My 2000 Dakota Sport 2.5L has never had the plugs replaced in the 4 years I have owned it. I have today replaced the plugs and wires, dist cap and rotor but cannot get to spark plug #1, nestled in behind the AC compressor (see photo). Do I need to relax the serp belt - will the AC compressor fall back to allow me access to the spark plug?
Thanks for any assistance.

 

Looks the same as my 2.5 and I don’t have any problem getting my plug out sure it’s a tight fit but not imposable to do I just use a flex joint and an extension.

Just don’t crank the plug putting it back in snug well just past snug is good you don’t need to crank it down.

I find getting the sparkplug wire off and back on the sparkplug to be harder than getting the sparkplug out.

So its sparkplug socket then flex joint then an extension a good pull and off it comes

One good thing the heads are cast iron not soft aluminum

 

Thanks for the tip - flex joint would be nice to have. Right now it's the plug wire I'm having trouble just getting off. I have a new one so guess it shouldn't matter if I damage the old one. Suppose I should make a trip to Autozone to pick up the flex joint and make my life easier.

 

Needle nose pliers work for me grip the head and pull with some twisting/wiggling

I have seen some special wire pullers for tight spots but never tried them

 

I did use a coat hanger I just bent it to make a hook and snagged the wire and pulled it out in the past

A BIG HINT use some of the sparkplug boot Grease putting the new wire on so its easy next time

 

Okay, got the U-joint. I had to use a small piece of duct tape to hold the ever-rotating joint in place until I got into the plug chamber. Got the plug out. I now THINK I have the new plug in but the plug socket stayed on the plug and the u-joint came off with the extension! I suppose this would be easier without the AC compressor in the way, but what the hay. Now I just need to get needle nose or pliers in to pull off the socket and hope the plug is in place...

 

Yea that does happen to me just use the pliers to grab and get the socket out

Use a screwdriver to push the sparkplug boot on the plug

You need some new tools I think

Home-Depo has a great tool set for about $45 check them out Husky and not bad at that

This one is more but you get a lot http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...&storeId=10051

 

Ya, new tools would be great.
The plug socket had such a death grip on the plug, I backed the plug out and now may put some of that boot grease in the socket.
Geez louise.
Thanks for the tips. At 56, I don't think my wrists can take doing this NEXT time!!

 

Have you changed out the throttle body to the 4.0 throttle body yet if not do it best bang for the buck and best simple improvement also.

I just passed smog with it this year I was a bit worried

Do a google search you will find it


56 Im same dont faze me non been crawling all over my Dakota this last year and will keep doing it till Im gone

 

Want something a bit wild look here

http://www.ebay.com/itm/63mm-Jeep-4-...6889%26ps%3D54