Hi. I'm having some trouble removing the rear spark plugs on a 2000 Camry 1MZ-FE engine. I had no issue removing and replacing the front spark plugs, however, I'm having issues removing the rear spark plugs. When I pulled the spark plug wires in the rear and tried to insert a 5/8" spark plug socket (actually multiple types of 5/8" sockets) to remove the spark plug, the spark plug socket doesn't want to go all the way down to the bottom of the spark plug well to get around the hex portion of the spark plug to remove the spark plug. It feels like something is still on the porcelain portion of the rear spark plugs that is keeping the socket from extending down to the metal hex portion of the spark plug to remove it. I'm wondering if a part of the spark plug wire remained on the spark plug and is causing my issue. Please note that the rear spark plugs likely have never been changed and I'm doing so to try to cure a misfire condition (with check engine light and P0303 code) on spark plug #3. I also have new spark plug wires that I'm installing too. I've tried to use a long hardened L-shaped pick to remove the obstruction around the spark plug, but it doesn't seem to want to come out.

Has anyone ever run into this situation and if so, how did you get those pesky rear spark plugs out of the engine?

 

For removing the rear plugs see link below. The internet has lots of video's and treads on this.

https://www.camryforums.com/forum/ge...6-camry-52321/

Did you check the ign part that came out for missing parts? Have you attempted to look down the tube with a mirror or fiber optic tool?

If the socket has a grommet to engage the end of the plug it can sometimes cause issues seating onto the plug.

 

Joey, thanks for the reply. I've reviewed quite a bit of the information available in videos and on this forum, however, I've seen nothing about why a spark plug socket won't get down in the spark plug well in the rear cylinders to make contact with the metal hex part of the spark plug to unscrew/remove it. I did try using a 5/8" deep socket without a rubber insert and it wouldn't go over the plug fully either. I do have a Milwaukee M12 inspection scope that I stuck down in the spark plug tube to try to see what the obstruction may be, but I couldn't clearly see what was going on in the spark plug tube. I also tried with an inspection mirror, but couldn't get a decent angle to see down in the spark plug well.

I plan on taking a much closer look at my next opportunity to remove those rear spark plugs. Just FYI, I'm also trying to remove those rear spark plugs without removing the intake. Currently, I'm working on the two rear spark plugs accessible from the driver's side of the car.

In the meantime, any other thoughts folks may have?

 

I might first check out a good spark plug tube in detail with the same inspection tools and methods used on the problem hole. Perhaps a front tube which has easy access. Then start probing the problem tube with the deep well socket, a round hollow small diameter tube that can fit over porcelain section of the plug, a larger diameter then tube that can slip over the metal hex head section of the plug, etc. Whatever you can find. Also get a plug wire electrical connector and determine if it will attach to the plug end.

Compare your results, one being distance these tools went into the problem tube before being blocked, to that of the good tube. This might give you an idea of where the blockage exists.

Is the car used as in perhaps something was in the hole from a previous repair and as such not expected to deal with?

Any engine oil in the hole?

 

Just to recap, I had no issue at all changing the front spark plugs. They were easy to see down in the spark plug tubes, the 5/8" spark plug socket went on the just fine and I had no issue with those at all. There was also no oil in any of the front spark plug holes. It's the rear plugs that are being done by feel. I removed the spark plug wires from two of the rear spark plugs on the driver's side and I've run into the same issue on both of those - can't get any 5/8" spark plug socket (and I have several types) to go over spark plugs to turn any of those two rear spark plugs to remove them. I hope to get more time to work on this later today (and report back with findings), however, I was hoping that someone on this forum may have run into this type of issue and had some advice as to how they dealt with it.

 

Understand front and back plugs. Just suggesting to compare front and back as far as what you see, feel, etc and if there is a difference.

Suggest expanding your search to Toyotanation.com in the appropriate Camry section. Lots more members and perhaps better luck.

Please post back with any finds.

 

Well, I was able to figure the issue out and I'm sharing photos of what I found which may help someone else that has a similar issue. The rear plug wires were so old (likely original + over 22 years old) that the metal ends that connect to the top of the spark plug broke off and remained on top of the spark plugs. I was finally able to see the terminals after I tried using the Milwaukee M12 inspection scope again, this time turning on it's light at the end of the camera and using its zoom function to see things better. One of the spark plugs (#5) also had some sort of plastic down in the spark plug tube, so I was able to wiggle it loose with my L-shaped pick, then use an air operated blow gun to blow it out of the spark plug tube. Once those obstructions were removed (terminals + plastic), I was able to easily remove those two pesky spark plugs and replace them with new spark plugs. Will also be replacing the spark plug wires with nice new blue NGK wires.

 

Great job in finding the problem and posting back!

Thanks for the detailed write up and photos. This will help others having the same issue.

Toyo

 

Thanks for sharing and congrats on fixing it!