How to remove stuck spark plug boot IOP

[@ericanderson8676]

Thanks, Tom. A couple of modifications of your method made it work for me. 1. On my wife's Toyota Sienna I used a 5/8" outside diameter copper tube (about 9-10" in length) I had lying around the garage. The rubber boot has a high nipple on the inside, so there is no way to push the tube in between the rubber and the spark plug as you suggested. However, with the following additional modifications it worked. 2. Press the copper tube down inside the boot (between the nipple and the outer edge of the boot). Try turning it around a few times, up and down, to loosen the boot. Should work for a boot that isn't very stuck. Still didn't come out. 3. Cut a 1/8" notch across the top of one end of the copper tube with a hack saw and with pliers bent one side of each notch out slightly to create a sharp point to catch the rubber. 4. Insert the copper tube into the boot, turning slowly and gently away from the sharp points so that it will insert. Once in place firmly, turn slowly the other direction to catch the sharp points on the boot. Still didn't come out. 5. Insert a 1/4" steel rod down the center of the boot. This is small enough that it will just fit tightly inside the nipple. Press all the way down until it hits the spark plug. If there isn't enough give in the boot, you may have to remove the copper tube first and then slide it back over the steel rod and follow #4 above again. 6. Grasp both the copper tube and the steel rod firmly, and slowly turn. Between the two of them (steel rod pressing against the inside nipple and copper tube catching on the outside wall) it created enough grab and friction to pop the boot free. Thanks again for your great suggestion of using a tube that got me started. Hopefully these additional modifications can help someone else if they run into a boot that is particularly stubborn.

[@jsantillan1991]

I7I77

[@shawncharles7270]

Or sometimes if the rubber boot is old, spray some brake parts cleaner in the hole till it's submerged in the cleaner and leave it for 30 min and it'll soften the rubber so you can put a long flat head and break up the rubber in pieces and vacuum it out so it dissent fall into the cylinder head.

[@Bringthatover]

MY SOLUTION WORKED... After tightening the spark plug to proper torque, I attempted to comnect (this seriously jammed the loose spark plug socket gammet on the plug) I very carefully filled the spark plug socket with jb weld, came back 24 hours later and the gammet came off. Got the plug out and replaced the plug. I AM ONLY USING MAGNETIC SPARK PLUG SOCKETS FROM HERE ON OUT. Lol.

[@2101amatz]

Tom, thank you for this tip. I spent about 2 hours using needle noes pliers with no success. I had my doubts on this actually working for me but it did. Once again, thank you for sharing this - it helped and solved my problem!

[@145tak]

Thanks Tom. This was the only method that worked for me. I didn't have a metal rod and after repeated trips to stores for various other tools I used what I had laying around, bamboo.

[@nbonner75]

5/32” copper supply line cut to 9” worked perfectly! Thanks for the great idea.

[@justinmarsha157]

I had the same issue. instead of dilly dallying, I cleaned off the part of the coil pack that the boot came off of with a scouring pad/light sand paper. then I cleaned it off with rubbing alcohol. I mixed up a little 5 minute epoxy and put it on the coil pack where the boot would go, then I reinstalled it. I waited until the bit I had left over was hard, then waited another 3 minutes and pulled the boot right out.

[@b33fxc4ke]

best life saver ever, thank you so much I struggled so long before I found this video

[@supbeatch25]

I followed this tip, I Used copper. Works awesome. Push hard and rock it back and forth. Thank you OP!!

[@gustavoarmenta325]

Thanks for this I ordered the actual mechanic tool for 50 dollars and it took too long to get shipped so I decided to hit Home Depot to buy aluminum piping ...after banging a nail into the pipe to fit the size of the spark plug I managed to remove the rubber part I had two stuck the second one was not working at all if anyone else has this issue I resolved it by using super glue and letting it dry then when I pulled the pipe out the rubber was attached as well !!!!

[@mostlymoparih5682]

Excellent tip. I tried many things, corkscrew, long screwdriver, metal coat hanger with a hook and worked on it for an hour and a half and only succeeded in shredding the boot. Thank you thank you thank you. Now I just gotta find a tube. great vid.

[@jianzhimeng1698]

this is actually the best way I find so far

[@kellyokamoto1604]

Thanks Tom-I'm experiencing this very problem with my '00 Ford Expedition-except that the plug and boot are way down "in-the-hole". Perhaps your Honda's were the same, I'm not familiar with that engine design. Anyway, I was sweating and swearing for an hour till it got dark and I gave up. Now you've given me hope! Appreciation and good thoughts to you.

[@kamanashisroy]

That is why we should use dielectric greese over the spark plug ceramic and outer thick wall of spark plug boot.

[@markolson7877]

Nice vid, great tip, Not to split hairs, but I believe you misstated the OD ( at 1:30 ) of that aluminum tube you used as 1 1/2"... it appears to be 1/2"....I wouldn't want for some to blindly purchase / search for a 1 1/2" tube ~ otherwise , thanks so much for sharing!!

[@Fixedgearr]

Lol me thanks!

[@sidneyperry7623]

Having the same issue with my brand new used Escape. New boots will be greased. Thanks for this great tip.

[@j.p.saverance8972]

Thanks for the tip! I used a 1/2” copper pipe and it worked!

[@BudimanTamimi]

Thank you very much, Tom. I will try this tomorrow, it is already dark here in Java, Indonesia

[@boracay12]

Great idea, i just had a boot stick on the plug ,it came off but i ripped the tube up and now need a dam coil .

[@kingsuave100]

Thanks this was the only method that worked after trying several. I used the pipe to cut the rubber then a scribe to pull it out. And to be honest this was the one I least thought would work.

[@timothycarvelli2436]

Removing plugs on a '07 Grand Prix it was impossible to remove the boots. Used a large screwdriver or vice grips to break off the plug and then the boots come right off. Blow out any particles from the breakage prior to removing the metal part of the plug with a socket. Made an impossible job quick BUT you can't reuse the plugs once they are broken of course. My Grand Prix had 152K on the plugs so they needed new ones.

[@redwolf0849]

If you use a really skinny screwdriver maybe a small phillips but don't break the ceramic you can just spray some WD-40 into the rubber boot alongside the screwdriver. Let it sit overnight. Then use the hose pliers.

[@octaviojabali6981]

Thank you sir spent an hour and 1/2 then saw your video 👍🤝

[@misterbulger]

Great tips! Twist the boot vs yank it to avoid ripping it. Also I had two ripped ones on this ford and they are way down in there. I took a thick straw from like a milk shake or something (found it in the kitchen drawer). Pulled a good spark plug and used a lighter to heat the straw up so it slid perfectly over the spark plug. Let it cool then shoved it down over the plug with the ripped boot. Pulled it out. It came right off! Why do the simplest jobs have to turn so complicated?! Also don't use Chinese rubber boots and maybe they will hold up better. I could tell the rubber is just crap. I tried snapping the spark plug off too but it was too tight in the head to have enough room to break it. I'm actually off to buy a milkshake now so i can fix this car haha

[@tomluque]

the orange silicon mat with raised piramids (CONCAVE on back side) was a hot mat pad. I think it was from Bed Bath and Beyond. Very handy in shop to keep items from rolling off.

[@shelbyscarforensics1878]

Tom is the man. I will keep this in the memory banks sir, See you soon

[@seannoh672]

Thank you. This saved me some time. While I normally don't appreciate when my kids play with things they shouldn't, this time they actually did me a favor by disconnecting the handle from a whisk. And whaddayaknow? It fits just slightly bigger than the end of my spark plug. Off I went to try with some silicone spray and it was much easier to separate the (spark plug) boot from the ceramic (of the spark plug).

[@craigdundas8721]

Awesome had a buddy come change plugs for my family and he found one broken like that now I can show him this fix

[@richhearn4900]

I'm no mechanic but this same thing happened to me on the back side of my engine so I couldn't even see it. I gave it a couple shots of brake clean and it slid right off

[@s.adanulloa3902]

Now This is a video worth watching. Thanks a lot.

[@mhc6464]

Worked like a charm ...thanks for the heads up ...

[@tedahrens618]

Thanks for the tip. This worked like a charm for me!

[@marcnewman3685]

Get a micro fine insulin syringe fill with PB blaster oil. Slowly Inject oil into plug connector. Or in your case down your tube.

[@DeadThumbGamer]

This seems super simple great idea I’m about to this a try. Hopefully I can find a similar piece of aluminum 😎

[@DeadThumbGamer]

Thank you & Much appreciated Sir. This worked perfectly 👍🏿

[@kaysmith1070]

Genius! I'm going to try this out!

[@pochron1105]

WOW you're a genius I had no hope!!!

[@handwashedstars]

WOW this would of saved me hours. I have a 97 camry with plug tubes and the boots always get stuck. I have to remove the valve cover then the tubes and pick it out piece by piece with pliers. then i used a vacuum with a bendy straw "adapter" to suck all the debre out before i removed the plug. Your way would of saved much hassle.

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

This is not a funny situation but this was funny 😂 as hell 0:54

[@CTBLiew]

Nice tricks ! May i ask what is the name of the orange mat with tiny pyramid ? I intend to buy one.

[@samuelgiron5756]

Tom! I wish I could buy you the best cheese burger men. I love ur 💡 idea. Brilliant! Thanks.

[@obeedave2]

Thanks, this worked out great!

[@JoseGarcia-rl5xw]

Thanks tom

[@ssirany]

I’ve been trying to removed the booth of my #3 plug from my 2007 Honda Accord V6 hybrid for pass 2 days. using all the methods, with aluminum tubing too. didn’t work... coz #3 is in the back/middle very little room to work with. running out of idea...

[@MattKennedy311]

Nicely done

[@bear24paw]

Thanks for your video. Very informative! Will Look for such device!

[@gary959]

You're overthinking this. Use a pick if you have one, or use a bent hanger. Use straight piece to separate boot from plug by scribing around plug and around boot to separate from tube. Bend hanger to form an "L" shape and stick it into boot to pull up slowly, pulling it up a little at a time all around it.

[@tomluque]

Sorry to say, but when a rubber boot cements its self to the porcelain, the boot will not pull lose with a hook. The rubber will just rip apart. Then you will appreciate knowing that a thin wall aluminum tube will set you free.

[@1upSTARS]

@@tomluque True,,, today is day 2 trying the hanger. Tomorrow im trying this tube

[@smarte.r.1450]

BRILLIANT SIR!!!!!

[@ronngyen5441]

The outside diameter is not 1 1/2 inches like you said.

[@terryshort8161]

I had this problem today, I pushed the socket back on the plug and the boot transferred back to the socket

[@amandapaigecarmack8946]

that's what we hoped would happen but that is not the case. :(

[@ErikaMartinez-vg2ip]

We're you buy the metal thing

[@tomluque]

Metal tube purchased at Parkrose Hardware. A hobby shop might carry the same tubing.

[@JoseGarcia-rl5xw]

I have the same problem

[@mjaye6042]

Awesome, Thank you!

[@MrPrios1]

Brilliant

[@cindyhursh7232]

Ended up using the pipe with super glue on it to get ours out.

[@CayRome]

Great idea! thanks

[@eddiewilliams4404]

Genius

[@derpherp4530]

LEGEND

[@ezwa9979]

mAB I’ll do that with JB quick on outside of pipe(after I’m sure I got rIt sIz pipe)

[@peterpenalosa9264]

I used a 24 in retriever at AutoZone unsuccessful then an 11 long nose pliers succeeded on 00 miata

[@kennethjohnson2967]

I've watch so many of these videos and still can't get this shit off the plugs ! Doing it for my friend , he's going be pissed when i set this 99 toyota camry on fire ! Hate this piece o shit ! And there's 3 of the 4 like this !

[@calvinbraxton9459]

ALL YOU HAD TOO DO IS USE A VERY VERY VERY SHARP RAZOR BLADE INSPECT THE DOG ON RUBBER AND TAKE IT OFF SIMPLE 😳🤔🤔🤔🥱🥱🥱🤨🤨🤨🤧🤧🤧🥳🥳🥳

[@beauhawkes3221]

Awesome!! Thank you