C220 Sparkplug Ceramic connector/boot removal
 

I have a low mileage 1995 C220. The plugs have never been changed. I am trying to removal the ceramic/plastic sparkplug boots. They don,t seem to want to come off. There is a knob on the top of the boot to pull them with. I don't want to break them. They don't twist off by any chance. Any suggestions. I did a search on other models but these seem differant.

I've been wondering the same thing... I tried to revive this post a few days ago without any help...
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/27353-95-c220-w202-where-spark-plugs.html

My thought is that that there may be some sticking of the sides of the connector in the bore and that this can be loosened by spraying some WD-40 or sliding a shim to free them up. I would hate to break one of these connectors, they are $18 each and the fear of having to dig out the broken piece is a concern. Someone out there must have had the same problem.

It would help to use the tool made for the job. I believe it's called hose pliers or spark plug boot pullers. It looks like pliers with the tips curved into a circle that helps you grab the spark plug boot, give it a twist to break the bond with the ceramic. This is your best chance of taking it apart. Of course the boot may be hopelessly baked onto the ceramic and you'll have to buy a new boot. The technique I use is to first break the bond then move up and grab the boot where the end of the clip is inside the boot for removal. This prevents ripping the clip off the ignition wire end.

The best way to deal with the problem is prevention. Buy yourself some silicone grease (dielectric grease or brake caliper pin lube). Every auto supply house should have some. Butter the inside of the boot where it contacts the spark plug ceramic with silicone grease to prevent this problem in the future. As long as you're at the store, buy some anitsieze compound for the spark plug threads.

no no... already know all about boot removal. This is a piece under the boot- once you get the boot off, there is a brown platic or ceramic piece sitting over the plug. This needs to be removed in order to unscrew the plug. The question here is how to remove the piece to get to the plug

Here is a picture of the connector.

what the hell is that?! :confused:

That is one of the plastic sparkplug connectors, I am trying to remove to get at my sparkplugs on my 1995 C220. When I remove the metal access panel on top of the valve cover aluminum casting the upper portion of that connector is visible with the wires coming out of it. When I try pulling on that connector with a considerable amount of force, it will not pull off of the plug. I don't want to break it ($18 apiece).

I recently replaced three of those on my 1993 300E2.8 - they just pulled out.

They did take a bit of force, but mine just pulled out with a very satisfying 'slurp-pop' noise (best way to describe it, I'm afraid).

I'll go ahead and ditto Kestas' comment about the dielectric grease and the anti-sieze compound - inexpensive to buy, and a real timesaver later on.

maybe the they look different in the pic b/c i'm only looking at the top of the piece.

After extensive searching, I think I found something that may help. Somone said there is a "tool" in the car tool box that will help remove these things. Could somone verify? I took a quick look, and all the only thing that i couldnt recognize was a metal cylinder about 4 inches long. One side is threaded and the other is gripped. What is this for?

That tool helps you to hold a wheel, ( locating tool ) to get your lug bolts started. ;)
Since we have lug BOLTS, not NUTS, it really helps.

GUH!I wish i would have know that yesterday when i was changing my brakes... :rolleyes: