OK, did all the searches, DIY posts, etc. I have a 2007 Hemi Ram and decided to change the plugs today for the first time at 35,000. Removed the two bolts on the front right coil to start off with. As mentioned in a couple posts, you might have to twist a little to remove the coil. Well, I twisted, I tugged, I pulled, I yanked, I mean I put some grip strength into it and the boots would just keep stretching, but not release. After 30 minutes of this I finally used a pry bar to give me a little leverage and it finally popped loose. Problem now is one boot pulled loose from the plug, the other from the coil and was still attached to the plug! Now another 30 minutes of pulling, yanking the boot to the point of stretching it a good inch or so and it would not release. I even twisted the boot a good full turn and it would not move at the plug contact, just spin back into place when I released it. I finally had to grip it with pliers and I mean really pull hard before it would release! I ended up ripping the upper lip off one side of the boot!

What am I dealing with here? I have not read of problems this severe. This is on a coil that is easily accessible...I can't imagine dealing with this on the back coils. Any advice...other than go to the dealer and have it done, which is unfortunately the way I'm leaning right now. Always been a DYI kind of guy, but this is insane!

 

never heard of that problem, but I would try to spray some pb blaster around the boots if they are getting stuck in there. I just changed mine and they slid right out. Use di-electric grease on the plug ends and boots when re-installing

 

Obviously they were changed before. and not reused the dielectric grease. That would makem stick. Good luck with that. I would of done the back r/s first. then the rest are easier. imo.

 

Thanks Butch & Rocket for your replies! After posting my woes I decided to get back out there and give it another shot on the next coil. Same situation there, stuck tightly. I found a pry bar with a 45 degree spoon shaped end on it in my tool box and gently worked it under the coil and against the boot under the lip and started prying. It finally came free. I proceeded to all the others and had to use this procedure for each one. It took me six hours to do this job due to the extra time involved in prodding the boots free.

This was the first replacement of the plugs--bought the truck new. It was evidently a lack of di electric grease at the factory. I found remants of it on the upper plug contact tips, but the boots appeared dry. Believe me, I loaded each one up with the stuff so next time should be much easier. Now I know why the shops want to charge so much, what a pain it is to replace those plugs, even without the boots sticking! Nothing like my previous 8 plug Ram.

Thanks again guys. Hopefully my post might aid others if they encounter this problem.

 

glad you werre able to get them done. Did you have to buy a new coil pack for the one you ripped? What kind of plugs did you use? How did the old plugs look?

 

LOL.....well at least you got it done and did it all yourself. Might have been PITA but at least you got the bragging rights now.

 

I dunno, guys report being able to change 'em out in under and hour. I don't see how. Took me a little over two when I did them at 30k miles. Thankfully I'm only at 48k right now and at my current usage, should have about a year and a half before needing to do it again. Gonna have to do wires this time as well though...

 

It was actually just the upper lip of the rubber boot that ripped. I don't see it as a big problem, maybe pick up a new one next time I'm at the dealership. Old plugs looked OK, gaps were at .050. I honestly feel I could have gone longer on them. Maybe I'll put 40-45K on this set before changing them out again. I don't abuse the truck, just some occassional towing. I used the stock Champion coppers.

I can't see it humanly possible to change 16 plugs in an hour. Maybe a pro that does it all the time and has all the tricks down? Even without the boot-sticking problem, I can't see myself getting the job done any faster than 2-3 hours, especially when taking the time to put anti-sieze and di-electric grease on each plug. I didn't see a need to remove the driver side wheel shroud. The rear driver side didn't seem any tougher than the rear passenger side (once I got the boots freed up). I just crawled up into the engine compartment and got close and personal with the engine to get to the rears. I guess my position looked a little odd, as my wife walked out into the garage and commented that she knew I loved my truck, but not THAT much! :-)

 

Even with a body lift if take time. I guess you could do them in an hour if the engine wasnt in the truck but rather on an engine stand LOL

 

That's where it's supposed to be. It's the ONLY place it should be.