Broken spark plug wire-Stupid Owner
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Broken spark plug wire-Stupid Owner
Hello to all at Corvette Forum! This is my first post and let me start by saying how much I've learned from you folks.
Last year I bought a C5-04 with the LS-1 engine. It's been a great ride. The previous owner really looked after it and anyone who's worked on it says it's in really good condition-an excellent buy!
Here's my problem: I was doing some engine detailing and the number 5 spark plug broke at the boot which fits over the plug. I pulled back the metal heat cover, and attempted to twisted it back and forth. Well it broke. Here's the part where the stupid owners became even more STUPID. I kept pulling on it and it came out partially in pieces!
So the boot is now halfway inside the metal barrel, unreachable with a needle nose pliers.
I'm not driving my car to the dealership running on 7 cylinders. I have CAA service so I would prefer to flat bed it. I bought this car with 50k. Everything looks OEM so I can see a new set of wires might be in order. I've done that many times. Does anyone have any suggestions for this stupid Canadian? Many thanks!
Last year I bought a C5-04 with the LS-1 engine. It's been a great ride. The previous owner really looked after it and anyone who's worked on it says it's in really good condition-an excellent buy!
Here's my problem: I was doing some engine detailing and the number 5 spark plug broke at the boot which fits over the plug. I pulled back the metal heat cover, and attempted to twisted it back and forth. Well it broke. Here's the part where the stupid owners became even more STUPID. I kept pulling on it and it came out partially in pieces!
So the boot is now halfway inside the metal barrel, unreachable with a needle nose pliers.
I'm not driving my car to the dealership running on 7 cylinders. I have CAA service so I would prefer to flat bed it. I bought this car with 50k. Everything looks OEM so I can see a new set of wires might be in order. I've done that many times. Does anyone have any suggestions for this stupid Canadian? Many thanks!
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 382
Likes: 53
If I'm reading you right the ceramic part of your spark plug broke off? It's a totally salvageable situation. Just put a socket on what is left and remove the rest of the plug, reinstall a new one. If you are talking about the spark plug wire broken off inside the metal barrel, just remove the whole plug wire and install a new set. The GMPP red wires are supposed to be good.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Broken spark plug wire-Stupid Owner
If I'm reading you right the ceramic part of your spark plug broke off? It's a totally salvageable situation. Just put a socket on what is left and remove the rest of the plug, reinstall a new one. If you are talking about the spark plug wire broken off inside the metal barrel, just remove the whole plug wire and install a new set. The GMPP red wires are supposed to be good.
The wire broke the at rubber boot that fits into that metal heat resistant tube. The rubber boot covers the spark plug. The boot has a hex type design. The metal cylinder has a spring which you push back. So, you first push back the metal cylinder and wiggle the rubber boot and it should pull right out. What I did was exactly that but I broke the boot. Half of it is still in the cylinder and I can't get at to pull the rest of it out. I was using a needle nose plier and I guess I cut it trying to wiggle it out. I hope that helps.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Reply to twokbolt
Hey twokbolt! No the boot is what I mangaled. I can see the top of.the sparkplug, surrounded by what's left of the boot which of course is encased by the metal cylinder. That spring loaded cylinder as near as I tell looks as if's attached at the sparkplug thread.
I'm going to try something different tomorrow. I'm going to see if I can take a knife or a razor and cut the rubber around the plug. I'll let you how it turns out.
Thanks again twokbolt!!!
I'm going to try something different tomorrow. I'm going to see if I can take a knife or a razor and cut the rubber around the plug. I'll let you how it turns out.
Thanks again twokbolt!!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
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From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
There are some smaller hose pullers (almost like long pliers but with a curved end). This type of puller might help. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 870
Likes: 76
From: The Rainy Side of Washington State
When changed my wires last month I had to use some pliers to pull most of the metal casings off. They were stuck pretty good due to being in place for awhile due to heat and time. I just grabbed the lip of the casing and gave em a tug and they popped right off. It's tight down there but doable.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Hey Guy's! Thanks so much for your info. And yes, it appears the heat resistant metal cylinder should just pull out. I'm giving that a go tomorrow and I'll post.
Thanks again for your help!!!
Thanks again for your help!!!
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Heat resistant metal cylinder.
When changed my wires last month I had to use some pliers to pull most of the metal casings off. They were stuck pretty good due to being in place for awhile due to heat and time. I just grabbed the lip of the casing and gave em a tug and they popped right off. It's tight down there but doable.
Thanks again! (I'm starting to feel "Less Stupid")
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
and you will get great direction here.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 85
Likes: 14
Don't feel bad for breaking the plug wire. It seems like a common occurrence for them to get brittle from age and heat. A new set is in order. Also change out the plugs while you're in there👍🏼
If the metal heat shield that shrouds the boot down by the spark plug is still attached, you can use a set of long needle nose pliers (I use a set of Duralast 11" 45 degree bent-tip needle noses from Auto Zone) to grab the shield and pull it and the remaining piece of the boot off the plug. The spark plug end of the heat shield is smaller than the end of the boot that is inside of it, so when you pull the shield the boot will come out with it.
It will probably be tight so you'll need to wiggle it quite a bit with the pliers before it will come off. I grab ahold of the sides of the shield, not the lip. Grabbing the lip might also work though. Best of luck!
If the metal heat shield that shrouds the boot down by the spark plug is still attached, you can use a set of long needle nose pliers (I use a set of Duralast 11" 45 degree bent-tip needle noses from Auto Zone) to grab the shield and pull it and the remaining piece of the boot off the plug. The spark plug end of the heat shield is smaller than the end of the boot that is inside of it, so when you pull the shield the boot will come out with it.
It will probably be tight so you'll need to wiggle it quite a bit with the pliers before it will come off. I grab ahold of the sides of the shield, not the lip. Grabbing the lip might also work though. Best of luck!
Last edited by ZO6comm2679; Aug 28, 2017 at 09:30 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
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Just grip the metal heat shield with plyers and HEAVE HO... It will pop off. the rubber boot will most likely be the difficult part. 
The GM Performance Red Wires are excellent. I would replace the OEM spark plugs with another set of OEM Plugs. Even though it early, the new plugs will give you a better idle quality and a little more overall efficiency.
BC
The GM Performance Red Wires are excellent. I would replace the OEM spark plugs with another set of OEM Plugs. Even though it early, the new plugs will give you a better idle quality and a little more overall efficiency.
BC
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Broken spark plug wire- Stupid Owner SOLVED
Hey All! This problem boiled down to simply pulling the heat resistant metal cylinder surrounding the boot and the plug. And to give it a Real Good Pull!!! What gave this thing a bit of mystery was I had to pull not just the cylinder but the carcass of the boot surrounding the plug. If I wasn't convinced this was original I am now. It was really tough to pull it out. I'm going to turn this over to my garage. New plugs and wires for my C5.
Thanks to all for taking an interest in this issue. It's really appreciated!
Thanks to all for taking an interest in this issue. It's really appreciated!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Your comments
Just grip the metal heat shield with plyers and HEAVE HO... It will pop off. the rubber boot will most likely be the difficult part.
The GM Performance Red Wires are excellent. I would replace the OEM spark plugs with another set of OEM Plugs. Even though it early, the new plugs will give you a better idle quality and a little more overall efficiency.
BC
The GM Performance Red Wires are excellent. I would replace the OEM spark plugs with another set of OEM Plugs. Even though it early, the new plugs will give you a better idle quality and a little more overall efficiency.
BC
Thanks again for your interest!