so hard to find videos for the 3.0L V6 engine--even when searching for that specifically, people act like that engine doesn't exist. The last video I watched made me sit through the entire thing just to say at the end, "watch my other video for replacing the intake manifold to see how to replace the rear plugs, b/c it's a major operation and it's too hard to do without removing a lot of engine components". Clearly you know what you're doing, where others do not.
my friend you are a MASTER!. clear, precise, showing every step of process . no like other people talking a lot, dont show how to do it, just say do this one and that. and later say give me a like. I will like them see this video and learn to really get likes.
I just did it last night! Honestly the 1MZ-FE V6 plug change difficulty is over-rated. You just need patience, smallish hands and a few socket extensions.
Great video, I appreciate that you take the time to explain each step in detail. You went step by step instead of skipping the important (hard) details that most people would have no idea of what to do. Keep up the good work. Thanks
Much appreciated bro! Just bought an ES 300 for $1500 (australian). 1 previous owner, FSH, only 150,000 klms but been sat in a shed for 5 years un touched. I couldn't even locate the rear plugs without this video! The first were generic easy to do, but I'm not looking forward to the rear harder ones. I have quite big hands and don't think I have enough room to get in there. But you have given me the confidence to have a crack! Much appreciated for your thorough walk thru for us. Many thanks!
1999 Avalon 3.0 L V6. For the rear middle and driver-side plugs, the following combination of extensions etc. made it really easy. Tape 5/8 plug wrench to 6-inch extension. Connect that 6-inch extension to a universal joint. Connect the other end of the universal joint to another 6-inch extension. Connect that 6-inch extension to your socket wrench (ratchet). This allows you to route everything around the back side of the intake manifold, so you are cranking on your ratchet above the intake manifold (with lots of room) instead of underneath the intake manifold (one click at a time). MUCH easier.
@AC Cobra Are you saying that the long plastic tubes did not come out with the wires? If those tubes are still in there, they will prevent the socket from reaching the plugs.
@AC Cobra My guess is that the "center conductor" might be preventing the socket from engaging with the plug. I'm not sure what the shape of that "center conductor" might be, or whether it has a plastic or rubber housing of some sort? You might be able to take a look inside using one of those dental mirrors to see what's going on in there. Maybe a deeper socket is needed. Perhaps a long nose pliers or forceps could be used to grab the "center conductor" and pull it out. You might need to remove the intake manifold to gain access. Whatever you do, make sure you have removed any loose pieces of debris that you have created before you remove the plug because you don't want any of that debris falling into the cylinder. BTW, next time I would suggest pulling the the thing out by the rubber seal rather than the wires. In the video, speedkar99 twists that rubber seal to loosen it, and then pulls it out. I think that might be important.
thank you for this video, i succesfully replaced all six plugs and the wires. the car stopped shaking , i was gonna take it to the mechanic but decided to give it a go myself because he wanted good chunck of change to repair it. saved me a couples days worth of salary.
One of the best videos I've watched to replace my sparks plugs on my toyota camry 1999 v6. Why pay over $200 when you can do it yourself and gain some car knowledge.
Try $450 at Firestone lol i said fuck that. I changed the front 3 today and this video is exactly what I needed to take on the back 3 plugs without removing the intake and all that
Clear steps in your video. Your relaxed demeanor put my son and I in the right frame of mind as we changed the plugs and coils on his '98 Avalon (no rush, takes as long as it takes). Which ended up being about 2 hrs. I used multiple 3 inch extensions - 1 wobble, 2 fixed, and 1 universal joint were enough. Well done.
Seriously, thank you for the video. Worked perfectly for my 1998 Toyota Avalon. The center rear spark plug was the roughest one for me. I finally got it despite only having a standard socket wrench with extender (no flexible joint). Videos like this are what make youtube so invaluable. Keep it up!
Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad it worked out for you. That middle spark plug is pretty hard with the intake plenum in the way. The flexible U - joint extension helps quite a bit here.
Just wanted to say thank you so much for this awesome video. I changed all 6 plugs on a 2000 camry in 30 minutes. Everyone else said I would have to remove the upper intake. I used my own combination of extensions and swivels for the back middle plug. Thanks again it's guys like you that make the do it you self persons life a lot easier.
Thanks. The back middle one is a real pain. I don't have large hands, but getting them out bruised the back of my left hand. But I did it....I actually started with the back middle one because I knew it was the hardest one.
Thank you for taking the time to film and explain. I just successfully changed my spark plugs on a 1997 Toyota Camry V6. Tip! Make your life easier: use multiple 'universal swivel joints' and 3" + 6" extensions. Easier to remove, torque, and saves your hands. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge!
Thanks for taking time out of your day to make this video for guys like me who are used to changing plugs on older models that have all plugs easily accessible. I couldn't even figure out where the damn back plugs were located.
I rip up cheap blue neoprene and latex gloves when I change my oil. I do try to steer clear of repair jobs that involve squeezing my big hands into tight places. Still it is a great video that shows the detail needed if I ever have to do the job myself.
Just did this job for my v6 camry 1996 and I got to say this video was really helpful...I know this job at a mechanic will be well over $250 dollars so I decided to do this myself. I was nervous at first but then I just said 'fuck it'. Followed step by step instructions to the 'T'. When I finished I started the car and it sounded better than before. No misfires or anything like that. Only spent $100 dollars for the spark plugs. Saved myself some money. Thank you once again!
Great Video: Recently changed out my valve cover gasket. I was careful with my ignition/spark plug wires but one failed anyway. I was getting a misfire. I decided to change out the whole set. I was not looking forward to almost doing the job again but I saw your video and was surprised that I could get my hand under the plenum from the back. Your procedure saved me a lot of time. Car runs fine now. Again thanks for the video. P.S. Keep the great videos coming.
Great video man, this was very helpful while changing my plugs on a 2000 Toyota Avalon with the 3.0 V6. I had a little less room then you have on your car, but I still made it work most annoying part was unplugging the wire from the coil!
speedkar99 I really appreciate it man,I did it on an old eclipse gts it was a nightmare between all the bolts and connectors breaking it took 2 days nearly.
speedkar99 My camry is a 95’ it was not serviced at all for atleast 15 years and it’s bad all the hoses are like solid steel and the bolts turn too dust.You should change the name of the video too something like “Without removal of intake”.
+nigratruo The manifold doesn't have to come off for the earlier Toyota V6's with the metal plenum. With the newer plastic plenum Toyota transverse V6's, it has to come off, as in the case of my Lexus: th-cam.com/video/fybPb_d1vrU/w-d-xo.html&feature=gp-n-y
Just changed my spark plugs and wires today since my engine started misfiring, cylinder 5 to be precise. Hadn't done the spark plugs in a few years and I used your method, very useful and I'm grateful this video was here. Thanks for the upload, keep up the good work.
+speedkar99 yes, I made sure it was, all the rear ones since it's hard to get back there I made sure I did it right and everything is running smooth :) thanks again
+speedkar99 now I just need to figure out if my alternator is going bad because my dash lights and accessory lights dim/flicker when the car is idle but when I accelerate the car the lights brighten so not sure
It could also be a bad battery cell. Have you had problems starting? Measure the voltage at the battery. While the car is running, it should be 14V. Turn on the a/c it should drop to 12V. With the car off it should be 12V. Take the battery to a car parts store and let them do a full load test on it before investing in a rebuilt alternator.
It's admirable that you replaced the back spark plugs without removing the air plenum. I've seen other mechanics here that do that and it's a PITA. Notable is a Toyota dealership didn't tighten one of the spark plugs on my V6 Solara and after 60K miles, it started working loose. Vibrated and the electrode fractured and fell in to the combustion chamber. Catastrophic engine damage unfortunately. I sent the plug to NGK and they estimated it was only torqued to 10 Ft-Lbs. They did a failure analysis on it and found the washer on the plug wasn't compressed enough, leaving the tell tale sign. So sad because I had over 280,000 miles on the engine and until then, it performed flawlessly. All destroyed by a negligent Toyota mechanic that didn't torque the plug sufficiently.
Thanks for this video, it removed any apprehension I felt about replacing the spark plugs on my 2001 Avalon. Apart from the metal connector being left behind on one of the rear plugs, which I removed with long nose pliers, it was all smooth sailing, thanks and God bless.
Great video. For the rear driver's side plug, I had to use two extensions (6" + 3") so I could get the ratchet into a movable position. For the rear middle plug, I had to force the extension slightly to get past the intake manifold. Also I used a magnetic spark plug socket, so no tape required. Thanks very much! All in all, it took 2 hours start to finish.
Thank you buddy for taking your time on filming editing and giving step by step directions! You make it possible for anyone to do there own maintenance!
Great video. I just replaced all 6 spark plugs. However, a friendly reminder, for those who doesn't service the car much/bought a second hand car, the PCV hose is kinda stuck and may need some hose picks to remove the hose from pcv valve. Thanks for the walkthrough and great details!
+speedkar99 Those plug wires on the back are much easier to reinstall and remove next time by putting a little bit of silicone lube on both the plug and valve cover ends.
Much appreciated. I followed your youtube to complete my Avalon 98 spark plugs replacement. Excellent video and instruction.You saved me quite a money. Thanks again.
Yours are the best video's I have seen. I teach car mechanical design in Italy and I ask the permission to use in my lessons. Your English pronunciation is perfect. Thanks
Very helpful, thanks! I could not see how to change with the breather line still on. Swivels and extensions help very well also! Changed the two closest to the right side from the right side with a 3" extension attached to the spark plug socket and then a swivel and then an eight inch extension. Used the same configuration on the left plug and connected the long extension down through the top in the opening on the plenum. This allowed me to have my ratchet on the top side for all three plugs which made it much easier. Great detail and instruction! Thank you!
Watched your video, very helpful. I change the plugs on my 2000 Avalon; little more intense but procedure the same. Need to becareful of the plug coil tube. It has a rubber seal gasket and at the end of the coil tube is a detachable plug cap that can come off and fall below. Actually I spent 30 minutes looking for a gasket and plug cap. FYI, I like the best practice of taping the plug socket to the extension. Great idea....... Thanks for sharing.....
+Jules Yes, taping the socket is really handy in case it falls into the spark plug tube. The VVT-i motors in the ES300 and Avalon use coils instead of waste spark ignition on the rear 3 cylinders.
I just finished changing them on my daughter's 2002 Camry V6. Not only was it a PITA, it was also a pain on my hands, wrists and forearms. Even after reading Yu Shao's comments below on his 2002, I still had great difficulty with the middle and driver side plugs on the rear. Like him, I was unable to get the torque needed to unscrew those 2 plugs from below the intake manifold, even using his "spark plug socket + u-joint + 12 inch extension + ratchet". I couldn't get the angle I needed. What did work for me on both the middle and driver plugs was a spark plug socket + 3 inch extension + u-joint + ratchet. That put the u-joint at the top of the spark plug tube. For the middle plug, I used an 18 inch long 1/2 inch rachet wrench with a reducer to 3/8 and a 24 inch 3/8 extension into the u-joint. I went in from the passenger side under the intake manifold. That gave me enough room and torque to break loose the plug. I then used a stubby 3/8 ratchet wrench to finish removing the plug. For the driver side plug, I went between the intake manifold and the throttle body with a 12 inch extension into the u-joint at the top of the spark plug tube. Once I broke it loose, I kept using the ratchet wrench until the plug was easy to turn, then I reached around and behind the throttle body to loosen it the rest of the way and remove the bolt. For these 2 plugs only, I added a small amount of anti-sieze. Those plugs were somewhat seized and almost impossible to get at. The other 4 plugs came out easily with a regular size 3/8 ratchet wrench. A word of caution on those back coils. The rubber washer that sits on the top of the spark plug tube and under the "head" of the coil did NOT come out with the coil. Make sure you FEEL FOR them as you're pulling the coil out of the spark plug tube! Being out of sight, they're VERY easy to lose! On the passenger and middle coils, 2 of them fell behind the motor. Happily one fell to the ground. The other was lodged somewhere on the back side of the engine. Luckily, it was easy to find by jacking up the car and looking from below. On the driver side coil, it stayed at the top of the plug tube and I only noticed it when I was trying to get the old plug out. At first, I thought I had pulled out the spark plug tube seal!! Scary. I compared it to one of the front coils and realized it was part of the coil! Whew!! One other note. I have thin forearms and small to medium size hands. If you have big hands or forearms, I would only try this if you can use Eric The Car Guy's method of rolling the car forward with your automatic transmission in Park and setting the hand brake when the car is all the way forward. (I couldn't do that, as the emergency brakes wouldn't hold the car in place! Guess what my next project is!) Even an extra half inch would have saved me a lot of skin! I did the passenger and middle plugs from the passenger side of the car. I do NOT think big forearms would fit under the intake manifold. If you can get an extra inch or so behind the engine, you might be able to replace the middle plug from the driver side of the car by going behind the intake manifold.
Without a doubt, the best video on how to do this procedure! Especially like the tip of taping the plug socket to the extension. Looking forward to changing those plugs! Thanks Speedcar99 Hope you have other videos on working on this car.
Thanks A Lot for the video. It really helped me. My 98 Avalon had started runnig bad, sputtering and stalling. I was able to change the plugs in about an hour. I was quoted from $170 to $300 by 3 different mechanics. I took the money I saved and change the Oil, Air filter and bought a new fuel filter. I plan to change the fuel filter next weekend. The car runs great now. I used a 6" extension, with universal joint. Went as smooth as your video. I had a cheap spark plug socket so I had to glue the little rubber piece that grabs the plug into the socket to keep it from slipping out with the plug.
Cool, glad it worked out for you. DIY means saving money and is definitely the way to go. My spark plug socket rubber came apart too, so I had to tape it to the end of another socket to pull them out.
I have a 2002 toyota camry v6, and this tutorial is very nice, and it is my base for DIY on spark plugs replacement. I want to add some notes here for 2002 or later Camry v6 owner: 1. it is doable without taking off the throttle intake body, but the space is very tight, seems to be tighter than the camry in the video. 2. get the spark plug socket on amazon, it is definitely worth the money, much better than a standard spark plug socket. search on amazon "GearWrench 80546 5/8-Inch x 6-Inch Swivel Spark Plug Socket" 3. the spark plug on the rear right hand side is most difficult one to replace. I used a spark plug socket + u-joint + 6 inch extension + ratchet, so the ratchet is extended to the top where I have plenty of room to torque, that was the only way I got that spark plug unscrewed. there was no room on the back when I try to use socket + ratchet directly. 4. I did much research on 2002 camry v6. all the camry later than 2002 have iridium spark plug and they last a long time, manual say replace every 120K, and some people had said they drove longer than 200k and spark plug did not die on them. I replaced mine at 120k. spark plugs were really in decent shape where it can still work for a while. 5. spark plugs makers actually against applying antifreeze, if you choose to apply some, do not over apply it. Hope these comment helps other Camry v6 owners. And thanks for speedcar99 for posting this video. saved me some money, more importantly, enjoyed learning a new skill.
Thanks for the feedback I'm glad you found it useful. 2002 Camry v6 still had the metal plenum which is easier to work behind than the plastic one found on vvti engines after 2003.5 . the difference with yours compared to mine is you have a different throttle body with drive by wire.
Dude you rock!! Your videos are so clear and easy to follow. I changed all 6 on my 99 Avalon with the same engine. All in all took about an hour... First time I ever did it.
Beginners beware! Nice video, Speedkar99! Just a note for beginners, these engines are aluminum, so be very careful removing spark plugs not to break them. You can spray penetrating oil or WD-40 in to make it easier. Also when tightening, there is a torque or twisting power spec. Do not overtighten. I still remember when I was a kid of 16 and I had a Cushman motor scooter and had to grind the valves. Had never heard of a torque wrench, and I stripped a few threads in the cylinder head bolt holes. No fun.
Great video with excellent angles. OMG are you kidding me? You have one foot practically standing on the battery, the other on top of the fender pointing in the opposite direction, and you still manage to duck your head under the hood and reach for the last plug!?!?!?! Is this a job for contortionists only!?!?!? There was maybe one week in my early teens that I may have been able to get into this position!!! Good to save a lot of money to do it yourself even if you add in the cost of multiple gloves, bandages, hand cream, manicure, back surgery, knee replacements . . . . lol!!! :-)
Thanks a bunch! Had check engine light coming on with multiple misfires. Replaced all the plugs and cleaned out throttle body. Ran it hard and so far no light.
Really appreciate your effort making and uploading this video. I've got a '94 V6 Camry and this is quite a drag to get to the rear spark plugs. Watched my mechanic do it last time and it took him more than 2 hours to do the rear partly due to the fact that one metal hose snapped off due to aging! With this video as a guide, I'll try getting to my rear spark plugs again with, of course, my fingers crossed.
Thanks for the Video it made replacing spark plugs on my 1999 camry much easier. man the drivers side rear plug was not easy but watching this video helped big time.
+Joe Schwartz Haha! Yes I've since replaced those hood struts since I like to spend a lot of time under the hood. th-cam.com/video/GN4YT3rMRDk/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for your response. The good thing is that my intake plenum is similar to yours. The difference is that my front and back spark plugs are the same. I guess I can do the same way as you. I have learned a lot from your video. Hopefully, you will have a video about shock absorber replacement in the future. Thank you so much
Thank you very much for this video, just done my MCV20 last week. It's cramped and is PITA to get your hands in there, but I can confirm this is completely do-able by DIYers. My next task is to do both upstream O2 sensors
Hey just wanted to say thanks to this video I finally gathered myself and got this done over the weekend. Mine is a 1998 so I had to remove the "diagnose" box bolted on the exhaust manifold as well. Not a lot of room and It took longer than expected but it's doable. Driver side plug can be accessed from the top. One suggestion is to have 3" extension and U-joint for easy plug removal when loose. Great video!
Thanks for your video. It gave me the courage and knowledge to do replace the spark plugs myself on my Avalon. I had no idea how easy the rear spark replacement would be. I did, however, use two long 3/8 socket extensions, plus a universal joint connection to remove and replace the plugs, plus my extendable magnet to get the socket and spark plugs out of the wells, individually, since the deep socket didn't have a rubber spark grabber inside. Thanks again.
Thanks for the video. You described the process clearly and it was well shown in the video. I followed it precisely. Fortunately I had different lengths of extension bars which is a necessity I think.
Thanks for the positive feedback. I think the 94 has coils on top of the plugs at the back instead of just wires, like the Lexus ES300. Other than that the procedure is the same.
Great video with clear instructions. Most helpful. I used a magnetic flexible cable to extract and install the plugs ( in case you do not have a spark plug socket with rubber boot). Thank you. Please post video on replacing rear struts/shocks on 1998 V6 Camry.
+Rafi Khan Thank you! Good tip on the magnet. Here's a rear strut video on my ES330 which is similar to the Camry with the exception that my rear seats don't fold: th-cam.com/video/ktWo724x090/w-d-xo.html
For the middle rear spark plug in Cylinder 3, you can use a 10 inch extension + universal joint + spark plug socket to take it out. The extension will reach all the way pass the intake at the top next to the engine firewall. It would be easier to loosen/tighten it from that point than from underneath the intake. That’s how I took mine out without breaking my knuckles.
Thanks for the feedback! The procedure is the same for the Sienna, however you may have to remove the wiper arm assembly to get clearance behind the throttle body. I didn't cus in the video, but that doesn't mean I didn't get enraged when my arm was scarred by reaching behind the plenum. See my Lexus ES330 spark plug replacement video for a shot of that! Timing belts are usually changed around 90K miles or 140K km.
Great tutorial. but are you sure you can do this on a 2002 RX300 without removing the plenum or should I use your other video that shows plenum removal? Both videos are boss by the way. You are helping a lot of people out with your videos, hats off to you sir.
Thanks so much for the video u did a great job and saved me $240! Couple quick notes i have a 2002 Camry v6 se and it has the ignition coils on the back 3 plugs too. Little more of a pain but u can get it. I also found that a 4 inch extension with a universal worked best for the back plugs. I had to get a 3 inch extension and rig a 1 inch extension. I took all of mine out from the passenger side. For the one closest to the driver side I put the ratchet in from the left and hooked it fast from the right. Again thx so much for the video I really appreciate it. Very well done!!!
One more quick thought this is not a quick easy job. It took me about 4 hours to do. If I had to do it again it would probably take 2 since I found some tricks. Very tight squeezes to get to them but u can do it. By the way the taping the socket was an awesome trick a must for the ones in the back!
Travis Glessner Thanks for the awesome feedback! I'm glad you got your plugs done. Yes those helpful tips make the job a lot easier. The 2002 Camry does have 6 ignition coils because it does not have waste spark ignition. You have the metal intake plenum, correct?
Good job but may I suggest also using a torque wrench; snug means different things to different people. Also you may want to use dielectric grease on the boot fittings and spark plug wire connections. Good use of the anti-seize compound shows that you only need a little.
Very good video. My mechanic said he has to remove the exhaust manifold. Thought I had better check it out. Pretty easy. Will get the camera and monitor out.
Its not required to remove the plenum to get to the plugs on the older 1MZ-FE engines with the metal plenum. However newer V6's with the plastic plenum must be removed to access the plugs.
I love this video. It is brief and direct to the point. I drive a Camry 2000 LE with 1MZ-FE V6 Engine. Can I know the part number of those Iridium spark plugs please. I have not been able to get a genuine set of spark plugs at my location in Africa. This has badly impacted my gas mileage. Thanks
Great video! I'm not sure how true this is, but I read this in a review of some Denso plugs... "Denso doesn't recommend using any grease or anti-seize on these. The nickel coating is supposed to be slick enough, and they feel that any lubrication increases the chances of over-torquing." I've also seen torque specs of 12 ft-lbs, but check to be sure.
speedkar99 What ATF are you using now that GM no longer licenses Dexron III? I see stuff out there that says "for use in vehicles that previously used Dexron III." I was going to use that. I guess it's Dex3, but they can't print that on the label? I've been reading lately and there's lots of confusion. D-VI worries me after reading GM specifically recommends against using Dexron VI in non-GM made vehicles that used Dexron III as original equipment. It is also the specified ATF in certain non-GM models that use GM transmissions, such as BMW. It is not, however, specified for GM brand vehicles that have non-GM transmissions, as mentioned above, or are imported to the United States. I hate going to synthetic as well because this car has always had Dex III. tinyurl.com/or6zlvt
I'd stay away from Dextron VI, I heard its thinner than Dextron III and would do harm to your tranny. I'd just use the Dextron III compatible ATF, which you can get away with on the power steering system.
Thanks for the video. After seeing how hard it is to get into certain regions, I have opted to get mine done by Toyota as I might loose a few trying to get them out and in. Toyota say my spark plugs last 120 miles ( 193 Kilometers) although I have 140 on the clock and I can already sense light slight observations in idle and acceleration has gotten weaker. Also the car is 14 years old so might be worth getting them done before they reach there end life.
Probably a good idea to replace the wires too if you're going at least 100k between plug changes. I found out one of the rear wires was damaged at the connector end. The problem was I couldn't tell from the outside so I thought something else was causing it not to start. I had to pay Toyota service to find out that's all it was.
I ALWAYS change the spark plug wires when I change the plugs. It but me one time on my 01 Camry. It was running rough and I changed just the plugs. It ran better but about a month later the check engine light started blinking and it was running terrible. Changed the wires and problem solved! Always change the wires when u change the plugs about every 100k. I'm assuming u don't change the ignition could though as they r almost $100 each. Wait till they go bad. Thoughts?
Travis Glessner Ignition coils are expensive and should only be replaced if they're going bad. Wires are a good preventative maintenance, but I haven't had any problems yet with mine.
This video is exactly what I needed, thanks for making this. It's so hard to find videos for the 3.0L V6 engine--even when searching for that specifically, people act like that engine doesn't exist. The last video I watched made me sit through the entire thing just to say at the end, "watch my other video for replacing the intake manifold to see how to replace the rear plugs, b/c it's a major operation and it's too hard to do without removing a lot of engine components". Clearly you know what you're doing, where others do not.
my friend you are a MASTER!. clear, precise, showing every step of process . no like other people talking a lot, dont show how to do it, just say do this one and that. and later say give me a like. I will like them see this video and learn to really get likes.
I just did it last night!
Honestly the 1MZ-FE V6 plug change difficulty is over-rated. You just need patience, smallish hands and a few socket extensions.
Great video, I appreciate that you take the time to explain each step in detail. You went step by step instead of skipping the important (hard) details that most people would have no idea of what to do. Keep up the good work. Thanks
+Dennis Duke Thanks for the feedback!
Dennis Duke great job, you really made it look easy.
Much appreciated bro!
Just bought an ES 300 for $1500 (australian).
1 previous owner, FSH, only 150,000 klms but been sat in a shed for 5 years un touched.
I couldn't even locate the rear plugs without this video!
The first were generic easy to do, but I'm not looking forward to the rear harder ones.
I have quite big hands and don't think I have enough room to get in there. But you have given me the confidence to have a crack!
Much appreciated for your thorough walk thru for us.
Many thanks!
I can tell you take good car of your car. I have a 1999 V6 Camry Solara also. Those engines from the V6 1999 period are pretty much bullet proof.
1999 Avalon 3.0 L V6. For the rear middle and driver-side plugs, the following combination of extensions etc. made it really easy. Tape 5/8 plug wrench to 6-inch extension. Connect that 6-inch extension to a universal joint. Connect the other end of the universal joint to another 6-inch extension. Connect that 6-inch extension to your socket wrench (ratchet). This allows you to route everything around the back side of the intake manifold, so you are cranking on your ratchet above the intake manifold (with lots of room) instead of underneath the intake manifold (one click at a time). MUCH easier.
+ItsVideos Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the tip. This newbie probably wouldn't have been able to do it without the extension and u-joint. (1995 Camry LE V6 3.0 1MZ-FE).
@AC Cobra Are you saying that the long plastic tubes did not come out with the wires? If those tubes are still in there, they will prevent the socket from reaching the plugs.
@@BobKartyMusic Hi. Did you use two 6-inch extensions (as I suggested) or just one? Just curious.
@AC Cobra My guess is that the "center conductor" might be preventing the socket from engaging with the plug. I'm not sure what the shape of that "center conductor" might be, or whether it has a plastic or rubber housing of some sort? You might be able to take a look inside using one of those dental mirrors to see what's going on in there. Maybe a deeper socket is needed. Perhaps a long nose pliers or forceps could be used to grab the "center conductor" and pull it out. You might need to remove the intake manifold to gain access. Whatever you do, make sure you have removed any loose pieces of debris that you have created before you remove the plug because you don't want any of that debris falling into the cylinder. BTW, next time I would suggest pulling the the thing out by the rubber seal rather than the wires. In the video, speedkar99 twists that rubber seal to loosen it, and then pulls it out. I think that might be important.
thank you for this video, i succesfully replaced all six plugs and the wires. the car stopped shaking , i was gonna take it to the mechanic but decided to give it a go myself because he wanted good chunck of change to repair it. saved me a couples days worth of salary.
Good it worked, I wouldn't think spark plugs alone would contribute to shaking idle.
One of the best videos I've watched to replace my sparks plugs on my toyota camry 1999 v6. Why pay over $200 when you can do it yourself and gain some car knowledge.
+Marco Sanchez thanks I'm glad you found my video helpful and got the job done!
Try $450 at Firestone lol i said fuck that. I changed the front 3 today and this video is exactly what I needed to take on the back 3 plugs without removing the intake and all that
Clear steps in your video. Your relaxed demeanor put my son and I in the right frame of mind as we changed the plugs and coils on his '98 Avalon (no rush, takes as long as it takes). Which ended up being about 2 hrs. I used multiple 3 inch extensions - 1 wobble, 2 fixed, and 1 universal joint were enough. Well done.
+John Church Thanks. Glad you got the job done right.
Seriously, thank you for the video. Worked perfectly for my 1998 Toyota Avalon. The center rear spark plug was the roughest one for me. I finally got it despite only having a standard socket wrench with extender (no flexible joint). Videos like this are what make youtube so invaluable. Keep it up!
Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad it worked out for you. That middle spark plug is pretty hard with the intake plenum in the way. The flexible U - joint extension helps quite a bit here.
Just wanted to say thank you so much for this awesome video. I changed all 6 plugs on a 2000 camry in 30 minutes. Everyone else said I would have to remove the upper intake. I used my own combination of extensions and swivels for the back middle plug. Thanks again it's guys like you that make the do it you self persons life a lot easier.
Thanks. The back middle one is a real pain. I don't have large hands, but getting them out bruised the back of my left hand.
But I did it....I actually started with the back middle one because I knew it was the hardest one.
+John Gottchalk Yes that was the hardest one. I like to start with the hardest first too.
Thank you for taking the time to film and explain. I just successfully changed my spark plugs on a 1997 Toyota Camry V6.
Tip! Make your life easier: use multiple 'universal swivel joints' and 3" + 6" extensions. Easier to remove, torque, and saves your hands.
Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge!
This relieved me from a headache I didn't want to go through.
Great video! Doing my spark plugs today as my first time on my own and couldn’t feel any more confident after this video!
+Incompliant Games glad it gave you guidance
Tape the wrench parts so one doesn't fall into the spark plug hole is a brilliant idea.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to make this video for guys like me who are used to changing plugs on older models that have all plugs easily accessible. I couldn't even figure out where the damn back plugs were located.
+Rob M. Thanks , yes the v6 is more difficult because of how the intake does over the rear bank
This video rocks! I went out to tune my 2000 Toyota Camry plugs and thought I would have to remove the intake. This vid made it easy!
cobranuke Thanks, glad it helped!
speedkar99 hey man do you have to do the wires too or ?
cobranuke
I'm glad I watched before tearing into mine. The shredded rubber glove says it all. For this job I will gladly leave it to the pros.
+Tn Flash Haha this was my first and last time using gloves to work on cars.
I rip up cheap blue neoprene and latex gloves when I change my oil. I do try to steer clear of repair jobs that involve squeezing my big hands into tight places. Still it is a great video that shows the detail needed if I ever have to do the job myself.
Just did this job for my v6 camry 1996 and I got to say this video was really helpful...I know this job at a mechanic will be well over $250 dollars so I decided to do this myself. I was nervous at first but then I just said 'fuck it'. Followed step by step instructions to the 'T'. When I finished I started the car and it sounded better than before. No misfires or anything like that. Only spent $100 dollars for the spark plugs. Saved myself some money. Thank you once again!
+Anthony Ybarra I'm glad the video helped. It's a bit blind working under that plenum but at least you don't have to remove it on your 96.
Great Video: Recently changed out my valve cover gasket. I was careful with my ignition/spark plug wires but one failed anyway. I was getting a misfire. I decided to change out the whole set. I was not looking forward to almost doing the job again but I saw your video and was surprised that I could get my hand under the plenum from the back. Your procedure saved me a lot of time. Car runs fine now. Again thanks for the video.
P.S. Keep the great videos coming.
Thanks, glad you got the car running again.
Great video man, this was very helpful while changing my plugs on a 2000 Toyota Avalon with the 3.0 V6. I had a little less room then you have on your car, but I still made it work most annoying part was unplugging the wire from the coil!
Yeah it's quite a tight job. At least you didn't have to remove the intake.
I knew it today I realized that you could possibly change the plugs without removing the plenum 💪🏻
On the metal plenum cars yes.
speedkar99
I really appreciate it man,I did it on an old eclipse gts it was a nightmare between all the bolts and connectors breaking it took 2 days nearly.
speedkar99
My camry is a 95’ it was not serviced at all for atleast 15 years and it’s bad all the hoses are like solid steel and the bolts turn too dust.You should change the name of the video too something like “Without removal of intake”.
Wow, I thought you had to take off the whole intake manifold to get to it. Because of that, I held of doing it for years. Nice, really nice!
+nigratruo The manifold doesn't have to come off for the earlier Toyota V6's with the metal plenum. With the newer plastic plenum Toyota transverse V6's, it has to come off, as in the case of my Lexus:
th-cam.com/video/fybPb_d1vrU/w-d-xo.html&feature=gp-n-y
Just changed my spark plugs and wires today since my engine started misfiring, cylinder 5 to be precise. Hadn't done the spark plugs in a few years and I used your method, very useful and I'm grateful this video was here. Thanks for the upload, keep up the good work.
+Wilmer Andrade Thanks. Have you made sure the wires are tight and snug going to that cylinder?
+speedkar99 yes, I made sure it was, all the rear ones since it's hard to get back there I made sure I did it right and everything is running smooth :) thanks again
Ah, Good to hear :)
+speedkar99 now I just need to figure out if my alternator is going bad because my dash lights and accessory lights dim/flicker when the car is idle but when I accelerate the car the lights brighten so not sure
It could also be a bad battery cell. Have you had problems starting?
Measure the voltage at the battery. While the car is running, it should be 14V. Turn on the a/c it should drop to 12V. With the car off it should be 12V.
Take the battery to a car parts store and let them do a full load test on it before investing in a rebuilt alternator.
It's admirable that you replaced the back spark plugs without removing the air plenum. I've seen other mechanics here that do that and it's a PITA.
Notable is a Toyota dealership didn't tighten one of the spark plugs on my V6 Solara and after 60K miles, it started working loose. Vibrated and the electrode fractured and fell in to the combustion chamber. Catastrophic engine damage unfortunately. I sent the plug to NGK and they estimated it was only torqued to 10 Ft-Lbs. They did a failure analysis on it and found the washer on the plug wasn't compressed enough, leaving the tell tale sign. So sad because I had over 280,000 miles on the engine and until then, it performed flawlessly. All destroyed by a negligent Toyota mechanic that didn't torque the plug sufficiently.
After 7 years....best video on this and Thank You!
You are welcome
Glad it helped
If I remember correctly it was 5/8" spark plug + 3" extension + universal joint + 1" extension then ratchet, because that was what I had at the time.
Great video, your camera work was great and the detail you provided was helpful. One of the best mechanic vids I have seen.
Thanks, I'm no mechanic though haha
@@speedkar99 That's even better.
Thanks for this video, it removed any apprehension I felt about replacing the spark plugs on my 2001 Avalon. Apart from the metal connector being left behind on one of the rear plugs, which I removed with long nose pliers, it was all smooth sailing, thanks and God bless.
I'm glad it helped you.
Great video. For the rear driver's side plug, I had to use two extensions (6" + 3") so I could get the ratchet into a movable position. For the rear middle plug, I had to force the extension slightly to get past the intake manifold. Also I used a magnetic spark plug socket, so no tape required. Thanks very much! All in all, it took 2 hours start to finish.
Yeah that rear plug is difficult ! Magnets help alot.
Great video. Nice job getting video of shots in hard-to-reach areas.
Yesterday I was give up three spark plugs at the rear ,it was impossible to replace them ...but now I know ...thanks !
+vo thuong Thanks. You've just got to reach back there and take them out. At least if you had a newer V6 you'd have to pull off the hole intake.
I am not have it yet ,hahaaha ! Thanks God
Thank you buddy for taking your time on filming editing and giving step by step directions! You make it possible for anyone to do there own maintenance!
Glad it helped
Great video. I just replaced all 6 spark plugs. However, a friendly reminder, for those who doesn't service the car much/bought a second hand car, the PCV hose is kinda stuck and may need some hose picks to remove the hose from pcv valve. Thanks for the walkthrough and great details!
+Gideon Mak Thanks for the feedback. Good point on the PCV hose. Sometimes it can be stuck and break because its brittle.
+speedkar99 Those plug wires on the back are much easier to reinstall and remove next time by putting a little bit of silicone lube on both the plug and valve cover ends.
Much appreciated. I followed your youtube to complete my Avalon 98 spark plugs replacement. Excellent video and instruction.You saved me quite a money. Thanks again.
+Windy Doo I'm glad it helped you! Thanks
Fine work all around sir. The camera work was great. Thanks for a great video. I can accomplish this project with more confidence now.
You are welcome
This video game me confidence to tackle the rear plugs, the hardest part was extracting the old plugs I got them out with a piece of old rubber hose.
Good tip
Your English gave me cancer
Yours are the best video's I have seen. I teach car mechanical design in Italy and I ask the permission to use in my lessons. Your English pronunciation is perfect. Thanks
Saves this video cuz i know it will help me in the future when my solara hits 100k. Thanks a lot brotha
Very helpful, thanks! I could not see how to change with the breather line still on. Swivels and extensions help very well also! Changed the two closest to the right side from the right side with a 3" extension attached to the spark plug socket and then a swivel and then an eight inch extension. Used the same configuration on the left plug and connected the long extension down through the top in the opening on the plenum. This allowed me to have my ratchet on the top side for all three plugs which made it much easier. Great detail and instruction! Thank you!
Glad it worked out.
At least the 1MZ-FE isn't as bad as the 3MZ-FE engine.
Watched your video, very helpful. I change the plugs on my 2000 Avalon; little more intense but procedure the same. Need to becareful of the plug coil tube. It has a rubber seal gasket and at the end of the coil tube is a detachable plug cap that can come off and fall below. Actually I spent 30 minutes looking for a gasket and plug cap.
FYI, I like the best practice of taping the plug socket to the extension. Great idea.......
Thanks for sharing.....
+Jules Yes, taping the socket is really handy in case it falls into the spark plug tube. The VVT-i motors in the ES300 and Avalon use coils instead of waste spark ignition on the rear 3 cylinders.
Very nice video. I'm teaching my 18 year old how to perform his own tune ups and this video helps alot...
savdoutentertainment Glad it helped you teach the next generation of DIY'ers :)
I just finished changing them on my daughter's 2002 Camry V6. Not only was it a PITA, it was also a pain on my hands, wrists and forearms.
Even after reading Yu Shao's comments below on his 2002, I still had great difficulty with the middle and driver side plugs on the rear. Like him, I was unable to get the torque needed to unscrew those 2 plugs from below the intake manifold, even using his "spark plug socket + u-joint + 12 inch extension + ratchet". I couldn't get the angle I needed.
What did work for me on both the middle and driver plugs was a spark plug socket + 3 inch extension + u-joint + ratchet. That put the u-joint at the top of the spark plug tube.
For the middle plug, I used an 18 inch long 1/2 inch rachet wrench with a reducer to 3/8 and a 24 inch 3/8 extension into the u-joint. I went in from the passenger side under the intake manifold. That gave me enough room and torque to break loose the plug. I then used a stubby 3/8 ratchet wrench to finish removing the plug.
For the driver side plug, I went between the intake manifold and the throttle body with a 12 inch extension into the u-joint at the top of the spark plug tube. Once I broke it loose, I kept using the ratchet wrench until the plug was easy to turn, then I reached around and behind the throttle body to loosen it the rest of the way and remove the bolt.
For these 2 plugs only, I added a small amount of anti-sieze. Those plugs were somewhat seized and almost impossible to get at. The other 4 plugs came out easily with a regular size 3/8 ratchet wrench.
A word of caution on those back coils. The rubber washer that sits on the top of the spark plug tube and under the "head" of the coil did NOT come out with the coil. Make sure you FEEL FOR them as you're pulling the coil out of the spark plug tube! Being out of sight, they're VERY easy to lose!
On the passenger and middle coils, 2 of them fell behind the motor. Happily one fell to the ground. The other was lodged somewhere on the back side of the engine. Luckily, it was easy to find by jacking up the car and looking from below.
On the driver side coil, it stayed at the top of the plug tube and I only noticed it when I was trying to get the old plug out. At first, I thought I had pulled out the spark plug tube seal!! Scary. I compared it to one of the front coils and realized it was part of the coil! Whew!!
One other note. I have thin forearms and small to medium size hands. If you have big hands or forearms, I would only
try this if you can use Eric The Car Guy's method of rolling the car forward with your automatic transmission in Park and setting the hand brake when the car is all the way forward. (I couldn't do that, as the emergency brakes wouldn't hold the car in place! Guess what my next project is!) Even an extra half inch would have saved me a lot of skin!
I did the passenger and middle plugs from the passenger side of the car. I do NOT think big forearms would fit under the intake manifold. If you can get an extra inch or so behind the engine, you might be able to replace the middle plug from the driver side of the car by going behind the intake manifold.
Without a doubt, the best video on how to do this procedure! Especially like the tip of taping the plug socket to the extension. Looking forward to changing those plugs! Thanks Speedcar99 Hope you have other videos on working on this car.
Thanks
Yes there are more videos, check out my channel.
Thanks A Lot for the video. It really helped me. My 98 Avalon had started runnig bad, sputtering and stalling. I was able to change the plugs in about an hour. I was quoted from $170 to $300 by 3 different mechanics. I took the money I saved and change the Oil, Air filter and bought a new fuel filter. I plan to change the fuel filter next weekend. The car runs great now. I used a 6" extension, with universal joint. Went as smooth as your video.
I had a cheap spark plug socket so I had to glue the little rubber piece that grabs the plug into the socket to keep it from slipping out with the plug.
Cool, glad it worked out for you. DIY means saving money and is definitely the way to go.
My spark plug socket rubber came apart too, so I had to tape it to the end of another socket to pull them out.
I have a 2002 toyota camry v6, and this tutorial is very nice, and it is my base for DIY on spark plugs replacement. I want to add some notes here for 2002 or later Camry v6 owner:
1. it is doable without taking off the throttle intake body, but the space is very tight, seems to be tighter than the camry in the video.
2. get the spark plug socket on amazon, it is definitely worth the money, much better than a standard spark plug socket. search on amazon "GearWrench 80546 5/8-Inch x 6-Inch Swivel Spark Plug Socket"
3. the spark plug on the rear right hand side is most difficult one to replace. I used a spark plug socket + u-joint + 6 inch extension + ratchet, so the ratchet is extended to the top where I have plenty of room to torque, that was the only way I got that spark plug unscrewed. there was no room on the back when I try to use socket + ratchet directly.
4. I did much research on 2002 camry v6. all the camry later than 2002 have iridium spark plug and they last a long time, manual say replace every 120K, and some people had said they drove longer than 200k and spark plug did not die on them. I replaced mine at 120k. spark plugs were really in decent shape where it can still work for a while.
5. spark plugs makers actually against applying antifreeze, if you choose to apply some, do not over apply it.
Hope these comment helps other Camry v6 owners. And thanks for speedcar99 for posting this video. saved me some money, more importantly, enjoyed learning a new skill.
Thanks for the feedback I'm glad you found it useful. 2002 Camry v6 still had the metal plenum which is easier to work behind than the plastic one found on vvti engines after 2003.5 . the difference with yours compared to mine is you have a different throttle body with drive by wire.
Dude you rock!! Your videos are so clear and easy to follow. I changed all 6 on my 99 Avalon with the same engine. All in all took about an hour... First time I ever did it.
Forgot to add that soon I'm gonna do timing belt and water pump based on your video of that job. Thank you. Thank you!!!
Thanks, I'm glad you find my videos useful, I like to make them quick and to the point.
Beginners beware! Nice video, Speedkar99! Just a note for beginners, these engines are aluminum, so be very careful removing spark plugs not to break them. You can spray penetrating oil or WD-40 in to make it easier. Also when tightening, there is a torque or twisting power spec. Do not overtighten. I still remember when I was a kid of 16 and I had a Cushman motor scooter and had to grind the valves. Had never heard of a torque wrench, and I stripped a few threads in the cylinder head bolt holes. No fun.
+Dennis Johnson Thanks. I've learned my lesson with overtightening bolts on an aluminum engine on my ES330.
The torque spec for the spark plugs on these 1MZ-FE (at least mine) is 13 foot-pounds, which is not much torque at all.
Great video with excellent angles. OMG are you kidding me? You have one foot practically standing on the battery, the other on top of the fender pointing in the opposite direction, and you still manage to duck your head under the hood and reach for the last plug!?!?!?! Is this a job for contortionists only!?!?!? There was maybe one week in my early teens that I may have been able to get into this position!!! Good to save a lot of money to do it yourself even if you add in the cost of multiple gloves, bandages, hand cream, manicure, back surgery, knee replacements . . . . lol!!! :-)
Yes bro, you literally have to sit on the engine to reach back there but it's better than taking the intake off
Thanks a bunch! Had check engine light coming on with multiple misfires. Replaced all the plugs and cleaned out throttle body. Ran it hard and so far no light.
Wow you read my mind! I'm ordering struts this week... they definitely need to be changed soon.
I'm glad my video helped.
Really appreciate your effort making and uploading this video. I've got a '94 V6 Camry and this is quite a drag to get to the rear spark plugs. Watched my mechanic do it last time and it took him more than 2 hours to do the rear partly due to the fact that one metal hose snapped off due to aging! With this video as a guide, I'll try getting to my rear spark plugs again with, of course, my fingers crossed.
Thanks for the Video it made replacing spark plugs on my 1999 camry much easier. man the drivers side rear plug was not easy but watching this video helped big time.
Glad it could help.
"Hey Junior!! Get over here!! Give me that hockey stick!! Know go find something else to do!!" LOL I love it!!!!
+Joe Schwartz Haha! Yes I've since replaced those hood struts since I like to spend a lot of time under the hood.
th-cam.com/video/GN4YT3rMRDk/w-d-xo.html
Well done, my brother in law has the same engine in his Camry. You saved me a lot of time and trouble, thanks.
snowpro35 Glad my video helped!
Thanks for your response. The good thing is that my intake plenum is similar to yours. The difference is that my front and back spark plugs are the same. I guess I can do the same way as you. I have learned a lot from your video. Hopefully, you will have a video about shock absorber replacement in the future. Thank you so much
Very helpful indeed! I will replace mine in the next several days and been looking for a clip like this....thanks, man.
The best vid on TH-cam. Thanks
YOU ARE A VERY GOOD TEACHER I AM WOMAN AND WITH YOU JUST DID I THINK I SHOULD BE ABLE TO REPLACE MY PLUGS.
+Wummy Ayadi Thanks
Thank you very much for this video, just done my MCV20 last week. It's cramped and is PITA to get your hands in there, but I can confirm this is completely do-able by DIYers.
My next task is to do both upstream O2 sensors
+Billy Poon It is cramped. At least you dont have to remove the plenum
Awesome job man. Thanks for this video, really gave me a heads up of what I was in for!
Glad it helped.
Changing a V6 plug is really pain in the butt!! I love having a 4 cyl.So easy to work on the engine
It's a nice challenge, but at least you only change it every 5 years or so. I still prefer the V6 for the smoothness, power and refinement.
great job. really saved me from some headaches !
Hey just wanted to say thanks to this video I finally gathered myself and got this done over the weekend. Mine is a 1998 so I had to remove the "diagnose" box bolted on the exhaust manifold as well. Not a lot of room and It took longer than expected but it's doable. Driver side plug can be accessed from the top. One suggestion is to have 3" extension and U-joint for easy plug removal when loose. Great video!
wrongbeans Thanks for the feedback, glad you got your spark plugs done. A u-joint definitely helps behind the plenum.
Thanks for your video. It gave me the courage and knowledge to do replace the spark plugs myself on my Avalon. I had no idea how easy the rear spark replacement would be. I did, however, use two long 3/8 socket extensions, plus a universal joint connection to remove and replace the plugs, plus my extendable magnet to get the socket and spark plugs out of the wells, individually, since the deep socket didn't have a rubber spark grabber inside. Thanks again.
Glad it could help and everything worked out.
Thanks for the video. You described the process clearly and it was well shown in the video. I followed it precisely. Fortunately I had different lengths of extension bars which is a necessity I think.
+gooburrum Glad you found it helpful
Thank you for not making me so guilty in buying a V6 car. lol. Great video. Peace!
Thanks for the positive feedback.
I think the 94 has coils on top of the plugs at the back instead of just wires, like the Lexus ES300. Other than that the procedure is the same.
Great video with clear instructions. Most helpful.
I used a magnetic flexible cable to extract and install the plugs ( in case you do not have a spark plug socket with rubber boot).
Thank you.
Please post video on replacing rear struts/shocks on 1998 V6 Camry.
+Rafi Khan Thank you! Good tip on the magnet. Here's a rear strut video on my ES330 which is similar to the Camry with the exception that my rear seats don't fold: th-cam.com/video/ktWo724x090/w-d-xo.html
Well done vid. Love the cut-off hockey stick. That's what I use, too.
+pahick54 that was before I replaced the struts
Thanks! I was dreading doing this on my 01 Solara. Thought I'd be removing a lot more parts than a PVC hose.
+CoastalBBQ Yes, at least on these older cars you can get around that plenum. The newer V6's you need to remove the whole intake!
God Bless you! You make it look so easy!
Thank you I thought I was going to have to take so much more apart to do the rear spark plugs
Not on the older 3L
speedkar99 yeah I got a 1999 toyota solara camery with the 3L
For the middle rear spark plug in Cylinder 3, you can use a 10 inch extension + universal joint + spark plug socket to take it out. The extension will reach all the way pass the intake at the top next to the engine firewall. It would be easier to loosen/tighten it from that point than from underneath the intake. That’s how I took mine out without breaking my knuckles.
Awesome. Do you have the Plastic intake or metal one?
@@speedkar99 metal intake manifold
Thanks for the feedback!
The procedure is the same for the Sienna, however you may have to remove the wiper arm assembly to get clearance behind the throttle body.
I didn't cus in the video, but that doesn't mean I didn't get enraged when my arm was scarred by reaching behind the plenum. See my Lexus ES330 spark plug replacement video for a shot of that!
Timing belts are usually changed around 90K miles or 140K km.
Great video and much easier method than others, thanks.
+Jesse Willcox Thanks. No need to remove the plenum.
Thanks for this video, helped me a lot to change the spark plugs in my 1995 toyota avalon xls
Great tutorial. but are you sure you can do this on a 2002 RX300 without removing the plenum or should I use your other video that shows plenum removal? Both videos are boss by the way. You are helping a lot of people out with your videos, hats off to you sir.
+Sean Harrell On the RX you have to remove windshield cowl and then you can sneek behind the plenum.
Thanks! My Avalon needs a tune up as well. Gonna do it before the winter comes.
Thanks so much for the video u did a great job and saved me $240! Couple quick notes i have a 2002 Camry v6 se and it has the ignition coils on the back 3 plugs too. Little more of a pain but u can get it. I also found that a 4 inch extension with a universal worked best for the back plugs. I had to get a 3 inch extension and rig a 1 inch extension. I took all of mine out from the passenger side. For the one closest to the driver side I put the ratchet in from the left and hooked it fast from the right. Again thx so much for the video I really appreciate it. Very well done!!!
One more quick thought this is not a quick easy job. It took me about 4 hours to do. If I had to do it again it would probably take 2 since I found some tricks. Very tight squeezes to get to them but u can do it. By the way the taping the socket was an awesome trick a must for the ones in the back!
Travis Glessner Thanks for the awesome feedback! I'm glad you got your plugs done. Yes those helpful tips make the job a lot easier.
The 2002 Camry does have 6 ignition coils because it does not have waste spark ignition.
You have the metal intake plenum, correct?
Yes u r correct it has the metal intake. Thx again for the great video!
The metal intake was used on the 2002 until they brought VVT-i on the 1MZ-FE Camry in 2003.5.
You are my hero. Doing God’s work thank you
Your welcome
Good job but may I suggest also using a torque wrench; snug means different things to different people. Also you may want to use dielectric grease on the boot fittings and spark plug wire connections. Good use of the anti-seize compound shows that you only need a little.
Very good video. My mechanic said he has to remove the exhaust manifold. Thought I had better check it out. Pretty easy. Will get the camera and monitor out.
No need for a camera and monitor on a 1MZ-FE, I think its easier to see and work by feel behind the plenum in person than with a camera.
He probably said you have to remove the intake manifold. It requires more work and a new gasket but it will be required to replace the spark plugs
Its not required to remove the plenum to get to the plugs on the older 1MZ-FE engines with the metal plenum. However newer V6's with the plastic plenum must be removed to access the plugs.
My brother is a mechanic (Toyota, Honda, Subaru, ford) and he said you had to
Well, watch my video to see me change the plugs without removing the plenum :) .
Great job! You've just saved me a lot of time on my upcoming job. Thanks
great video .good rundown ..as an ex old mechanic ..have to get someone else to do it nowadays, backs not up to it
I love this video. It is brief and direct to the point. I drive a Camry 2000 LE with 1MZ-FE V6 Engine. Can I know the part number of those Iridium spark plugs please. I have not been able to get a genuine set of spark plugs at my location in Africa. This has badly impacted my gas mileage. Thanks
the back side definitely requires some skills ..but a great video why didnt you post this before . i had the dealer do this for my car.
Great video. Very easy to follow what you are doing. Thanks dude
You are welcome
Cool, now do the valve cover gaskets!
I have another video for that
great vid. a lot better then most video!!
+drugEninjamonkey Glad it helped!
great job, great camera work thanks
Great video! I'm not sure how true this is, but I read this in a review of some Denso plugs... "Denso doesn't recommend using any grease or anti-seize on these. The nickel coating is supposed to be slick enough, and they feel that any lubrication increases the chances of over-torquing." I've also seen torque specs of 12 ft-lbs, but check to be sure.
I read that too. But I still use some anti-seize so its not difficult removing the plugs later down the road, and hand tighten it till snug.
speedkar99 What ATF are you using now that GM no longer licenses Dexron III? I see stuff out there that says "for use in vehicles that previously used Dexron III." I was going to use that. I guess it's Dex3, but they can't print that on the label? I've been reading lately and there's lots of confusion. D-VI worries me after reading GM specifically recommends against using Dexron VI in non-GM made vehicles that used Dexron III as original equipment. It is also the specified ATF in certain non-GM models that use GM transmissions, such as BMW. It is not, however, specified for GM brand vehicles that have non-GM transmissions, as mentioned above, or are imported to the United States. I hate going to synthetic as well because this car has always had Dex III. tinyurl.com/or6zlvt
I'd stay away from Dextron VI, I heard its thinner than Dextron III and would do harm to your tranny. I'd just use the Dextron III compatible ATF, which you can get away with on the power steering system.
WHAT A MISSION DOING THE REAR SPARK PLUGS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SMALL HANDS.
+Peter Bare On this engine it's not that bad. On newer v6 you have to remove the entire intake.
Thanks for the video. After seeing how hard it is to get into certain regions, I have opted to get mine done by Toyota as I might loose a few trying to get them out and in. Toyota say my spark plugs last 120 miles ( 193 Kilometers) although I have 140 on the clock and I can already sense light slight observations in idle and acceleration has gotten weaker. Also the car is 14 years old so might be worth getting them done before they reach there end life.
Its not that hard honestly,
Wait until you see the newer V6's where you have to take off the intake:
th-cam.com/video/fybPb_d1vrU/w-d-xo.html
thank you helped me greatly your video is perfect
+Richard Thoma Glad it was helpful.
Great job and very detailed buddy. I'm sure with your instructions I won't have any problems changing them out. Thanks again!
Thanks, good luck on your spark plug job.
Probably a good idea to replace the wires too if you're going at least 100k between plug changes. I found out one of the rear wires was damaged at the connector end. The problem was I couldn't tell from the outside so I thought something else was causing it not to start. I had to pay Toyota service to find out that's all it was.
I ALWAYS change the spark plug wires when I change the plugs. It but me one time on my 01 Camry. It was running rough and I changed just the plugs. It ran better but about a month later the check engine light started blinking and it was running terrible. Changed the wires and problem solved! Always change the wires when u change the plugs about every 100k. I'm assuming u don't change the ignition could though as they r almost $100 each. Wait till they go bad. Thoughts?
Travis Glessner Ignition coils are expensive and should only be replaced if they're going bad. Wires are a good preventative maintenance, but I haven't had any problems yet with mine.
Thanks-great explanation
Welcome