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Changing #6 spark plug on 2003 Xterra

30K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  gravimetric  
#1 ·
Anyone ever changed spark plugs on a Nissan Xterra? If so, how in the world do you get to plug #6 and get it out of there. It's located between the engine block and the firewall. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
#3 ·
Have a read of those threads. At least it only needs doing every 100K miles. You'll need a universal joint and two six inch extensions to get that plug out. Be very careful when putting the new plug back in. That is one place you don't want something cross threaded.
 
#6 ·
well that plug certainly is a bitch, so i started with it was able to get it out and get the new one in only to find out i got the wrong plug wires. wich really sucks cuz i am the one that looked them up at work, its gonna take some fancy foot work to figure out who i can blame; because obviously i can';t blame my self that would just be stupid
 
#7 ·
No worries... I sorta did the same thing. I have a brand new set of NGK plugs for xterras that I bought from Summit Racing. No one at Summit ever bothered to check to see that the supercharged models have an entirely different set of plugs. Now I'm stuck with a box of plugs I can't use and it's been 30 days so I can't return them either.

Interested? lol
 
#8 ·
No worries... I sorta did the same thing. I have a brand new set of NGK plugs for xterras that I bought from Summit Racing. No one at Summit ever bothered to check to see that the supercharged models have an entirely different set of plugs. Now I'm stuck with a box of plugs I can't use and it's been 30 days so I can't return them either.

Interested? lol
well good thing i work at an auto parts store
 
#9 ·
This link from ggunn is good info:
http://www.nissanoffroad.net/how_to/plugs/plug.asp

If the engine is mounted like the vg30e Pathfinder (and from the looks of it, it is), I found it easier to take my hood off of the Pathfinder and find some creative foot-holds in the engine bay to stand/squat-like-a-gargoyle on (works if you're right at or below average height and can't reach all the way to the back of the engine from the side). Anything with a seal or gasket does not make a good foot hold. I attached the spark plug socket and one of the extender arms to thread the plug in first (average size forearms should work with expletives). I ratcheted it in slow and easy, and just when I thought it was getting tight, it would keep screwing in a little further. Then I would think, "surely, this plug is about to set in, " and no, it would keep going. The uncomfortable position makes it seem even longer.