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Cadillac Repair/93 Deville Spark plug wire replacement

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Expert: - 1/10/2009


Question
I am a novice and am trying to replace a set of spark plugs ona 93 Cadilac Deville- The wires on the front of the engine block are evident- The remaining 4 wires are harder to see- Is there much other stuff that needs to be removaed to access the four remaining wires?

Answer
Hi David,

These are not fun to tune up!!!

I recommend you get a small piece of vacuum hose that fits over the tip of the spark plug. The hose should be a couple of inches long.

If you are changing the wires I suppose you can cut a spark plug wire and use the boot. The purpose is to use the hose or the boot as a guide  to start to thread the plug in.

I am not sure on the Deville, but I have done Grand Ams and the like, and you will probably take skin off your hands!

The only thing I can think of that you might have to remove is possibly the upper part of the air cleaner assembly. If you can get to these rear plugs without removing anything go for it!

You will find the wires don't just pull off. You really should get a wire set because chances are real good that you will damage them. You will need to twist the wires from left to right and pull away from the plug. You will not have room to use a spark plug wire removal tool. The wires stick to the spark plug. Being as you have very limited room between the firewall and the plugs, it will make this operation very difficult.
Once the rear wires are off, you may have to use a flex socket with an extension.

Do these one at a time. Once the wire is off and the spark plug is removed take your hose or spark plug boot and use it to start threading the plug. Make sure you don't strip the plug threads. You should be able to tighten the plug almost all the way with the boot. Be careful, because you can snap off the plug when tightening.
Replace the wire and go to the next.

If you have the money, I would recommend having the tune up done for you. Its worth the money!!!!

You do not have to go to a dealer and a local garage can do it.

Be prepared to do a lot of cussing and swearing if you do it yourself!

Good Luck,

Rob

Cadillac Repair

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Rob Painter

Expertise

Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience

Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

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