Cylinder location for plug wires installation

Which engine ? 4 cylinder is 1-3-4-2 6 cylinder is 1-2-3-4-5-6 for 2.8 and 3.1 and the 3.3 6 cylinder is 1-6-5-4-3-2

For the four cylinder engine:

1. Remove and label all electrical wiring, connectors and vacuum hoses necessary to gain removal clearance.
2. Remove the spark plug wires. Disconnect the PCV hose.
3. Remove the four nuts and grommets located on top of the cylinder head cover.

1. Remove the cylinder head cover and the cover gasket from the cylinder head.
2. Discard the gasket and replace with a new one.

To install:

1. With a wire brush or gasket scraper, remove all the old gasket material from the cylinder head and the cylinder head cover gasket surfaces.
2. When the cylinder head surfaces are free and clean, apply beads of sealant to the cylinder head in the locations shown in the accompanying illustrations.
3. Install the new cylinder head gasket in the cover. Make sure that the gasket seats evenly.
4. Place the cylinder head cover with the gasket onto the cylinder head.
5. Install the four grommets and nuts. Uniformly tighten the nuts in several passes to 17 ft. lbs. (23 Nm).
6. Connect the PCV hose. Connect all removed vacuum hoses, connectors and electrical wiring. Connect the negative battery cable.
7. Start the engine and inspect for oil leaks.
8. Repair any leaks as necessary.

For the V-6 (3.0L) engine:

1. Drain and recycle the engine coolant.
2. Disconnect the radiator inlet hose.
3. Disconnect the throttle and accelerator cables.
4. Remove the air cleaner cap assembly.
5. Remove the V-bank cover. Use a hexagon wrench to loosen the nuts.
6. Label and remove all emission control valve hoses. Disconnect any wiring interfering with the valve cover removal.
7. Remove the air intake chamber. This will gain you access to the back valve cover.
8. Disconnect the engine wire from the left hand side, No. 3 timing belt cover, rear side and right hand side. Most of the wiring is secured by nuts and or bolts to the body of the vehicle.
9. Remove the ignition coils, make sure the place them in order on a table so not to mix them up.
10. Remove the 8 bolts retaining the valve covers and gasket.
11. Clean the mating area of the valve cover and cylinder heads well. If necessary, scrape any left gasket from either surface.
12. Apply seal packing to the cylinder heads and place new gaskets into position.
13. Attach the valve covers. Uniformly tighten the bolts in several passes to 69 inch lbs. (8 Nm).
14. Install the spark plugs in their proper locations, then place the ignition coils into place and secure.
15. Attach all engine wiring be sure to secure each harness properly.
16. Install the air intake chamber. Refer to Fuel System .
17. Attach all emission hoses and wiring.
18. Attach the V-bank cover.

If it's a 4 cylinder then you have to remove the "coil pack" from the top of each spark plug. Should be a 10mm socket. then using a long reach spark plug socket, remove the spark plugs. Make sure to set the "gap" of the new ones before you install. Then re install the coil packs and secure them.

If it's a 6 Cylinder then remove the plug wires from the top of the plugs, then smae as above but you will probably use a spark lug socket and a short extension with the rachet, Once again be sure to "gap" the plugs before you install. best to do the plugs ONE AT A TIME, so that you don't mix up the wires.

Yes it sounds like you mixed up the plug wires. The firing order is 1 2 3 4 5 6. Pretty simple to remember. The cylinders are 1 3 5 on the firewall side with number one being the front cylinder (Where the belts are). The radiator side cylinders are 2 4 6 with 2 being the front cylinder.

GET A PIECE PAPER DRAW A LARGE CIRCLE TOP UPPER HALF CIRCLE LEFT TO RIGHT WRITE NUMBERS 1 AND 3 BOTTOM HALF CIRCLE LEFT TO RIGHT RIGHT NUMBERS 2 AND 4 THAT YOUR DISTRIBUTOR SPARK PLUGS WIRES LOCATION.STANDING ON SIDE OF ENGINE WHERE DISTRIBUTOR IS LOOKING DOWN AT DISTRIBUTOR 1 AND 3 FIRST TWO SPARK PLUGS TERMINALS NEXT TO ENGINE. AND 2 AND 4 SPARK PLUGS TERMINAL ON CAP FACING YOU. THIS IS CYLINDERS LOCATIONS STANDING IN FRONT OF ENGINE.RUN WIRES FROM DISTRIBUTOR CAP TO PLUGS TO THE ENGINE SPARK PLUGS.

The plugs are buried in the middle of the engine. Replace them one at a time so the wires don't get mixed up.

twist the ignition wire socket while pulling up to remove the wire.


Use a long extension and a socket with a rubber insert so the plug stays inside the socket as you draw it up.


Let me know if you have more questions

ARE YOU JOKEING???????LOOK IN THE ENGINE ,,YOU WILL SEE MABY 6 OR 4 ,,,WIRES,,,,,, DEPENDS ON TYPE OF CAR YOU HAVE,,,AT ONE SIDE OF EACH WIRE THERE WILL BE A SPARK PLUG,,MAKE SURE YOU ONLY DO ONE WIRE AT A TIME ,,CANT BE MIXED UP ,,THEY HAVE TO BE PUT BACK THE SAME WAY,,,VERY EASY TO DO THIS TRY IT,,,

HI: 1st Thing is to Locate your Distributor Cap, Where you'll see 5 Spark Plug Wires inserted in the Cap.The Center Wire is your COIL WIRE Just Take you Finger and Follow that Center Wire. The other 4 Wires are Spark Plug Wires ,Do the Same Thing Follow 1 at a time to the Other End to Locate Your Spark Plugs.Here You'll not Actually See the Plugs until you pull the wire off. I recommend you do Only One at a Time to Make Sure you are not Mixing up Your Wires.So now just Twist with your Fingers or Better Yet By a Spark Plug Wire Removal Tool,This Way you Won't Damage that end of your Spark Plug Wire.NOTE: when wires Boots have been on a Vehicle they tend to Stick to the Spark Plugs.And I really Recommend You Change your Wires as Well.If you Do Still Follow the 1-Wire at a Time. NOW you'll Find your Coil Inside the Distributor Cap on The Inside of it, Turn the Cap Upwards Be CAREFULL nOT to PULL off any Wire Out of the Cap cause they most Likely will Get Mixed up.Anyway inside the Distrbutor Cap you'll se 4-Small Bolts Heads i Believe there 5/17th or 1/4 Inch Heads.Just Remove all 4 of those Small Bolts Saving The Bolts .And Your Coil Will Come Right On Out.Pay Close Attention and Mark Or Memorize how the Coil and its Little Wire and washer is Installed.Cause you'll need to Put it or the New Coil Back the same way it Came Out. Hope This Has Helped You out ,Please Reply by Voting on the Solution I have Given to you. Thanks From the WYOCWBOY

Remove ignition wires from spark plugs, then use a 5/8 deep wall plug soket and turn to left with ratchet to remove plugs from cylinder head. do it with engine cold, if hot you can rip the treads out of the holes, soft aluminum. Install new with tread of plugs lubed with anti-seize lube (silver stuff). and torque to 20 ft lbs.reinstall ignition wires on plugs. not to mix wire location do it one at a time.

spark plug wires crossed find top dead center on number one cylinder (sometimes numbered on intake manifold) look under the distributor cap see were the rotor button is located and start there tracing the spark plug wires according to firing order also sometimes located on intake manifold