I got it done, just as described in the video. I've got long arms and found myself laying my head on the engine cover as I stretched my left arm behind the intake manifold. For me the hardest part was pulling the coils off. The angle and only having one hand to lever them out with finger strength or using my wrist required several tries. The middle rear was the worst. The rubber coils are great for maneuvering them out and in but make it hard to break them loose. The rubber just stretches. After that it was finding the right combination of extensions to position the ratchet where it could be moved. Took me about 2 hours.
I was able to do the three in the front and the first of the three in the back, but I’m stuck on no. 5. I can’t seem to remove the coil, there seems to be a wire or something in the way. Either that, or I lack the grip strength needed to wedge it free lol. Thanks for this tutorial, it gave me the confidence and know-how to tackle the job myself. Will update when I get it done. Maybe I’ll try removing the cowl as others have suggested. Update: I was able to change the fifth one, stuck on the last one now. I think I’ll have to follow your advice and get a plain 10 mm wrench to reach that last one. Update: was able to do them all. Thanks a ton.
If you remove plastic cover and plate underneath of that along with windshield wipers it makes this job 100x easier without removing any hoses or anything else
I did this repair today but took cowling and intake off. Took 3 hours. For me, the hardest part was electrical connectors but I didn't break any! I couldn't imagine doing the connectors without full visibility from cowl and intake surge removal. But good work!
Thanks for this video and this was helpful for me! I could have done it without removing the cowl but did remove it to give me a little extra space to reach behind the motor as the extra few inches made it easier to work. Replacing all the plugs took me an hour and removing/reinstalling the cowl was another ~30 minutes.
I removed the air intake on a 18 sienna. I did not have to remove the cowl or the wiper blades. I did not have to change the gasket going from the intake to the engine. It was a lot of bolts but for someone who's done my brakes a few times it wasn't bad at all. Also i changed all of the coils.
Thank you very much. I just saved a grand in labor and it did in 2 hours by using your video. I actually had a cheap camera snake that I brought out too and used it to great affect.
I took the intake off it really isn't that bad to remove and replace the intake. I know people are in a rush these days for everything but really it isn't that bad.
Thanks for all the information. Just got my 2020 done. Took me approximately 2.5 hours (while keeping up with my son playing outside). Just have to be patient on the back cylinders. The only thing I don’t feel great about is the amount of torque I put on the back cylinders. Hard to tell what I was doing with such little space.
I am getting ready to change the spark plugs on my 2020 too. I was just wandering if you tried to do it from underneath (using ramps). I can see them all from there and it seems that is doable that way.
Just finished my wife's '17, though it seems to have more in common with a '16. There was no way I was going to be able to get the 3rd plug in the back. Took 20 mins just to get the coil pack off of the first. I ended up taking the intake manifold off, left the cowling (zero point to take it off on the van). Even with the wasted time struggling to get the plugs out without removing anything else, it only took 2 hrs. Maybe there's a difference in mine (early model '17) vs the later ones, but it wasn't as bad as it looked. Take pictures, think things through, and don't rush.
Thanks for the video. Perhaps an endoscope camera that you can insert from the other side might come in handy. I might still remove the whole thing as I never had luck changing plugs on these V6s without removing everything,.
My question is how did you get those coil packs out with the intake right there was there enough room that and you're not even showing anybody how you did it
I didn't show how I did it because there is nothing to show. It's a completely blind procedure. The video of me doing it would be both very boring and completely uninformative. The part of the coil pack that actually extends down to the plug is flexible, so you have enough room to get it out without an issue.
I own a sienna 2015 85k engine work smooth and i don't feel any problems may I way till 100k to replacement bcz I smell is a painful job for someone don't have many tools
Thanks for this! I have a 6" magnetic swivel socket - do you think there is room for one thats a little longer, or should I buy the 4" one too just in case? I am definitely going to give this a shot.
Believe what you want to believe, but I have no incentive to lie about this. Test it out for yourself, if you can reach back there and touch the furthest coil pack, you should be able to do it. Again it was neither comfortable nor my favorite way to spend an hour, but totally doable.
Trying to get my Dad or husband to replace for me. They want be to order the plugs and tools. Is the one link in the previous comment for the magnetic swivel the only thing needed? Also the spark plugs I looked up I can’t find a fit for the 2017 Toyota Sienna. Can you link the plugs and any other tools for me?
I'm 6'6" and have pretty big hands. Unless you've got some Popeye forearms or something, I can't believe you couldn't get to any of them. To me the most likely possibility is that you own a Toyota stealership and are waging a disinformation campaign in order to fund your yacht payments. Nice try ; )
Just wanted to know did you undo the wire connector to the coil pack on the back ones when you took them out or we able to leave the wire connection alone
I could be mistaken, but I think the ones I took out were iridium. I know those can be >100k, but I think Toyota will void the emission control warranty if you don't replace at 60k.
@@johannlopez4524 I took the plugs out from a 140K Sienna with original spark plugs. They look like they can last another 150K miles on it given how little wear it had. They were original Denso Iridium spark plugs.
DO NOT DO THIS. Spark plug installation torque (in the case of new Denso plugs, twist angle after seating) is critical. Over torqued spark plugs can weaken or strip the threads in the cylinder head. Under torqued spark plugs can loosen and blow out, taking some of the threads with them. In either case, if the threads can't be repaired, the head will have to be replaced (usually in the form of a used engine). I have replaced a Sienna engine. I have had plugs blow out of engines (Ford 4.6L, known problem). Installing the spark plugs properly is CRITICAL. I am an experienced DIY mechanic with an engineering degree.
Eh, I'm unconvinced. If you do the front plugs first, you can get a feel for the torque required and just approximate it on the rear. In the case of twist angle, you can absolutely do that by feel. You're absolutely right that it isn't the 100% ideal way to do it. However, I'll roll the dice on being off by a ft-lb to save myself 8 hours or $600. Maybe you're right and I'll end up paying thousands to replace the engine, i seriously doubt it. Life is a gamble.
If you want a 45 minute video of me swearing at inanimate objects while lying on top of my engine I could provide that, but it's going on my Onlyfans and it'll cost $$$. In all seriousness, you have to do it by feel, there is literally nothing to show. You wedge your hand behind the air intake, feel around for the coil pack bolt, remove it, pull that out and try to get it out of your way. After that you take the socket with the extension, drop it in the hole, then attach the ratchet, loosen it, remove it. Put the new plug in, tighten it, reattach the coil pack, put the bolt back. Repeat two more times and you're done. There is barely enough room back there for an arm/tools. much less a camera.
I just looked on my 2011 LE and there is some sort of bracket holding the intake manifold surge tank on ours which covers a plug. Don't think it will work.
Nope that bracket cover’s right over the 4th plug, the intake has to come of, it’s not that bad tho, and the wipers and cowl DO NOT have to be removed..
