Rear spark plug replacement on a 2001 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8L series 2 

There are plenty of vids out there that just show the front plugs; This is the first one I've seen that actually shows what I'm dealing with in back. Thank you!

FINALLY SOMEBODY DID AND SHOW THE JOB IN REAR ! GOOD JOB !

Thanks for making the video!! You helped me get the right tools for the job! The plugs had been in the car since 2003! Runs so smooth with much more power!!

Best video yet for accessing the the rear plugs. I'm about to get into a 2007 Pontiac G6, a little different but I feel much more confident having watched this!! Thank you!

Thank you for how you explain basic things like how to hold stuff. Great patient teaching.

Camera man of the year. You really are talented and well articulated. thank you for the detailed video.

Superb video, especially the trick reverse camera angle. Very clear and very helpful.

I have todo this tomorrow and I have never done it. I really appreciate this video and think that it is the best one I have found. Good work sir!

Best how-to video I've found on how to deal with the rear plugs and boots on the 3.8. Thank you sir!

best video yet for firewall side of motor ! thanks

Wow! Saved me $130 bucks....twisting the boots wasn't something I would have thought of, but it really worked! Thanks for taking the time to make this excellent video!

Great video presentation on how to address issues on the 3.8L transversed engines. Very clear and to the point.

Thank you Keith so much for video you save me $75 on labor from the shop I just change my spark plugs and wires on 2000 Buick lasaber on June 28, 2018

this is the second tutorial of yours iv seen (the first was the radiator replacement). and its helpfull beyond words. im not really a car guy or mechanic or anything. so when it comes to diy repair it can get easily intimidating (especially since my budget dosnt allow mistakes, lol). your easy to follow and understand. so much so, at the end of your vids im always repeating "wait, i was scared of this? bro i got this!" lol.

Thanks bro. I just bought my grandmother's immaculate 1996 supercharged Park Avenue with only 70,000 miles with the original plugs and wires. This was a great help.

As stated you are the only 2002 Buick LeSabre Custom engine # 2 cylinder spark replacement site in the universe, THANK YOU, THANK YOU..

Thank you! I'm a disabled single mom. Before i was sick i worked on cars regularly, but that was a long time ago. Now my kids are starting to drive and their car needed some work. Your videos helped remind me of things and showed me how to access those stupid plugs! Thank you very much!

I.have a 02 Grand Am V 6 .. Really appreciate this video.. Going to change plugs and wires in coming weeks..

Dude, absolutely awesome video. I came down to Florida to help Dad out after surgery and wanted to change his plugs.This video saved me hours of labor! I did the job in 15 mins after watching your video.Keep up the good work!

Well now I'm convinced that at least it's possible. Damn I just can't wait to get at it. Thanks for the help!

I've watched several you tubes on this hard to reach back 3 and yours is the best with a good camera angle and great tips. Just subscribed and liked this video. You are to be commended for helping with this hard job.

Wow! Who was the really little guy filming back there. Definitely an Oscar award for cinematography. One thing Id suggest is blowing out around the plugs after the boots are off. Another suggestion is rather than kneeling you can lay down. I'm 5-6 so can't reach far but good for laying over the engine. I have a 2003 Impala that I put an L26 aluminum upper intake manifold on that I gave a mirror polish too, so its more secure for me to do this as I can put my weight onto it. I used 2 layers from large cardboard box that went from radiator to UIM and also fro generator to TB wide. I have a step stool to stand up on, put left hand on generator then lean down so upper chest/shoulders are on the UIM. Worked well. I would think you could still do that with th plastic UIM, its very tough regardless of the ERG pipe melting it and engine heat wrapping it, which is why I swapped it for an L26 UIM. Just a bit of your weight is on the UIM, my legs are over radiator, just be careful you aren't putting pressure on fuel rail , cables and stuff like that. I see you have plastic valve covers, gm wanted to put new plastic one on front with new junk gasket for the recall they finally issued in 2016 on front valve cover leaking oil, but I sure don't understand why they don't apply to rear valve cover as well. I got aluminum valve covers from junkyard, 20$ each, polished them up to mirror finish and new fel pro gaskets to fix it myself. Any F-body car like 98 Camarro has aluminum valve covers and thats where they came from. Would recommend to anyone to replace them and the UIM as well, although thats a bit more involved and you need to tap into TB to reroute PCV air inlet to UIM, get a custom L26 Northstar adapter from ZZP to adapt you TB to L26 UIM, bend brake lines out of way at the proportioner, re route TB & cruise control cables somewhat, then rip out air intake system and replace with K&N as the L26 UIM and TB adapter pushed TB over 4 inches. Other than that it's easy! Kinda got off topic, just pissed at GM for screw up coolant in the engine and oil on exhaust starting fires because of cheap plastic. Great video though, proves you can do the back without taking off dog bones and rotating engine.

Great video, helped me get the back plugs changed. I had a heck of a time with replacing the plug wires because a clip on the back side of the engine would not come loose. I finally got it after some choice words and an evening break. I used a long flat screwdriver and a lot of force to pop the top of the plug wire holder bracket off.

Pro tip: If you kick out the windshield and rip off the hood you can do this job from inside the car.

Since I do not use that plastic cosmetic engine cover piece that says GM3800 anymore, I removed the front and rear metal brackets that the cover piece snaps into. HELL OF ALOT more room back there now to get to the spark plugs anytime. But everything this guy did was spot on and excellent advice otherwise. Thank you sir!

wow, your are right about getting into the engine bay for more leverage! i just did my 04 park avenue today, it was easy but it helped in the back to get onto the front of the engine over top of it! helped so much for me! other then that it was a walk in the park. one of the easiest cars ive ever worked on

Best explanation of the firing sequence spark plugs. Thank you!

This works. Great vid. I've done it this way several times successfully. I'd just add Knee pads, gloves and a long sleeve shirt. AND TAKE YOUR TIME

I like to watch it before I do it. very helpful. Thank you.

Best One I have seen for the back plugs. Nice work!

It helped me greatly. You are a spark plug escape artist, like Houdini.

I have done this and replaced the rear valve cover gasket on a 95 Riviera series 1. You can remove the heater hose assy and move it to the driver's side to get more access. Series 1 does not have the alternator/plastic elbow problem. Use dielectric (non conducting) grease on the boot. Turn the plugs down to seating and then add 1/16 turn per the plug box instruction. This is a hot spot so sometimes the wire/boot will arc under load when it is old.

Awesome video. Love the scarring on the knuckles indicating real work. Well done 👏

Excellent video. Thank You. Helped make the job faster and easier on my 2008 Buick Lucerne 3.8 series 3. Looks like I probably have a little more room to the firewall. I was able to change 2 standing on the passenger side and just reaching around behind the engine. The last one, on the driver's side, I had to climb on top. Iridium plugs are supposed to last 100,000 miles. I changed mine at 75,000. I've read that the fuel economy drops a hair after 75k.... and the fuel savings makes it worth it to change them early. I purchased the factory AC Delco iridium plugs and a Goodyear serpentine belt online.... It's was half the price delivered.... compared to the local auto parts stores

Nice video and great job getting those plug wires off. From looking at video I think these wires had been changed recently as they looked new. I find it easier to buy new wires as i eventually always seem to break one or two wires getting them off and by the time I change the plugs the car has 100K or more on them. Wires and plugs will usually run about $100 total and since a dealer will charge $300-400 to change youstill save money. If I have a stubborn wire I just snap off the plug ceramic boot and all and then unbolt the plug and put in new one along with new wire. On many GM cars there isn't enough room to get to #2 plug so I pull the alternator off and come around from right side to get it off. I'm ready to tackle a Regal with dog bone motor mounts which is in the way of #1 plug. My hands are too big to reach in and twist off. Keep up the good work and also can you do a video on replacing the serpentine belt on Regal or similar vehicle with little to no room get hand in between fender well and engine. Thanks.

Thank you, like the old Spark plug boot trick

You are actually a good mechanic you are explained things very well highly intelligent

this is a great video it took me forever to find this thank you so much was very helpful

This just helped me out tremendously!! Thank you so much for your help

Great video. Thank you for creating such a quality instructional video.

best video I've seen yet. Spray your boots with CRC lithium grease.

Great Video thanks for your time and skills that will me my life a lot easier !

Dude this video is spot on man tbanks for your help they are rough to access

I wish mine were that easy to pull off !!!! You did good!!

Your a good man Kieth, Thank you. Funny how it is light out when you start and dark when you finish! I am going out to do mine now!

Thank you very much. I'll be changing my plugs and wires on a 2002 Buick LeSabre Series II

This helps in a major way thank you.

Thanks. Best tip was “assume the position”, and the boot twist. I had them out in 5 minutes.

What up Keith thank you so much for the video now I can replace my plugs and my spark plugs on my 2000 buick lasaber you save me like $75 from going to mechanic shop

barbour's auto ,thankyou for sharing your knowledge. in the future if you can show the same job on a 2000 ssei bonneville that would be very very helpful.not looking forward to doing this ,i wish you were my neighbor.

Very good video! I need to do this on my 06 Grand Prix soon. Mine has those leaky coolant elbows that you have to take the alternator and belt tensioner off to fix. I'll probably try tackling these plugs at the same time. Hopefully the alternator being off will give me room!

thank you guys for all your help.

U are the man great video i just did it

Very good video, helps me a lot, thanks.

Dude you saved me a ton of headache.thank you

Dude you did good! Thx for your time...

Great video .. Look hard on knees !....Thank you for showing use !..........:)

Thank you! I have a 2002 Bonneville 3800 n/a and I am going to have to do this soon.. Ohh boy.. lol

dam, thats a great video man

Great video

Its been about 15 years since I have replaced spark plugs in ANY 3800... I remember the spark plug by the power steering pump being a PITA, but after watching this video with the AWESOME camera angle, I was able to get the back bank of plugs all replaced in less than 15 minutes!! I didn't even need a swivel for the hard one close to the PS pump either. "G-Ride" is running smooth as heck again, too bad its just ugly - can you do a youtube on getting rid of all the rust?? lol jk. Thanks!!

Great video!!!

I have a 2001 Buick Regal LS/ GS package and need to take a look at the plugs and or change them, they are the original plugs, thanks! Great video. I had a 1980 TB with a Windsor v8 and used to tune it up, but don't know much about newer cars, I am 80 BTW so there for the use of my langue here🙂. For example, I did not know how to take these plugs off with heat shields. Before this car, I had a 1998 Lumina LTZ with the same engine but my mechanic tuned it up, now he is getting old and doesn't work as much! I can do the front plugs and know a young mechanic who will change the back plugs.

Great help thanks.

God bless you brother and thank you for your help

That was Great Work, THANKS!!!!!!

Great, great job!!

very good video hope it works on my 2000 Le sabre thanks very much

Thanks for the Great video! I did 5 but ran into a problem with one of the back ones. Feels like it's melted on and I can't get a grasp on it. Any suggestions?

Boy does that twisting trick help a bunch. Start there boys.

I have an 02 Buick Regal With the 3800 series 2 motor and I’m a little bit worried about my transmission when I bought my regal in 2017 car had 79,000 km and I did a tranny flush because I don’t know what the previous owners did or if they properly maintained it currently my Buick has 94,000 km will doing a transmission flush Hurt the transmission? As I’m driving I feel a punch when it hits second gear could be my tranny solenoid?

Question do u need the metal pieces around the boot of the spark plug or will they be fine leaving the boot without that meta piece jw

Man it is hard to get those boots off!! I almost gave up, but tried one more time with super bionic gorilla strength and I managed to get them off!

Hey how long did this entire process of new plugs a d wires take .y friend wants to pay me to do this what would u charge and how long did it take u. Thanks

I can't find a video that shows the #6 plug being removed. There's one that shows rotating the engine forward and removing the O2 sensor, but my engine isn't mounted the same, so I can't see how to rotate the engine.

Thank you so much!

Thanks im about to change mine. My car is jumping pretty bad when its idoling.

Where can you buy the oil spill cover the GM defect in front of engine recalled for oil wasting on hot header's

Now for the most important part of almost any vehicle repair. What vocabulary should we use to coax the process along?

I’m particularly fond of the cowl headrest.

Very nice .

I just completed this job on a 2007 Buick LaCrosse, which has the newer but close-to-identical Series 3 version of the 3800, and can offer another suggestion for getting the wires off of the plugs. I bought a 10" pair of locking pliers with a slot for a 1/4" drive ratchet wrench in the end of the screw from AutoZone, and it was a huge help. I had to make sure I got the jaws completely around the boot, and far enough down along the boot that the widest portion at the end of the boot was not making any contact with the jaws. I would then proceed to wrench the screw down as tightly as possible, and then most of the wires would come off fairly easily, albeit at the cost of destroying a couple of the boots. (I was replacing the wires anyway and didn't give a f$ck.) I also tried a pair of the "grabber pliers" mentioned in this video, but it was destroyed beyond usability in five minutes.

I can't believe how difficult it is to remove the boots from the spark plugs! I just pulled the front 3 plugs on my 2001 buick regal to check their condition-they are about at the halfway point of their rated life of 100,000 miles.(This is the engines' second set). The hardest part of the job by far is removing the boots. I put some dielectric tuneup grease on the inside of the boots before i put them back on. Hopefully the boots will be a little easier to remove next time. The front 3 were difficult enough but the rear 3 look extremely difficult. I can barely see the boots and i can only barely reach them. Lots of things in the way. I won't have the leverage to pull the boots off. What about accessing them from underneath with the car on a hoist? I was thinking the next time i take the car for an oil change to ask the technician to inspect the rear 3 for me.

Just a word of advice.....I would take an air compressor with a blow tube wand and blow out any debris that may have settled into the spark plug well before removing any spark plug as that debris can fall into the cylinder opening and cause all sorts of problems....I do it on any spark plug change as a matter of precaution.

Mom has a 2001 Bonneville. I ran the code reader and it gave me this code. The P0300 code means that a cylinder(s) is misfiring or is randomly misfiring. We just changed the alternator but are hesitate to change the spark plugs because we keep dumping money into the car. Have you come across this?

a question, i have a 2000 pontiac bonneville do i need to calibrate the spark plugs or not?

Any guy that can change the back 3 is a pro.

Thanks very helpful.

would this be the same for my 203 Buick lesabre

did you have to remove the front motor mount?

I put my LeSabre up on ramps and worked from under the car. (Had the generator removed) Still not easy but you can see most of what you are doing.

Recommend dielectric grease in the boot. Amount other good reasons it will help prevent the boots from sticking.

How long does it take

I actually found getting the boots off the easiest part. I had to stop and put them back on because I couldn't find any way to get the spark plugs off. Couldn't get the socket head seated, and when I finally did I had to no room to actually loosen it

And How to change the spark plugs in front.

Harbor freights! They have a socket wrench with 2 joints! With a small extension between them. It's all one wrench with crazy angles that'll reach everywhere. Best part is it's all one piece. So, no falling apart back there. Best thing? It's under $20 with taxes. Got enough change for a lottery ticket. Good luck.

10w-30!???????? That has to be a replacement cap i take it. Even though it wont hurt. Awesome vid!

Yay! Ice Tea!

Used screwdriver or pliers to break the plugs by striking the metal heat shields or bending them. Once the plugs are broken the boots come right out. Fought with boot removal and gave up. Just broke the plugs.

What are those grabbers called