Some darn engineer
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Amateur
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
Some darn engineer
Just finished changing the spark plugs on my 2004 Dakota V6. This is the 3.7 L 2WD model... It took over an hour, all said and done! Mind you, this is the first time I've changed plugs on this model, but wow. Some darn engineer sure earned his pay, packing everything in there nice and tight.
Good thing I changed them too. This was a used purchase for me and looks like the previous owner never changed them (now at 82,000 mi). The gap was way out of tolerance... take a look at old (left) vs new Champion 3344 Platinum - GAP .044 (right)
But they were a pain to get at. On the left side, I was able to use a few different extension combinations and get at the 10 mm nut holding down the ignition coil without taking anything off. No, that's a lie, had to take off the large diameter rubber hose connecting the air filter and intake. A few more socket extensions and long handled needle nose pliers and I was able to get the plugs out. Definitely had to manoeuvre a few rubber hoses and work around the a/c piping.
On the right side, the back 2 were easy but the front 1 just wouldn't make it out. To take off the 10 mm nut I needed a 10 mm stubby crescent wrench, but to get the coil out I had to partially remove the plastic air intake piece covering the engine. Not too bad, just 1 screw (torx, I believe) and it will pivot enough to remove the front ignition coil.
Wish I would have taken more pictures to turn it into a mini tutorial. Hopefully this short writeup helps anyone else in the same situation. The whole experience made me feel like this guy: http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/28/hi...ine-complaint/
Good thing I changed them too. This was a used purchase for me and looks like the previous owner never changed them (now at 82,000 mi). The gap was way out of tolerance... take a look at old (left) vs new Champion 3344 Platinum - GAP .044 (right)
But they were a pain to get at. On the left side, I was able to use a few different extension combinations and get at the 10 mm nut holding down the ignition coil without taking anything off. No, that's a lie, had to take off the large diameter rubber hose connecting the air filter and intake. A few more socket extensions and long handled needle nose pliers and I was able to get the plugs out. Definitely had to manoeuvre a few rubber hoses and work around the a/c piping.
On the right side, the back 2 were easy but the front 1 just wouldn't make it out. To take off the 10 mm nut I needed a 10 mm stubby crescent wrench, but to get the coil out I had to partially remove the plastic air intake piece covering the engine. Not too bad, just 1 screw (torx, I believe) and it will pivot enough to remove the front ignition coil.
Wish I would have taken more pictures to turn it into a mini tutorial. Hopefully this short writeup helps anyone else in the same situation. The whole experience made me feel like this guy: http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/28/hi...ine-complaint/
Thread Starter
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Amateur
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
I do like peach pie 
I suppose I shouldn't complain. Nothing broke, plugs are changed, and rough idle problem is gone. And the new plugs were $2 less ea. due to the ongoing rebate: https://www.championrebate.com/
I suppose I shouldn't complain. Nothing broke, plugs are changed, and rough idle problem is gone. And the new plugs were $2 less ea. due to the ongoing rebate: https://www.championrebate.com/