Sl600 Spark Plugs

[BBADGER]

I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THE SPARK PLUGS OUT OF MY 98 SL 600 TO CLEAN THEM. DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR REMOVING THE PLUGS? THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY INFO..

[AusMBtech]

There is no reason to need to clean the spark plugs unless you have a misfire which has been caused by the vehicle no being driven enough (VERY low milage with LOTS of cold starts ie. just running it enough to move it around the garage).

Just replace them at the schedulded intervals and you shouldn't have a problem. I think you have the "120" engine which has long life plugs anyway (from memory)

I have changed the plugs in my 97 SL500 and it is pretty easy.

1) Pull the induction off the top of the motor. You just remove the big dual air cleaner cover off, remove the filters and also remove the ram air tubes that go to the front grill. The lower half will just lift right off the top of the motor.

2) Once you have the Air cleaner box off you will be able to see the heads of the car. In the center you will see a black cover with about 4-6 bolts holding it down. Once you remove the bolts you will be able to remove the center black cover. Removing the cover will give you access to the coils and ignition wires that are connected to each sparkplug. These covers only cover the ignition system and by removing them will not give you any access to the internal workings of the heads. You will not have to worry about being "inside the head". I would recomend getting a telescoping magnetic wand so you don't loose any of the bolts.

3) Once you have the center covers off the heads you will see the coils sitting over the spark plugs. Carefully unplug the ignition wires from each individual coil. Once you have the wires removed you be ready to remove the coils to gain access to the plugs.

4) there are two bolts holding down the actual coil. once you have removed the two bolts you will just have to lift the coil out of the head and you will have access to the sparkplugs. Just remove the spark plugs, clean or put in new ones.

5) Assembly is just the reverse of the breakdown.

I hope this helps. The job will take about 1-2 hours if you take your time and go slow. I would recomend keeping all the bolts in the same order so when you put the car back together you will be putting all the parts back in the exact place that you took them out. Good Luck

[ctaylor738]

Given the troubles with the wiring harness in these cars, I wouldn't mess with the plugs unless there was a reason, like a misfire code.