Baby Steps: Tune Up

Here we'll be exploring how to do a spark plug change. Generally speaking a spark plug change is one of the easiest parts of required maintenance to a car; on the non-turbo 1987 Toyota Supra, however, changing the spark plugs is actually fairly difficult. To complete this job successfully, you will need:

• A 3/8 inch drive socket wrench 
• 10mm and 12mm  deep-well sockets (in reality, you should go ahead and purchase a set of metric sockets)
• A socket extension 
• Spark plug socket [standard size]
• Anti-seize lubricant 
• New spark plugs (6); I recommend NGK G-Power
• Pliers

Alright! Let's begin. 

Before anything, remove the negative battery cable from the battery. Now begin,

Step one: 

Using a 10mm socket, loosen the band on the air intake by loosening the screws on either end of the intake (one shown: circled in red). Once the bands are loose enough to rotate without resistance, place both hands around the intake and wiggle/rock it up and down until it comes loose from the throttle body. After, remove the bottom of the air intake from the air filter.

After the intake is removed, your engine bay should look like this: 

Step two:Using the 12mm socket, loosen the one nut and three bolts (circled) that hold the throttle body support in place, and remove the support. 

Step three: 

Remove the throttle rod (pictured) from the throttle body by pushing up firmly on the flanges on either side of the rod--it's actually pretty difficult to get off. Don't be afraid to use a little force. Once you pop the throttle rod off of where my finger is pointing, let it hang to the side. Do not attempt to remove it from the other end as well. 

Step four: 

Remove the metal "y" tube that connects the valve covers and the throttle body by pulling the bunny clips toward the center of the pipe (on my pipe the silicone hoses are blue, but yours will be black if it's OE--now would be a good time to replace those connector hoses). After removing the clips, wiggle the pipe up and around until it pulls free.

Step five: 

After taking note of their location, remove all of the vacuum hoses attached to the throttle body (circled in red). Next, remove the TPS harness connector (circled in yellow) from the TPS. Now, using the pliers, squeeze the metal clips on the two remaining hoses (circled in purple) and wiggle them down the hose. Remove the bigger hose first, then twist it up and out of the way. Before removing the smaller hose from the nipple on the TB, have a towel handy--a moderate amount of coolant will come out of this hose after removal.

Step six:

Using the socket wrench extension and the 12mm socket, remove the four bolts holding the throttle body (TB) to the Y-pipe. The bolts themselves are not pictured, but there is one on each corner of the TB. After removing the bolts, remove the TB--be careful with the metal gasket separating the TB and the Y-pipe as it's reusable. 

Step 7:

Remove the spark plug wire boot from cylinder one's spark plug (the closest to you if you're standing at the front of the car). Next, using an extension and the spark plug socket, remove the first spark plug. Now, gap the new spark plug, apply anti-seize compound, and replace the first spark plug by finger-tightening it first, and then using the ratchet and an extension. Use caution--DO NOT cross-thread the plug. Repeat the process all the way back the block to cylinder six.

Installation of the rest of the material is the reverse of the removal.

Congrats! You're finished.