I have a plug wire removal tool, and I was wondering about the metal shields on the plug wire, do I remove the wire from the plug, then swap over the metal shield, or do they come off before I remove the plug wire ?

 

I just changed the wires and plugs on my '06 in April. I found a video that made it easy. I have the aluminium shields on my plug boots as well. I used a long handle 75 degree (or so) pliers. I first grabbed the plug boot (s) with my hand and twisted them. I then used the pliers and grabbed the edge of the aluminum shield. I then used a long pry bar and wedged it on the exhaust manifold shield and pressed it against the plier. Each one popped off with no problem. I'll look for the video. It will make more sense if you see it.



PS. I was able to reuse the aluminium shields without damaging them with this technique.

 

I use these:

 

As the guy said above the first part is sort of breaking the seal or whatever you want to call it after the boot has been on a while. I usually first twist it about a 1/4 turn left/right and then begin to pull the boot off.

 

Yep. Those work good.

 

Well i got into the job today, Once the fuel rail covers are off, this is really one of the most straight forward jobs there is, How ever that one plug is always in the mix, and that No.1 plug, it's not impossible but the alternator is right there and I always wind up cutting the back of my hand. The only other thing is the plug end of the wires, after you get the plug wire into the metal shield and the little spring on the end, it makes feeling the wire "pop" or snap on the plug end pretty difficult to make sure there is a positive connection. I put a little Dielectric grease on the inside of each end of the wires boots, and the end going into the coil packs do "Snap" into the coils, I removed each coil and looked inside to see if I had any corrosion, but everything was clean and dry. The engine is 13 years old, but I only have 21.496 miles and I mentioned awhile back I had a rough idle, and after I had everything buttoned up, I started the engine and It was much smoother, so maybe I had a bad plug wire, The NO.1 plug wire was kinda cut up ? not too sure of why that was but it'd be great if that is my problem. I did get to install my new fuel rail covers. I'm going to drive down the shore this weekend, I'll put in a bottle of fuel system cleaner and see if the injectors get a little clean-up ? Next week, it's the new Redlinegoods shifter and emergency brake lever boots.

 

Used my fingers.... worked like a charm.
Also reused the heat shields.
The only plug that was difficult (3-10 scale) was the one by the oil dip stick...rest were cake

 

Well the rain let up and I took it out for a nice, fast 10 minute drive, and the miss, the one that I paid $159.99 at the useless, stupid Stealership to fine, and couldn't was just a worn out set of wires, and there wasn't any corrosion or a bad plug/s, I checked as best possible to see if there was any carbon tracking down any or the plug insulators, and I was pretty sure a set of AC Delco Iridium plugs don't wear out in 21K miles. So it seems it was just a bad set of wires, all I could find upon inspecting them is these two ?