Hi All: The Prius PHEV has reached the 120k mile mark and it is time to replace plugs. This coming weekend should be fun. Wayne
This used to be incredibly easy in my 89 Civic. Probably haven't done it since 2000. With 98K on my Prius, I will be ( thinking about ) doing it soon.
Hi Edwin: Changing those plugs is indeed a real SOB as having to take off the wipers, wiper motor, and firewall/windscreen cowl, and engine cover plus all the associated bolts and clips just to get to the coil packs is a royal PITA! I am going to pickup a 4-pack set of Denso SK16R11 Iridium, NGK IFR5T11 Iridium, or Champion REA12WMPB4 possibly tonight in preps for the change. All arrive with preset gaps of between 1.0 and 1.1 mm but I will check the gap(s) at the Pep Boys before bringing them home for install this weekend. Wayne
Hi All: Not 30-seconds after posting this I started seeing Service, Repair, and Spark Plug Google ads on each new web site page I requested. Damn, why not just read my mind and get it over with! Wayne
Hi All: The Toyota Dealership wanted $400 and there is no way they should be getting $400 for this job. 10:45 AM start, 12:15 PM finish. Not including going to the local PepBoys for $22 worth of plugs and the small 9/16 spark plug socket. Damn is it a small one! The vid was pretty much dead on for all aspects other than it was easier to remove the HW than what he went through. On the reassembly, I had to remove the fastener nuts from the wiper motor assembly, readjust the left wiper and reattach as it was to high on the windshield. That was about the only hitch and rework. 2012 Toyota Prius PHEV-11 Wiper Motor and assembly removal. Plug installs. Engine cover goes on before the lower and upper cowl goes back in. The Desno's could have easily lasted another 60k miles. Wayne
You make it look so easy. Only $22 for four plugs ? I thought they were made out of unobtainium or somethin' like it.
Hi Edwin: If there was one additional item I would suggest, change them on a warm day. It was nice here of course but I would not want to do this on a 40 to 50 degree day. The Iridium tipped plugs are sometimes expensive. I found a deal at Pep Boys. The Champions were a few bucks off each and I paid just over $5 a piece. Denso's were more than double and I could not find a reason why? In any case, I installed some new wiper blades along with the plugs and this project is complete. Wayne
Good video by NutzAboutBolts: One quibble: he slathers the plugs with anti-seize and torques to 20 foot pounds. Spec is 15 foot pounds, presumably with clean/dry threads. See attached.
