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  #1  
Old 11-19-2005, 10:28 AM
Brian Felts's Avatar
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Removing Spark wires 300E

Hey all I am working on a lady's 300 E 4 matic. I have come to the spark plugs. My question is how do I remove the spark wires that have stuck to the plugs. I can't get them to pull off by hand and I do not want to break the wires.


Brian

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  #2  
Old 11-19-2005, 11:34 AM
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There are special pliers for sparkplug caps, not very expensive.
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  #3  
Old 11-19-2005, 11:36 AM
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You can also use a long-nose pliers and grip one side of the spark plug holder along its seam.

Haasman
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'91 300E-Went to Ex
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Last edited by haasman; 11-20-2005 at 01:22 PM.
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  #4  
Old 11-19-2005, 11:50 AM
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spark plug wire pulling tool

You need to be very careful NOT to pull on the wire or the connector at the plug. The connector contains the resistance part of the spark circuit and is fairly expensive to replace.

To remove the connector from the plug, you must pull on the metal shield while twisting to break the connector loose. As you know, there is very little room in there. I bought a HAZET spark plug pliers from this source:

http://www.samstagsales.com/mercedes.htm#pliers

The pliers are expensive but, if you had to replace the spark plugs connectors, you'd spend about that much too. The pliers are shaped to reach down into the well and grip the metal shield. Even with the pliers, it was a stout pull to get the wires off. I put silicone grease on the plug and connector so it would be easier next time.

Before I bought the special pliers, I did try a homemade puller. It worked on the first two plugs but wasn't easy to use. If you want to try it, here's what I did.

I took about 6 inches of galvanized steel plumber's tape, the kind you buy at a home improvement store. Don't try aluminum tape, too soft. I Bent a 1/8 inch lip on one end. Then I laid the tape on a pipe ahich was about 1 inch in diameter. Using a hammer, I bent the tape into a curve which would allow it to fit down into the spark plug well. I filed the small lip in the end of the tape into a curve as well. Now this "tool" I made would slide down into the spark plug well and, with a little luck, would hook onto the end of the metal spark plug shield. I first carefully twisted the connector to break the rubber seal free, then I grasped the "tool" with pliers and pulled the connector off of the plug. (Man is a tool making/using animal.)

Even with my magnificent tool, it eas hard going so I quit and sent for the HAZET pliers. I should mention that I looked at all the spark plug connector pulling pliers in the local auto parts places and none of them would fit into the tight space in the MB spark plug well.

Good luck to you on this job!
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  #5  
Old 11-19-2005, 02:09 PM
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BOOT PLIERS!!! ...the best twenty bucks you'll ever spend not to be a bubba.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=10802&group_ID=1351&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Duke
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  #6  
Old 11-19-2005, 03:59 PM
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These tools fall in the category "I should have bought them years ago".
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  #7  
Old 11-19-2005, 07:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke2.6
BOOT PLIERS!!! ...the best twenty bucks you'll ever spend not to be a bubba.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=10802&group_ID=1351&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Duke

I tried those pliers and they were too thick to reach down into the spark plug well. These might be fine on other engines but the 103 engine has very little space between the plug connector and the head. Apparently the only pliers which will work are the HAZET ($$). I hadn't thought to try reaching down in with long nose pliers. Maybe the pliers with very long, narrow jaws would work.
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1984 Volvo 240 (daughter's)
1976 Dodge 1/2T pickup, gas hog
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Old 11-19-2005, 08:18 PM
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Well here is the BIG problem........I am replacing the plug wires so I don't care to break the old ones but!!! I still am not getting the old ones to come off. Got any ideas waiting for a tool is not a good option right now.


Thanks

Brian Felts
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  #9  
Old 11-19-2005, 08:29 PM
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I have the proper pliers, but one time after I had some work done at my indy mechanic, he wanted to show me a sparkplug. Here is how he did it.

Needle nose vise-grips and a screwdriver, if memory serves me. He just clamped on the metal edge of the plug receptacle, then used the screwdriver shank to lever the receptacle off the plug. In other words, the screwdriver goes under the vise-grip, then push the vise-grip handle down with the shank as the fulcrum. One pop and it comes off.

Steve
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  #10  
Old 11-19-2005, 08:36 PM
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I will try that!! To give you guys an idea on what I am dealing with....the plug gap on this car is around .032 the first two plugs I was actully able to get out was gapped at .060. To show what awesome motors we have it was running pretty good but the gas milage was beginning to fall....

Hey keep any other ideas coming.

Brian
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  #11  
Old 11-19-2005, 09:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300holst
I tried those pliers and they were too thick to reach down into the spark plug well. These might be fine on other engines but the 103 engine has very little space between the plug connector and the head. Apparently the only pliers which will work are the HAZET ($$). I hadn't thought to try reaching down in with long nose pliers. Maybe the pliers with very long, narrow jaws would work.
They work fine for me. Grasp the metal shield then wiggle and twist while pulling. Putting a think film of silicone dielectric grease on the inside of the boot helps keep the rubber from seizing to the spark plug insulator.

Duke
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  #12  
Old 11-20-2005, 12:37 PM
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Silicone grease and pliers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Duke2.6
They work fine for me. Grasp the metal shield then wiggle and twist while pulling. Putting a think film of silicone dielectric grease on the inside of the boot helps keep the rubber from seizing to the spark plug insulator.

Duke
What engine were you working on? There was no way the plastic coated pliers would fit into the spark plug wells on my 103 engine.

I totally agree with the use of the silicone grease. I use it on the edges of the distributor cap in my pickup to keep moisture out, on all electrical connectors (except the O2 sensor), spark plugs and wires, relay connectors, and fuses. It really helps to keep moisture out and contacts from corroding!
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1993 Volvo 940 Wagon
1984 Volvo 240 (daughter's)
1976 Dodge 1/2T pickup, gas hog
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  #13  
Old 11-20-2005, 01:22 PM
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Quote:
You can also use a long-nose pliers and grip one side of the spark plug holder along its seam.
Haasman
__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)
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  #14  
Old 11-20-2005, 02:02 PM
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Thanks all of you for the help.........I ended up taking the end off of the Dist. Cap and then I just spun the plug end boot until the tip of the spark plug came off. I have no idea how long these have been on the car but think about the gap burning from .035 to .060. But true to all 103 motors there was no oil on the plugs.


Brian
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  #15  
Old 11-20-2005, 09:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300holst
What engine were you working on?
Look at my signature.

Duke

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