So last week I was fortunate enough to experience to the forceful extraction of a sparkplug (#4 of course) under load. I say fortunate because it did not take any threads with it, though it did destroy the COP. I was able to put an old plug and COP back in and drive it home. It's running fine now but I want to check all the other plugs just to be safe.

And here's the rub. I can't get to the plugs because the COP boots are stuck in the head. When I pull the COP it just pulls the wires out and leaves the plug and boot in there. I'm afraid of destroying the boot during extraction so I don't want to force it.

Is there a trick to un-sticking the boots? Can I just buy boots without the whole COP (they're Globals)? Is there something I can do to prevent them from sticking in the future?

Thanks in advance once again!


ETA: Okay, I changed up my search string and found a couple more ideas, but I've tried most of them. The 3/8 extension didn't work...thought of that one. Twisting didn't work either. This on a cold engine, would warming it up help? And yes, Checker and Autozone carry the boots...whew...that's good.

 

Can't help you pull them, but you need to use a bunch of dielectric grease when you reinstall them.

 

yes dielectric grease is your friend when putting the boots back on.

 

Roger that. I put a thin "smear" on them when I installed last (couple months ago)...guess I'll try "gooping" it on there a bit more.

Thanks for the tip!

 

I would get new boots and connectors - Most everyone carries them in town here and their cheap.