I have a 1991 Cutlass Supreme and I had to use a flex ratchet to replace the back 3 plugs. Other than that I was told by a mechanic friend that the motor has to come out to do this.
I reach over and around the top of the engine to access the spark plugs.I reach over and around the top of the engine to access the spark plugs.
Need to know year and engine size, as there are many different ones, the almera uses both long and short reach plugs, so getting the wrong ones (long reach in a short reach engine) can be a disaster.
depends on which engine it has. If it is 3.4L Twin Dual Overhead Cam version the engine is very tight against firewall. The engine mounting leg on top of the engine has to be removed and install a special jack in its place to jack the engine away from firewall, essentially rocking the engine forward so a skinny hand can reach down behind the back bank of spark plugs. You can also unbolt the two top engine mounts. After doing so pull the mounts back. Reinstall the left bolt in the mount bracket. Using a crow bar on the left bolt pry the engine forward just far enough to install the right side bolt into the second hole on the right mount. This will hold the engine forward and you can then get to the back side of engine. (Note: this is on the 3.1L engine)
It is your choice. You can either remove the transmission and leave the engine alone. or pull the engine and leave the transmission alone. If your SMART you will replace all the freeze plugs in the engine.
remove the coil pack; use a jointed extension with sparkplug socket to reach plugs.
You reach over the top, or Jack the van up and reach them from underneath.
On the top of the engine you will have some coil packs (x4) These are secured in by 10mm bolts and have wires conected to them. Remove the coonnectors and the bolts, and pull the coil packs upwards. This then reveals the spark plugs, loosed them off and remove them. fit the new ones making sure not to put them in too tight, nip then and then a quarter turn will do. put the coils back in and away you go. IMPORTANT!!!!! MAKE SURE THE PLUGS ARE CORRECT BY CHECKING THE OLD AGAINST THE NEW FIRST, AS THE ALMERA USES BOTH LONG AND SHORT REACH PLUGS, IF YOU PUT LONG REACH PLUGS AN ENGINE REQUIRING SHORT REACH, THE PISTON WILL HIT THE PLUGS AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE
Front bank of plugs are easy. Back bank of plugs are more difficult but can be reached from the right side(drivers side) of the engine. Make sure engine has cooled before attempting to reach in behind the engine...thereis an exhaust manifold and shield there which can be very hot.
The hardest part is getting to them. You have to be able to get clear access to the freeze plugs. There are typically several, and often there are a some that are difficult to reach. You'll need to look at a reference manual to see where they all are. Sometimes you have to pull the engine to get to the freeze plug that is under the flywheel/flex plate. It depends where the freeze plugs are located. I just recently had the rear plugs replaced on my ranger v6 3.0 and you cannot reach them. I had a shop do the work and instead of lifting the engine out they dropped the transmission and was able to reach them from underneath.
Remove the plastic cover plate on top of engine and you will see 4 holes in a line which is where the spark plugs are recessed into, you will need a socket set with long extension arm to reach the plugs. hope this helps. Iain.
there are 6 spark plugs, 3 are visible and easily changed, but 3 are under the engine and very difficult to get to. I had to have a shop do the work and they said they had to pull the motor to reach them.
Yoiu have to reach around the intake plenumn from the top.