My 1999 Durango 5.2L V8 needs to have new spark plugs but can't get the wires off the plugs to change them. They are really stuck and I don't want to reef on them too hard as I am afraid of breaking one. Anyone have any idea on how to get them off?

They are the original factory installed ones. Durango ( Red) only has 64,000 miles but due to age the shop mechanic said they need to be replaced as he saw arcing when he started the engine. I had to have the Cam and Crank sensors replaced thats when they discovered the spark plugs needed to be changed as well.

Would you believe they want $290 to replace plugs, wires, rotor and distributor cap. They said the plugs were $90, I already have the plugs but they won't use mine. Go figure...

Thanks guys,

Suzanne

 

Hello, Suzanne
Yes they are out to rip people off and will do it to anybody not just yourself.
Let me point you to this page here. The parts would be the exact same.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...hange-out.html

You WILL want to use Champion plugs,
DO NOT get platinum plugs....

You do need wires with that many miles on them.
basically just have to try to wiggle it back and forth to take them off. sometimes you can get lucky and spray some wd-40 on the wires, slid the spark plug boot (cover) up the wire and expose the plug, then take a small screw driver and open the tip.. Not all wires will allow you to slide the boot up the wire.

if you change the cap, make sure you put the wires in the exact same hole on the new cap as they came off the old one. best way this if you do not have a book is to remove the old cap noting the position with the wires still on the cap, install the new rotor (easy, pull off old one push on new one) install cap now, 1 at a time remove a spark plug wire and install it on the new cap (using new wires).

So the parts you would want to get is, (at Napa)
Echlin
Cap............MO29
Rotor..........MO26
Champion truck plugs
Name brand (napa brand will work) 8MM plug wires

 

Thank you for your quick response. I'm very glad I posted as the plugs I have are the platinum. Will replace them with the ones you recommended. Just curious whats wrong with using the platinum?

Thank you again for your help.

Suzanne

 

Well they run at a different temp then what a magnum engine needs. What will happen is they run fine for the first 3000-4000 miles (if your lucky) and then you will experience rough idle and poor acceleration, this also leads to you using more gas.

Champion are OEM (means what Dodge put in them from the factory, Original Equipment Manufacturer).

 

The plug wires are bonded with some type of adhesive so unless you know how they remove them, my guess at 290 they are ripping them out, if you are replacing them who cares if you mess them up. I got rid of just before it was time well not by mileage by time. I was gonna just put the same as the factory ones...I had an R/T was a pig on gas, only 250 HP and worse mileage than my huge HEMI 09 crew cab pickup 390 HP

 

Take the plugs back with the recipt and exchange them for the Champion Regular Copper Plugs or Champion Truck Plugs. These plugs are only about $2 buck each and do the best in that motor. You want to replace them every 15k and 30k at the latest. I replace mine every year or 15k, but each to their own. OEM (from the dealer) wires are better than NAPA in my opinion.

Cap and rotor as schusterjo instructed.


You can get them to move by twisting the wire boot on the plug then grasp the top of the boot hard and pull up hard. They will snap off. When replacing the plugs they need to be gapped at .040