This is a debate that's been on going for awhile. Many take the idea that Chrysler put it there for a reason, and that it shouldn't be jacked with. Case is, that heat shield is exactly that. A heat shield. It protects the rubber boot from getting too hot and melting. It's a good idea to have the shields in place if you went with the OEM Style plugs. I'm talking direct MOPAR Replacement. 90% of the wires out on the aftermarket today are made of high temp Silicone. IIRC, my wires are rated at 500* F. The people that remove them, like I have, think that the heat shields do nothing for you except trap dirt and debris.

 

Ok, I have tried with the channel locks, and they don't want to come come off. They don't twist or turn with the locks, and they are just stuck. I've been putting some muscle on them too, since I'm not putting them back on, I'm not worried about breaking them. Also, the pcv valve doesn't seem to want to come off either. Is there a special trick to that?

 

Ok, well I got the new pcv valve in, along with 5 of the new spark plugs. Still no luck with the heat shields, though.

 

I got 6 of the 8 spark plugs done. I'm still stuck on the 2, but it's running at least. Thank you guys for the help!

 

take a small hose clamp and put on it and tighten

 

i did say gently if there is corrosion on the plug causing it to slip or the edges are round they will slide on but again gently

 

if you try a hose clamp put it close to the head. what you want to do is close that gap that runs down one side of the heat shield because they are held in there by pressure. if you try with the channel locks again make sure you have the gap in the middle of the jaws so when you squeeze it will close the gap. i have a pair of pliers that i use that have off set jaws and i put one jaw in and one outside of the heat shield then wiggle and twist like crazy to get them out. i normally take them all off when i mess with the plugs just so i can actually grab the boot and not the wire to pull it off.

 

another thing with the plugs, try to get the rubber out of your socket or just try to push it down on the plug real good

 

i removed my heat shields and threw them away 3 years ago. no problems in running without them.

to get the heat shields off, you can clamp on a set of vice grips for more leverage, or just take a hammer and beat on them back and forth. another tip is to GENTLY drive a screwdriver or punch down along the outer edge and deform them inwards. then wiggle them out.

 

FYI If your worried about the heat thing. You can go to advance auto parts and get boot heat shields. They slip right on the boot!


They look like this


But they are put out by a different name... They look the same as these tho! And im sure they are. Ive used the ones you can get at advance auto. There well worth the money if your having problems with plug wires getting too hot and melting/burning. Used on a Trans Am with Jet hot long tubes. Plug wires were getting burnt.. Not anymore tho.


But you probly wont have to worry about it. Like the guy above said^^. He's runnin without them with no probs.