ANSWERS: 6
  • Somewhere under the hood is a distributor cap. Depending on the number of cylinders the engine has (a V8 has 8 cylinders for 8 pistons, each require a spark and must be fired at the correct time, a v6 has 6 and a 4 cylinder has 4) Usually the cap has a wire in the center surrounded by 4, 6, 8 wires in a ring of plugs. It is relatively easy to pull a plug from the cap and the spark plug, it may require a bit of twisting and a bit of wiggling - they are designed to be fairly snug to prevent them from popping off while cruising down the roat. Each wire is a different length. In some makes and models there may be 3, 4 or 6 lengths of spark plug - although each spark plug would ideally be the perfect length, the manufactures try to uniform the manufacture and reduce the number of wire lengths as far as possible. Usually the center wire is the shortest, and depending on where the cap is compared to the cylinders will determine the length of the wire. BEWARE: spark plug wires MUST attach to the Distributor cap in a single order. The distributor cap basically has a circulating patter of electricity, sending a spark down each wire in a circle - thus it is possible that the order of the cap may be 1,4, 2,5, 3,6, blah or other orders - the order being which cylinder the wire goes too. It is always advised to remove and replace one spark plug wire at a time. Although time consuming and potentially requiring you take a bit more time it will insure that you maintain the firing order of the cylinders. If you mess that up the car will not run. Along the length of some of the cables they will attach to clips usually against the engine or frame our housing. Start at the cap, unplug, then unravel, untwist, and follow the length of the wire unclipping as you go. If there are a lot of clips then you may want to follow with the new wire, clipping it into place as you go to prevent confusion as to where the wire goes. Usually when you change the wires you also change the spark-plugs themselves. Its a good idea, spark plugs do wear out and they do get covered in debris. If you have to remove the distributor cap then get a white pencil (it writes in white) its usually a grease pencil. Mark both wire and position on the cap, numbering as you go. Take off the wires and compare the caps and mark the new cap in the same order. I think that pretty much covers it.
  • One at a time!!!! Let me reiterate that because I have seen too many people screw that up.ONE AT A TIME!!! Now that we have the warning out of the way, the spark plug wires are fairly obvious so you start by locating all of the plugs and where all of the wires lead to. Maybe it's a distributor cap, maybe it's a solid-state brick. Either way, you need to find it because, well, you need some place to put the other end of the wire. Once you locate both ends, you remove both ends of one wire by gently pulling and twisting. In case I forgot to tell you, only remove one wire at a time. Take the wire you removed and find one in the new set that is the same length. The two ends of the wire are quite different so you should be able to figure out which end goes to the plug and which end goes to whatever gives it juice. Just push them on. You may need to shove hard. The spark plug end will click on. If you don't feel the click, it isn't on.
  • Ocalou - I have answered similar questions at least 3 times. When you asked your question it should've brought at least one up. I did a nice, detailed explanation of how to change the plugs and wires (if you're changing the wires you should do the plugs at the same time). Look for it and you shall find wisdom...and your answer.
  • The spark plug wires are underneath the upper intake manifold and attach to the ignition coil (the PT is DIS - No Distributor). Remove the upper intake manifold to access the spark plug wires. See the picture below, turbo and non turbo models require the intake to be removed for access of the wires and plugs.
  • The question was not general one, it did not ask for directions for all vehicles. When someone asks a question pertaining to a specific vehicle, the answer should be for the vehicle. And yes some newer vehicles do have distributors, but not the PT Cruiser.
  • Folks... The reason this question is so specific - is that the PT has it's intake manifold over the top of the plugs and wires. So the question isn't so much, "How do I replace my plugs" as it is "How do I get to my plugs on the PT Cruiser?" The Intake Manifold has 5 (8mm) bolts at the front, and 2-3 (13mm) bolts at the back (depending on the year) - holding it to a bracket. Remove them all. Lift the manifold off - do not drop the seals down the manifold. Lay a towel over the manifold. Hang the manifold from the hood with a bungee (to keep it out of the way.) Now you can get to your plugs and wires. You will need a 6 inch extension and a 5/8 deep socket to remove plugs.

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