Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Photobucket
Welcome to Mercedes-190.co.uk

We are the Mercedes 190 owners forum, the place to be for all owners and fans of the Mercedes 190E, 190 and 190D cars. Including Cosworth (2.3 16v and 2.5 16v), EVO 1 and EVO 2 models. Modified and concourse, track cars and daily drivers, all are welcome.

This free UK based forum was started back in November 2005 to serve the Mercedes 190 W201 community and now has over 9000 members from all around the world and 600,000 + posts.

The members welcome you and encourage you to stay a while and have a look around.
We offer you friendly chat and access to some very useful information as well as tutorials with photos and videos for many common repair and maintenance jobs.
Whatever your needs there is a good chance you will be able to find what your looking for. Such as our Mercedes 190 buyers guide

Sign up to gain access to all areas including for sale / classified areas and country wide meetings and events. Many forum features and sections are only available once you sign up.

Join our forum at mercedes-190.co.uk!

If you're already a member please log in to your account:

**New members signing up**
please check your junk mail for the email authorization email
otherwise we cannot verify your new account.
I have noticed a lot of unauthorized accounts in the system.
Regards
Admin

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
HT lead caps...effing, bollox....!; Anyone got any tips to remove them?
Topic Started: Thu May 17, 2012 9:24 am (1,538 Views)
derin100
More than part of things
[ *  *  * ]
Why can the simplest of jobs end up being such a pain?

Thought I'd crack-on nice and early this morning...get the spark plug changed nice and quick before getting on with some more complex bits and pieces.....WRONG!

Pulled the first one off...effing end of the plug snapped inside the cap. Had to ponce about taking the metal sleeve off the rubber cap just to be able to get some slim nosed pliers down to eventually get the broken tip out!

Well, it can't happen again can it? I don't know...because now I can't even pull the flipping leads off the remaining 5 plug ends at all! FFS!

I read elsewhere on the forum about getting some mole-grips on to the metal sleeve and pulling. Trouble is I can't get the mole-grips anywhere near to the metal sleeve. I don't know if it's the shape of the M103 head but the metal sleeves are well down into the slot for the plugs with only a minimal amount near the outside.

Anyone got any other tips/tricks?

FFS! FFS! FFS!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stwat
Member Avatar


The metal sleeves have a ridge down each side. Grip that with the needle nose pliers twist and pull. It always works for me. Once off spray some silicon spray inside the metal sleeves and they will pull off by hand every time afterwards.

Never pull the leads as you will end up pulling them out of the metal sleeves. As you have found out :rolleyes:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rich27
Member Avatar
Admin

Push down , Twist , then pull up.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
derin100
More than part of things
[ *  *  * ]
ok...going to try again now. Thanks!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
derin100
More than part of things
[ *  *  * ]
No luck! If I carry on it just feels like I'm going to damage something.
Looked online and there are special tools available. Seems the one for VW/Audis is reckoned to be better than the Merc/Smart one.
http://www.thesmartclub.com/board/showthread.php?19353-Spark-Plug-Lead-Removal-Tool&p=143782
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cornershop
Part of things
[ *  * ]
Listen to Kent!

http://mercedessource.com/node/9729
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stwat
Member Avatar


If they have been on for a long time they can indeed be a right pain in the arse to remove. Although, I have always been okay using the pliers trick on the side of the metal cover. They do need a very good twist and pull though, be brutal and show no mercy !!!
Edited by stwat, Thu May 17, 2012 10:15 am.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
kentronix
Member Avatar
I'm only really here for the Kitchens

twist to the RIGHT, then pull off.
If you twist left it undoes the terminal a bit but doesnt actually free up the lead. Twist to the right, which will break it free and then pull off. Long applied force rather than jerking. The rubber forms a seal around the plug which will gradually let go.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
derin100
More than part of things
[ *  *  * ]
Nope, sorry...still no luck!

Like Kent says in his video....if they've been in there a while etc etc.

So I've just ordered the VAG tool to do it. I figure it'll be a useful tool to have in the future too.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
novacell
Part of things
[ *  * ]
I bought the following after finding the ht leads difficult to remove. Mercedes use the same for the M103 engine.

Ebay link

Edited by novacell, Fri May 18, 2012 10:23 pm.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cornershop
Part of things
[ *  * ]
novacell
Fri May 18, 2012 10:23 pm
I bought the following after finding the ht leads difficult to remove. Mercedes use the same for the M103 engine.

Ebay link

Nice find

What kind of grease (copper?) or spray would remove the need for such tools?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stwat
Member Avatar


cornershop
Fri May 18, 2012 11:56 pm
novacell
Fri May 18, 2012 10:23 pm
I bought the following after finding the ht leads difficult to remove. Mercedes use the same for the M103 engine.

Ebay link

Nice find

What kind of grease (copper?) or spray would remove the need for such tools?
I used silicon spray and they just pop off by hand no problem now.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cornershop
Part of things
[ *  * ]
stwat
Sat May 19, 2012 12:20 am
cornershop
Fri May 18, 2012 11:56 pm
novacell
Fri May 18, 2012 10:23 pm
I bought the following after finding the ht leads difficult to remove. Mercedes use the same for the M103 engine.

Ebay link

Nice find

What kind of grease (copper?) or spray would remove the need for such tools?
I used silicon spray and they just pop off by hand no problem now.
TVM
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
derin100
More than part of things
[ *  *  * ]
The tool in that link above looks just the job! If they'd have given it a different title I may have found it when I was searching on Ebay...but I didn't! :(

Top tip...don't buy the one recommended for VAG cars...like I did! It arrived today and is no use for our cars...it's too narrow so doesn't fit over the caps. "wallbang"

So I've now just gone and ordered those pliers above!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
derin100
More than part of things
[ *  *  * ]
Finally!!! :D

With the aid of the tool as recommended by Novacell above I managed to get the remaining four leads off (with unbelievable difficulty I had got two off with out it).

Even with this tool the other four were still really difficult (one I thought still wouldn't come off). I'm convinced that without such a device they would never have come off.

IMHO, this is an absolute 'must have tool' especially for the price!

All six plugs now changed! :D

Cheers!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
horatio
Part of things
[ *  * ]
Be sure to use decent (Beru) leads while you're at it, I had a nightmare with cheap pattern ones... ended up replacing all sort of bits to solve a misfire which was just one of the leads I fitted only few months back playing up!
Edited by horatio, Tue May 22, 2012 1:18 pm.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
novacell
Part of things
[ *  * ]
im glad the pliers proved worthwhile.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Join the millions that use us for their forum communities. Create your own forum today.
Learn More · Register for Free
« Previous Topic · Engine · Next Topic »
Add Reply


Email me if anyone replys