C5 / LS 1 spark plug wire removal?
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Florida
C5 / LS 1 spark plug wire removal?
I’ve got a new set of spark plugs & wires for my C5 / LS 1 but I’m having problems getting the old wires off. I know that the left rear one is the biggest pain and the front right is the easiest. Getting the wire off the box is easy its getting it off the spark plug that I can’t figure out. I grabbed the boot and turned it ½ turn per the 3 book shop manual to loosen it up and tried to pull and this was on the easy one. Does anyone know of a fix to get the wires off the spark plug? 
Thanks,
Spencer
Thanks,
Spencer
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Austin TX
I've been meaning to post something about this, but things just kept coming up...
I had the same problem removing my wires as you are. The things would not come off no matter what I tried!
I tried the conventional spark plug boot pliers, but they wouldn't fit between the stock headers very well, plus I still have the shields on the boots and there wasn't enough boot to get a grip on with them. So...
I went to Harbor Freight looking for other tools and stumbled onto a set of needle nose hose gripping pliers (top of picture). These things are the best at getting those boots off! They fit between the stock headers with room to spare and grip the boot like the dickens! All you have to do is hold on tight, pull away from the block and wiggle them up and down at the same time. My boots came off the plugs with just a bit of grunt with these things.
Hope this helps, if it's not too late...
I had the same problem removing my wires as you are. The things would not come off no matter what I tried!
I tried the conventional spark plug boot pliers, but they wouldn't fit between the stock headers very well, plus I still have the shields on the boots and there wasn't enough boot to get a grip on with them. So... I went to Harbor Freight looking for other tools and stumbled onto a set of needle nose hose gripping pliers (top of picture). These things are the best at getting those boots off! They fit between the stock headers with room to spare and grip the boot like the dickens! All you have to do is hold on tight, pull away from the block and wiggle them up and down at the same time. My boots came off the plugs with just a bit of grunt with these things.
Hope this helps, if it's not too late...
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Florida
Thanks for the help, ill need to pickup a pair. The 2 I had problems with is the one next to the alternator (I just ended up taking the alternator off then it was way easier) and the left rear one was a real pain, luckily I have the quarter panel off for some door stuff, its almost line of sight on this one with the panel off, I ended up lifting the car and putting a flat head screwdriver between the heat jacket and the cylinder head and I finally got it off, that was the only wire I destroyed but I put a new set of MSC’s on it anyway.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
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From: Mesa Arizona
What I found that helps me with stuck on wires is using a tool like a dental pick.
Use a hooked one and get the point up against the porcelain of the plug and work your way around the porcelain underneath the boot. That helps to seperate the stuck on rubber boot from the plug. Use the pick hooked under there to gently help pull the boot off.
Also use the pick in the same manner to remove the other end of the wires from each of the coils.
If your carefull you will not destroy any of your wires.
Use a hooked one and get the point up against the porcelain of the plug and work your way around the porcelain underneath the boot. That helps to seperate the stuck on rubber boot from the plug. Use the pick hooked under there to gently help pull the boot off.
Also use the pick in the same manner to remove the other end of the wires from each of the coils.
If your carefull you will not destroy any of your wires.
