Like others, I was intimidated to do this job. You saved me about $600 from what Toyota was going to charge me. My air cleaner, as you mentioned in the video, was reversed on my 2018 model. But, with your clear, step by step instructions, this job was easy. You are an incredible person to help retirees such as myself. Thank you so very much.
If I can convince the wife, I can buy all the tools for the job and still save a chunk of change. I highly doubt it :/ my attempt at changing the rotors failed 😆 Toyota also wants $1000 for this.
Before going near the garage, I get my mind oriented “I get to do this!”. Then every little detail is just the job talking to me, making sure I’m engaged. As soon as I feel I’ve just got to get it done, at that very second, I’m more often than not, missing a detail. Best to step back, regain getting to do the job, not having to do it. Lots faster, much calmer, and motivated.
Just did this today on our 17 sienna. Holy moly has this been stressing me out. I've been losing sleep over it and I feel like I was very much in control because I watched this at least 10 times. 2 hours to complete. Thank you ccn!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I was trained by Toyota over 30 years ago (Toronto, Canada). When I was about to start at a dealership I was asked to pastor a church. Never stopped helping people out for free to save them money and to keep up with my love for cars. I have always owed Toyotas (Tercel, Supra (84 & 85), Camry, Sienna and now a 2019 Highlander xle. I have always ordered the dealership shop manuals or the shop dvd. Now you are my main source for staying current and up to date. Thank you for creating this channel. May the Lord continue to blessing you as you bless others with your knowledge and wisdom.
Thank you so much for your video, saved me a bunch of money. I own a 2019 Highlander XLE and love working on it. I do as much as I’m comfortable knowing I can do it. I’ve already done the Transmission fluid change, brakes, rotors, added an aftermarket air filter intake, and finally just did the spark plugs thanks to your video, one little tip is that the middle connector on the rear plugs has a rubber cover over it and was a pain in the rear, but after looking back there with a mirror I noticed that the wire leading to that connector is actually longer than the other two and decided to pull the whole coil with the connector attached and wallah it was super easy, like you mentioned in the video the coil have a little bit of flexibility and made it easy, took me about 2.5 hours because I decided to clean the throttle body while I had it apart. She runs beautifully and smooth. Thank you so much AMD and GOD bless you 🙏.
2019 3.5V6 highlander plug replace. Thanks saved over $650 by DYI To ensure I got all the connection right I just put a bit of blue painter tape on each connection and connection point and numbered them . As I reassembled them in reverse order. That made sure I didn't miss anything. A hand mirror and headlamp made it a lot easier for a newbie. the savings bought new tools for more DYI . car started fine. Thanks AMD
I just did this to my Camry XSE. A million times thank you. You should open a school. You take your time to explain step by step the whys and I can’t be more grateful.
Just finished doing this on my wife's 2019 Highlander. The connectors that plug into the coil pack were difficult to unplug. Other than that, it was as easy as AMD shows it is! I like that loosening the bolt trick on that bracket in the back, made it easier to put the plenum back on too. I even did the "thumbs up" after I put the engine cover back on! lol
I won't say this made the job easy, but it made it way easier. 2019 Sienna and I found unplugging the wiring on the rear coils to be super hard because if anything I think they're harder to reach on the Sienna, so if that's improved I'm glad I didn't have to do the old ones. Otherwise I thought this was super straightfoward, if involved. I found it _much_ easier if the air filter housing is removed at the start of this. It gave me way more room to work than I would have had if it had been left in.
Just finished this job on my 2019 Highlander today. This was my first time doing this on this particular vehicle so I took my time and finished the job in a little over 3 hours. This tutorial is fantastic. The only tip I have is when installing the new spark plugs and tightening them to specs, DO NOT use the spark plug socket. Just drop them down in there by hand and use a normal deep wall socket to tighten them up. Use the spark plug socket to remove the old spark plugs and the normal socket to install them. When I installed the first new spark plug in the back of the engine, I used a long ratchet extension and a u-joint attached to the spark plug socket. After tightening the spark plug to specs, I was horrified when I removed the long extension and nothing else came out with it. The spark plug socket and u-joint were still firmly attached to the spark plug at the bottom of the hole. After several minutes of panic wondering what in the world I was going to do now, and with the help of a trick I found on another CZcams video, I was able to get the spark plug socket and u-joint out. After that, I used a normal deep wall socket wrapped in duct tape to firmly secure it to the long extension and had no other problems.
Please excuse my ignorance but are you saying not to use the spark plug socket because of the magnet which causes it difficult coming off after you installed that back spark plug? I'm 6 months away from the wife's Highlander needing spark plugs and I really want to do it myself although super worried about that far back plug and almost talking myself into taking to dealer. Thank you.
Basically yes, although my spark plug socket doesn’t have a magnet. It has a thick rubber collar that grips the top of the spark plug. It gripped it so tight that my ratchet extension popped off of the spark plug socket when I tried to pull it out, leaving the socket attached to the spark plug at the bottom of the hole. You’d probably be fine to use the spark plug socket to install the spark plugs too as long as you wrap some duct tape or gorilla tape around the socket and ratchet extension where they meet up to keep them firmly attached to each other.
This was so helpful. Did it on my 2019 Limited and all went as in the video except mine has the older style coil connectors and they were a huge pain to remove. I ended up leaving the center rear one on and was still able to remove it. Also, Highly recommend a cordless impact wrench and swivel impacts. They really make the job easier. Got most of the parts on Amazon and the spark plugs for $11 each with free shipping from a Toyota dealership in New York. Did the job at 62K and one of the rear plugs was loose.
I followed your instructions from this video and I was successful in replacing the spark plugs on my 2017 Sienna. Thank You so much, your video was very accurate and helpful.
Thank you for this video it saved me a lot of time and money I am 69 years old and was going take the car to a mechanic, but I didn't have thanks to you.
Regardless if I decide to do this by myself or take it to the dealer, this guy is a legend. Not only does he lay out very clearly what needs to be done, but the life advice he gives starting at 19:16 can be applied to everything in life.
I have the 2GR-FE and I replaced the spark plugs myself, had scratches all over my arm due to the 3 at the back. Glad to see the FKS is mounted better.
2017 Highlander. Your video instructions were great. I'm not a mechanic but it took me 3.5 hours to complete the job. After I finished it actually ran. Thanks
God bless ya Ahmed. I just finished up my well maintained, just purchased, 07 RX350 w 184000 miles per your 2grFE video. Holy moly, it was tough. 3 ignition coil connectors broke, luckily my son was available and local Bellingham Toyota had them. Took me a solid 5 hours, I do not have the Milwaukee tool which is a must have. The car was at 80+k miles since last tune. Had the black plenum gaskets, I took water breaks, followed your advice and tutorial and the car now has zip. No more gear jump, easy start, just amazing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart AMD. George in Bellingham WA.
This is easily the best "how to" on the net. Biggest problems i had were the wiring clips to the coils. They dont seem to sqeeze down far enough to clear the tab and have to be " helped " with a tiny screwdriver without breaking them off. Took me about 4 hours to di the whole job and clean up which isnt bad for a 71 year old man. Definitely worth the money saved ! Thanks again!
Just changed my plugs yesterday on 2019 Highlander. I gave up trying to disconnect the clips on the coils, and just pulled the coils straight out (carefully) after removing the bolts holding them down. Dealer wanted $1270 for this job.
I was discouraged from getting another V6-powered Toyota because of what a nightmare the 3.0 V6 (1mz-fe) is to change the rear spark plugs. This engine is larger, yet easier to get to the plugs! I wouldn't have known that without your video.
Thank you for that comment about finding the joy in what you are doing. I don't know how many times I have gotten frustrated working on my car or even equipment at work and get really overwhelmed. That comment really put things in perspective for me. Thank you!
These part #'s worked on our 2019 Highlander: Throttle body gasket (black), 22271-0P020 Plenum gasket (orange), 17176-31130 Toyota calls the plenum gasket an "Air surge gasket". I did plugs for the first time on this vehicle at 60k miles. To be honest, neither gasket probably needed replaced. It may be best to do this every other plug change. But the gaskets cost me about $40 after tax, so I'll pay $40 for the peace of mind. The hardest part about the install was the plug connectors on every coil pack. Getting the tabs to unhook on every plug was way more difficult than it should be. I managed to remove them all except for the back middle. It's different from the rest. It has a rubber boot over it. I was able to remove the coil pack while allowing the plug to stay inserted. I could not get it off to save my life. You'll understand after you cuss it for 15 minutes reaching back behind the engine bay. You just need to bend the coil pack a bit getting it out. Nothing drastic. Other than that, follow the tutorial step by step. Great video. I didnt even get a quote to have this done. I'm sure it would be a $500-600+ job. The spark plugs cost me $90 for a quantity of 6, Denso part #3491 FK20HBR8. Those are the factory plugs.
Thank so much for the info on the coil pack tabs and providing the part numbers. I will be tackling this job on my 2019 Highlander in a month or so, waiting to hit 60,000 miles. 👍
I just did my 2017 HL with 100,00 km on it. You are a Godsend as I was a little nervous about tackling this but thanks to your experience and guidance it took me about 3 hours. The original plugs looked like they could do another 100K. Bought the gaskets from a Toyota dealer and the OE plugs from Rock Auto. Thanks again SIr!
I'm not one to comment, but this video was spot on. Just changed the plugs in a 2017 Highlander following this video and made the job far less intimidating. Thanks for great step by step instruction. The car care nut is an outstanding DIY resource for all things Toyota!
Fantastic video. Local dealer quoted me $350 + plugs. It took me about 90 mins to change 6 plugs. Couldn't have done it without the video. Biggest problem, was sore legs after reaching the back plugs.
Thank you very much for the detailed video! You’re a master of your craft and are gifted with great presentation skills. I know you mentioned the procedure is the same on all of the vehicles with the 2GRFKS engines but I was a bit cautious in making sure there are no differences in the steps you mentioned vs what I needed to do on my 2018 RX 350. I can assure everyone reading this, there are no differences in the procedure. I was able to successfully complete the job EXACTLY following the illustrated procedure. LESSONS LEARNED. When you said we need to be VERY careful not to pinch the breather hose, I really made sure I am not pinching it. However, I did not pay much attention to the actual location of the breather hose. I pushed it back all the way to get it out of the way and torqued down the intake manifold and everything else. I later realized the crankcase vent hose/breather hose is TOO short and was unable to reach the air intake tube from behind the engine. I think That hose is meant to go underneath the intake manifold, not behind it. For now, instead of taking everything apart again, I just bought a replacement longer breather hose to go behind the engine and come back around toward the right side. For my next spark plug change, I will make sure to use OEM breather hose with the correct orientation. So guys, just remember to not pinch your breather hose underneath the intake manifold, and remember it follows closely behind the intake manifold and that you are able to easily plug it into the air intake hose.
Just did this job on my 2021 Highlander all thanks to this great step by step video. I have to admit that when I got to removing the back coils and spar plugs I started questioning whether I should continue. Thanks to you Car Care Nut I got the job done. Thank you for the great work you do.
Thank you for the video, just changed the spark plugs today with the Toyota oem plugs at 66,000 miles. My fuel mileage really dropped after 60,000 miles, so yes it is a necessary maintenance service.
Thank You AMD for this video. I had previously changed the plugs and coils on my Gen2 sienna and it took a bit of yoga. The Gen3 was MUCH easier! For whatever reason, I didnt need to remove the stud to remove the plenum. God Bless You!
Thank you for this video, Car Care Nut. Following your video, I changed sparkplugs on my 2017 Sienna. FYI, I ended up taking off the cowel so I could better access the rear plugs. It couldn't get the electrical connectors off without removing the cowel. After removing the cowel, the job was much easier to do and a lot of fun. Thanks again!
You may have just saved me a TON of money!!! At the 20k for my 2018 RX, I asked the advisor to quote the 60k service since I'd seen the spark plugs on the list. (25k and 30k will still be on Lexus as part of the L/Certified program). He came back with $1110........ The rest of the list would be okay for me so I just may add a few of the tools you used and go for it! Now the 120k adds replacement of the vacuum pump for the booster and totals $2415. By then I will be in my 80's and probably won't be up to the job anymore. Who knows? Thanks for providing the best DIY info I have ever seen on any video! I''ll be watching.......
You just pointed out something I didn't realize at the 120K mile service of my 2020 RX: Replace vacuum pump for brake booster (North American Built Vehicles Only). I've only got 35K now, but I guess I'll be You Tubing this procedure if it becomes necessary. Maybe by then, Car Care Nut can chime in on his recommendations.
@@donaldchristie3534 And a real shock. If you DIY, Lexus of North Miami will sell you the part for ONLY $530 at the current prices! My dealer wants $2450 for the complete service! Quite an incentive if you've got the tools. At my age and travel rate, I'll be a ripe old 86 by the time that comes around so.......
@@thomasroberts8024 After looking up the vacuum pump, I realize they are made in Mexico! Might explain why they recommend replacement at 120K. You can find OEM new for around $350.
"Find the joy in what you do and take pride in what you do". Thank you for these great words brother! I will remember this when things get challenging. I work in software development industry and I will remember this golden nugget I learnt from you today.
Just struggled thru valve cover gaskets on my 2017 highlander. This video was a big help but could have used you for the rest of the journey. Please do that video. Thanks for all you do.
Excellent video, really made this job easy. Only thing I would add, as a small time saving tip, no need to unplug the coils, just lay them to the side while you change the plug.
Thank you AMD for sharing this video! I finally pull the trigger and changed the spark plugs and transmission oil for my wife’s RX and I wanted to share my experience with you and your viewers. The layout was similar for the most part, but there were some areas where I had to do my own thinking. The air intake was positioned differently as you mentioned in the video, and I think it made the job more difficult for me. I couldn’t even see the bolt that holds plenum to the bracket on the side after I removed the air intake hose. Once I removed the air filter cover, I was able to see like half of it and loosen it. The three plugs in the back were difficult to work with because I could not see the left and middle plugs. I had to feel them by hand to do the change them. Wish I had a small torque wrench though. Couldn’t fit mine to torque the back plugs to spec. Other DIYers with more skills and experience might’ve finished the same job with less effort and time, but to be honest, I struggled quite a bit with much frustration. But I was able to get through it and the car drives fine. Definitely learned a lot, enjoyed the experience, proud of myself not giving up, glad I didn’t break my wife’s daily driver, and most importantly, I now have the confidence to do it again when mine hits 60K mile. I could have not even think about doing this without your help.
I did it today, not an easy task but achivable in few hours, good chance to clean the throllet body well from both sides, now my car is running way smooth thank to you!! cheers from Fla.
It would be great having the same video for the Tacoma third generation. I just replaced the spark plugs for my wife, 2017 Toyota Highlander LE Plus. It took me about 1:45 minutes. I don't have the fancy cordless racket, but I got the job done. I enjoyed it doing it. Thank you, God bless you,
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the instruction and coaching in this video. I was nervous about the back plugs but your instructions made it quite doable. Took me three hours but that was because I referred to the video often and made sure I was very careful. If I did it again, it would take less time. In these very tight budget times we are in, I appreciate the $850 you saved me from having it done at the dealership.
I have a 4cyl RAV4, but I enjoy your videos so much I watched it anyway. Always informative and done with simple explanations. A true joy to watch and learn from your years of experience !
Just finished on 2019 sienna with 100K. The plugs did not look horrible but not like new either. It was a good mileage to change them. It’s somewhat challenging to reach cylinders 1,3,5 by the firewall but definitely doable. Coil connector clips need a little help with a pocket screwdriver to undo. You need an extendable mirror and good flashlight to examine the connections in the back. I used to have Nissan quest and have some prior experience with v6 in minivans. This one took 3 hours without setting up and clean up, 4 hours total. I usually take my time on deals like this and double and triple check everything. Thanks Car care nut for your channel, good pointers!
Thank you very much for such an excellent step-by-step instruction on performing this maintenance job. As you correctly told us all, it's not a hard job, but it is one that takes time and requires attention to details, particularly how things go back together. As you suggested I bough all Toyota OEM plugs and gaskets and everything fit flawlessly. Thanks again.
Just did a spark plug change on my 2017 Kluger following your guide, cheers easy as....... and what I would add is you don't need to undo the wiring to the plugs, they are flexible and you can just sit them aside......... much faster.
I tackled this project on my 2017 Sienna after watching your video (and after the Toyota dealership told me that the plugs did not need to be changed until 120,000 miles (wrong). In the Sienna, everything is pushed back a bit more than the Highlander. The 6 mm socket did not work on my stud, but removing the nut at the base of the stud let me still remove the plenum up and over the stud. I also had to completely remove the one bolt from the rear bracket. The rubber boots on the coil packs are flexible which helped a lot in getting them in and out. Thanks so much for this and all your Toyota videos!
I replaced the spark plugs on our 2012 Highlander following your other video for the 2GR-FE. I have an ES350 with this engine that’s going to need new plugs. It’s nice that the cowl doesn’t need to be removed in this one. That will save a lot of work.
Thank You, I have 2021 highlander xle, I was not going to tackle after watching your previous v6 spark plug change. Now I think I will, still got 50k to go. So far we love the car.
Thank you for the service you provide on this channel! I have a 2018 6 cylinder Tacoma with a number 2 cylinder short circuit injector fault. I’ve been a mechanic since forever and a day but really don’t know anything about my truck. After watching a few of your videos I learned a great deal about the engine and how the system works. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you do and want to thank you for your help!
AMD, Your definition of 'super simple' is changing the 6 spark plugs on a transverse V6 engine. My definition of 'super simple' is changing the single spark plug on my 8 hp snowblower! BTW what is the reason for the shorter lifespan of the plugs on this new generation of engines? Your life advice at the end reminded my of that old Sheryl Crow song, "If it makes you happy, why the hell are you so sad?" :D
@@TheCarCareNut What great strides we've made with all this green/EPA/Emissions/Environmental crap. We had made it to where engines last 300K+ miles with out much hoopla all over them and decent fuel mileage, 100K+ mile plug changes, etc. Now we have horrible direct injection engines, 60k mile "tired" spark plugs, same fuel mileage and unproven durability. That means more rare metals mining, which means a LOT of diesel fuel burned to mine, more spark plugs manufactured, more plugs thrown away, more fuel burned to deliver new spark plugs, etc. Unreal.
I always enjoy this guy. I changed my Honda CR-V four cylinder in --- well I didn't have to take half the car apart to do it. My Jaguar 6 cylinder straight head I once owned, I could change in my Sunday best. My Volvo's with 5 cylinder s --- nope never had to take the car apart. This is one of the reasons why I won't buy these cars.
Just did this on the RX350. Looked at multiple videos since RX is a little bit different, cleaned out the throttle body and replaced PCV valave along the way. I had issues removing the connector from the middle coil in the back so I just took out the coil and connector as one unit, replaced spark plug, Made it a lot easier.
Great video and very detailed step-by-step instructions! I'm by no means a "gear head" and was able to complete the job in about 3 hours. (And this was going slow to make sure I didn't miss anything) I purchased OEM Toyota parts online which saved me 50% versus buying them from a local dealership. All in all, I figured I saved about $850 doing it myself instead of the dealership. Thanks so much!!
Glad that Toyota has made this job easier to get done...now if they can put that tranny dipstick back, I'll be ecstatic. Thank you brother, GREAT VIDEO!!!
I love you! Thank you for making these videos! I have a 2019 Highlander and have been doing all the routine maintenance from your videos. I appreciate you!
Find the joy, take pride and be a car nut those are powerful words! That’s the reason why I work on my car as long as it’s not out of my league. Changing the plugs on my v6 Honda is really super easy. Thank your for sharing this video sir, now I know what to do on my sister’s Toyota Sienna the dealer wants $$$.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us. I would recommend cleaning the throttle body and mass air flow sensor while you're there. It needs it for sure. Watch vids on that.
Thank you for this video. Just did my plugs on my 2019 Avalon XSE yesterday and this was very helpful and got it done under an hour. Used all Toyota parts. 65k miles and yeah those plugs needed changing. But all even and looked normal for the miles. Man I love Toyota. First Japanese car I have owned.
Thank you so much for doing this video. I was a bit concerned about attempting this myself. I have changed plugs on many of my previous vehicles from motorcycles to trucks but never on an engine with plugs in the back. The torque specs are a nice touch. I’ll have to purchase some tools as I only have a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench and no small swivel impact sockets but most importantly a small power ratchet. The worst part of this for me now is the cost. I asked at the dealership and the plugs are $33 each ( Canadian dollar ) the intake gasket is $63 and the throttle body gasket is $23. Needless to say I will be buying my parts online but only the OEM type Toyota parts ( the Denso plugs can be ordered using the Denso number which I have to convert from the Toyota number and each plug is only $18, the gasket from a Toyota dealership online store is $22 ( on sale right now from $27 ) and the throttle body gasket is $16. I guess this is also a good time to clean the back of the throttle body ( I followed your video to do the cleaning with the Throttle body still on and also the MAF sensor and although I didn’t thing my 7 year old Highlander was running as it should,it’s noticeably smoother with a noticeable increase in 1/2 to 3/4 acceleration. Thanks again Also this was a great video and everything was explained thoroughly in 20 minutes.
Thanks for the wonderful video! Super interesting and helpful. Found your channel about two weeks ago and have been binge watching ever since. Absolutely Awesome. May the Lord bless and keep you. Your helping so many of his children. Thanks so much!!!
Your personality makes me want to see more of your videos even when it's not related to my needs. Good bless and prosper you. Fine the joy is an awesome advice. Thanks 👍
Very valuable advice good Sir. I had just embarked on my spark plug change for my 3GR-FSE engine with the TOM'S super charger installed.... Thank you for all the tips and tricks!
Thank you AMD! That was fantastic!! Didn’t know it was that “easy”. Thought it was much, much more complicated! That was the most expected video for me haha! Awesome
The camera work and step by step instructions are superb, your easy going nature instills confidence in viewers ( like me ) to perform this job. Thank you 🙏.
100% correct on that, if you don't enjoy what you doing the job is goin to miserable. I love this mini tutorial, waiting for get more deeper on the mechanicals of this new engine's.
Thank you, Car Care Nut! I followed this video and successfully swapped out the plugs in my ‘17 Highlander. It ended up easier than I thought it would be. It was a bit of a reach to get to the rear but no big deal-just get something to step on to get higher. Saved me some serious $$$!
Like others, I was intimidated to do this job. You saved me about $600 from what Toyota was going to charge me. My air cleaner, as you mentioned in the video, was reversed on my 2018 model. But, with your clear, step by step instructions, this job was easy. You are an incredible person to help retirees such as myself. Thank you so very much.
Toyota wants to charge me $1000
Your right I just did mine in the dealership they charged me 600 with the discount they was asking for 845 because it’s a v6
If I can convince the wife, I can buy all the tools for the job and still save a chunk of change. I highly doubt it :/ my attempt at changing the rotors failed 😆
Toyota also wants $1000 for this.
"Find the joy, take pride..." You're teaching a lot more than auto mechanics here! Thank you for the great tips and messages!
Before going near the garage, I get my mind oriented “I get to do this!”. Then every little detail is just the job talking to me, making sure I’m engaged. As soon as I feel I’ve just got to get it done, at that very second, I’m more often than not, missing a detail. Best to step back, regain getting to do the job, not having to do it. Lots faster, much calmer, and motivated.
Great take. Great mindset. @@Lieto55
Part numbers (Lexus):
Intake manifold gasket at 13:56 -- 17176-31130
Throttle body gasket at 17:31 -- 22271-0P020
Just did this today on our 17 sienna. Holy moly has this been stressing me out. I've been losing sleep over it and I feel like I was very much in control because I watched this at least 10 times. 2 hours to complete. Thank you ccn!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I was trained by Toyota over 30 years ago (Toronto, Canada). When I was about to start at a dealership I was asked to pastor a church. Never stopped helping people out for free to save them money and to keep up with my love for cars. I have always owed Toyotas (Tercel, Supra (84 & 85), Camry, Sienna and now a 2019 Highlander xle. I have always ordered the dealership shop manuals or the shop dvd. Now you are my main source for staying current and up to date. Thank you for creating this channel. May the Lord continue to blessing you as you bless others with your knowledge and wisdom.
Thank you so much for your video, saved me a bunch of money. I own a 2019 Highlander XLE and love working on it. I do as much as I’m comfortable knowing I can do it. I’ve already done the Transmission fluid change, brakes, rotors, added an aftermarket air filter intake, and finally just did the spark plugs thanks to your video, one little tip is that the middle connector on the rear plugs has a rubber cover over it and was a pain in the rear, but after looking back there with a mirror I noticed that the wire leading to that connector is actually longer than the other two and decided to pull the whole coil with the connector attached and wallah it was super easy, like you mentioned in the video the coil have a little bit of flexibility and made it easy, took me about 2.5 hours because I decided to clean the throttle body while I had it apart. She runs beautifully and smooth. Thank you so much AMD and GOD bless you 🙏.
2019 3.5V6 highlander plug replace. Thanks saved over $650 by DYI To ensure I got all the connection right I just put a bit of blue painter tape on each connection and connection point and numbered them . As I reassembled them in reverse order. That made sure I didn't miss anything. A hand mirror and headlamp made it a lot easier for a newbie. the savings bought new tools for more DYI . car started fine. Thanks AMD
I just did this to my Camry XSE. A million times thank you. You should open a school. You take your time to explain step by step the whys and I can’t be more grateful.
Just finished doing this on my wife's 2019 Highlander. The connectors that plug into the coil pack were difficult to unplug. Other than that, it was as easy as AMD shows it is! I like that loosening the bolt trick on that bracket in the back, made it easier to put the plenum back on too. I even did the "thumbs up" after I put the engine cover back on! lol
I won't say this made the job easy, but it made it way easier. 2019 Sienna and I found unplugging the wiring on the rear coils to be super hard because if anything I think they're harder to reach on the Sienna, so if that's improved I'm glad I didn't have to do the old ones. Otherwise I thought this was super straightfoward, if involved. I found it _much_ easier if the air filter housing is removed at the start of this. It gave me way more room to work than I would have had if it had been left in.
Just finished this job on my 2019 Highlander today. This was my first time doing this on this particular vehicle so I took my time and finished the job in a little over 3 hours. This tutorial is fantastic. The only tip I have is when installing the new spark plugs and tightening them to specs, DO NOT use the spark plug socket. Just drop them down in there by hand and use a normal deep wall socket to tighten them up. Use the spark plug socket to remove the old spark plugs and the normal socket to install them. When I installed the first new spark plug in the back of the engine, I used a long ratchet extension and a u-joint attached to the spark plug socket. After tightening the spark plug to specs, I was horrified when I removed the long extension and nothing else came out with it. The spark plug socket and u-joint were still firmly attached to the spark plug at the bottom of the hole. After several minutes of panic wondering what in the world I was going to do now, and with the help of a trick I found on another CZcams video, I was able to get the spark plug socket and u-joint out. After that, I used a normal deep wall socket wrapped in duct tape to firmly secure it to the long extension and had no other problems.
Please excuse my ignorance but are you saying not to use the spark plug socket because of the magnet which causes it difficult coming off after you installed that back spark plug? I'm 6 months away from the wife's Highlander needing spark plugs and I really want to do it myself although super worried about that far back plug and almost talking myself into taking to dealer. Thank you.
Basically yes, although my spark plug socket doesn’t have a magnet. It has a thick rubber collar that grips the top of the spark plug. It gripped it so tight that my ratchet extension popped off of the spark plug socket when I tried to pull it out, leaving the socket attached to the spark plug at the bottom of the hole. You’d probably be fine to use the spark plug socket to install the spark plugs too as long as you wrap some duct tape or gorilla tape around the socket and ratchet extension where they meet up to keep them firmly attached to each other.
This was so helpful. Did it on my 2019 Limited and all went as in the video except mine has the older style coil connectors and they were a huge pain to remove. I ended up leaving the center rear one on and was still able to remove it. Also, Highly recommend a cordless impact wrench and swivel impacts. They really make the job easier. Got most of the parts on Amazon and the spark plugs for $11 each with free shipping from a Toyota dealership in New York. Did the job at 62K and one of the rear plugs was loose.
I followed your instructions from this video and I was successful in replacing the spark plugs on my 2017 Sienna. Thank You so much, your video was very accurate and helpful.
Thank you for this video it saved me a lot of time and money I am 69 years old and was going take the car to a mechanic, but I didn't have thanks to you.
Regardless if I decide to do this by myself or take it to the dealer, this guy is a legend. Not only does he lay out very clearly what needs to be done, but the life advice he gives starting at 19:16 can be applied to everything in life.
I just done mine today.
Thanks to this video, it was simple and saved me $700
Can't thank you enough!
I love your video. I'm going to work on my 2021 Highlander soon. Thanks for the step-by-step video. Respect from Canada 🇨🇦
I have the 2GR-FE and I replaced the spark plugs myself, had scratches all over my arm due to the 3 at the back. Glad to see the FKS is mounted better.
2017 Highlander. Your video instructions were great. I'm not a mechanic but it took me 3.5 hours to complete the job. After I finished it actually ran. Thanks
God bless ya Ahmed. I just finished up my well maintained, just purchased, 07 RX350 w 184000 miles per your 2grFE video. Holy moly, it was tough. 3 ignition coil connectors broke, luckily my son was available and local Bellingham Toyota had them. Took me a solid 5 hours, I do not have the Milwaukee tool which is a must have. The car was at 80+k miles since last tune. Had the black plenum gaskets, I took water breaks, followed your advice and tutorial and the car now has zip. No more gear jump, easy start, just amazing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart AMD. George in Bellingham WA.
This is easily the best "how to" on the net. Biggest problems i had were the wiring clips to the coils. They dont seem to sqeeze down far enough to clear the tab and have to be " helped " with a tiny screwdriver without breaking them off. Took me about 4 hours to di the whole job and clean up which isnt bad for a 71 year old man. Definitely worth the money saved ! Thanks again!
Just changed my plugs yesterday on 2019 Highlander. I gave up trying to disconnect the clips on the coils, and just pulled the coils straight out (carefully) after removing the bolts holding them down. Dealer wanted $1270 for this job.
I was discouraged from getting another V6-powered Toyota because of what a nightmare the 3.0 V6 (1mz-fe) is to change the rear spark plugs. This engine is larger, yet easier to get to the plugs! I wouldn't have known that without your video.
I think you have to be one of the best Toyota mechanics out there and you go through and you teach everybody what to do in a very easy simple way
Thank you for that comment about finding the joy in what you are doing. I don't know how many times I have gotten frustrated working on my car or even equipment at work and get really overwhelmed. That comment really put things in perspective for me. Thank you!
These part #'s worked on our 2019 Highlander:
Throttle body gasket (black), 22271-0P020
Plenum gasket (orange), 17176-31130
Toyota calls the plenum gasket an "Air surge gasket".
I did plugs for the first time on this vehicle at 60k miles. To be honest, neither gasket probably needed replaced. It may be best to do this every other plug change. But the gaskets cost me about $40 after tax, so I'll pay $40 for the peace of mind.
The hardest part about the install was the plug connectors on every coil pack. Getting the tabs to unhook on every plug was way more difficult than it should be.
I managed to remove them all except for the back middle. It's different from the rest. It has a rubber boot over it. I was able to remove the coil pack while allowing the plug to stay inserted. I could not get it off to save my life. You'll understand after you cuss it for 15 minutes reaching back behind the engine bay. You just need to bend the coil pack a bit getting it out. Nothing drastic.
Other than that, follow the tutorial step by step. Great video. I didnt even get a quote to have this done. I'm sure it would be a $500-600+ job.
The spark plugs cost me $90 for a quantity of 6, Denso part #3491 FK20HBR8. Those are the factory plugs.
Thanks for the part numbers
Thank so much for the info on the coil pack tabs and providing the part numbers. I will be tackling this job on my 2019 Highlander in a month or so, waiting to hit 60,000 miles. 👍
Thank you!!!!
I just did my 2017 HL with 100,00 km on it. You are a Godsend as I was a little nervous about tackling this but thanks to your experience and guidance it took me about 3 hours. The original plugs looked like they could do another 100K. Bought the gaskets from a Toyota dealer and the OE plugs from Rock Auto.
Thanks again SIr!
I'm not one to comment, but this video was spot on. Just changed the plugs in a 2017 Highlander following this video and made the job far less intimidating. Thanks for great step by step instruction. The car care nut is an outstanding DIY resource for all things Toyota!
Fantastic video. Local dealer quoted me $350 + plugs. It took me about 90 mins to change 6 plugs. Couldn't have done it without the video. Biggest problem, was sore legs after reaching the back plugs.
My local asian specialty shop charges a Stinging $800...$60 more than the stealership!
Thank you very much for the detailed video! You’re a master of your craft and are gifted with great presentation skills. I know you mentioned the procedure is the same on all of the vehicles with the 2GRFKS engines but I was a bit cautious in making sure there are no differences in the steps you mentioned vs what I needed to do on my 2018 RX 350. I can assure everyone reading this, there are no differences in the procedure. I was able to successfully complete the job EXACTLY following the illustrated procedure.
LESSONS LEARNED.
When you said we need to be VERY careful not to pinch the breather hose, I really made sure I am not pinching it. However, I did not pay much attention to the actual location of the breather hose. I pushed it back all the way to get it out of the way and torqued down the intake manifold and everything else. I later realized the crankcase vent hose/breather hose is TOO short and was unable to reach the air intake tube from behind the engine. I think That hose is meant to go underneath the intake manifold, not behind it.
For now, instead of taking everything apart again, I just bought a replacement longer breather hose to go behind the engine and come back around toward the right side. For my next spark plug change, I will make sure to use OEM breather hose with the correct orientation. So guys, just remember to not pinch your breather hose underneath the intake manifold, and remember it follows closely behind the intake manifold and that you are able to easily plug it into the air intake hose.
Just did this job on my 2021 Highlander all thanks to this great step by step video. I have to admit that when I got to removing the back coils and spar plugs I started questioning whether I should continue. Thanks to you Car Care Nut I got the job done. Thank you for the great work you do.
Thank you for the video, just changed the spark plugs today with the Toyota oem plugs at 66,000 miles. My fuel mileage really dropped after 60,000 miles, so yes it is a necessary maintenance service.
This video is awesome. I changed the plugs yesterday on my Kluger and followed your instructions to the T. Made the job so much easier. Thank you.
Thank you very much God bless you.. I just replace the spark plugs of my Highlander LE Plus 2017 with 80,000 miles 4,26,2023
Ahmed. Each video gives us more confidence to work on our Toyotas and save $$$ or just to know what is involved in doing the maintenance. Thanks Sir.
Thank You AMD for this video. I had previously changed the plugs and coils on my Gen2 sienna and it took a bit of yoga. The Gen3 was MUCH easier! For whatever reason, I didnt need to remove the stud to remove the plenum. God Bless You!
Thank you for this video, Car Care Nut. Following your video, I changed sparkplugs on my 2017 Sienna. FYI, I ended up taking off the cowel so I could better access the rear plugs. It couldn't get the electrical connectors off without removing the cowel. After removing the cowel, the job was much easier to do and a lot of fun. Thanks again!
You may have just saved me a TON of money!!! At the 20k for my 2018 RX, I asked the advisor to quote the 60k service since I'd seen the spark plugs on the list. (25k and 30k will still be on Lexus as part of the L/Certified program). He came back with $1110........
The rest of the list would be okay for me so I just may add a few of the tools you used and go for it!
Now the 120k adds replacement of the vacuum pump for the booster and totals $2415. By then I will be in my 80's and probably won't be up to the job anymore. Who knows?
Thanks for providing the best DIY info I have ever seen on any video! I''ll be watching.......
You just pointed out something I didn't realize at the 120K mile service of my 2020 RX: Replace vacuum pump for brake booster (North American Built Vehicles Only). I've only got 35K now, but I guess I'll be You Tubing this procedure if it becomes necessary. Maybe by then, Car Care Nut can chime in on his recommendations.
@@donaldchristie3534 And a real shock. If you DIY, Lexus of North Miami will sell you the part for ONLY $530 at the current prices! My dealer wants $2450 for the complete service! Quite an incentive if you've got the tools.
At my age and travel rate, I'll be a ripe old 86 by the time that comes around so.......
@@thomasroberts8024 After looking up the vacuum pump, I realize they are made in Mexico! Might explain why they recommend replacement at 120K. You can find OEM new for around $350.
Every car I've ever owned were 4-cylinder, and I don't see that changing, yet I still liked this video.
4 cyl is great to work on alone haha 😂
"Find the joy in what you do and take pride in what you do".
Thank you for these great words brother! I will remember this when things get challenging. I work in software development industry and I will remember this golden nugget I learnt from you today.
I followed your video step by step on my 2017 Highlander 2GR-FKS. Saved at least $600. Thank you!
Just struggled thru valve cover gaskets on my 2017 highlander. This video was a big help but could have used you for the rest of the journey. Please do that video. Thanks for all you do.
I just bought a 2017 Sienna with 65k miles and ordered new spark plugs for it. I will be using the video to do the job. Thank you.
How did I miss this video? AMD! you're a true bass brother living legend live long and prosper. Your team and family.
Excellent video, really made this job easy. Only thing I would add, as a small time saving tip, no need to unplug the coils, just lay them to the side while you change the plug.
Thank you AMD for sharing this video! I finally pull the trigger and changed the spark plugs and transmission oil for my wife’s RX and I wanted to share my experience with you and your viewers. The layout was similar for the most part, but there were some areas where I had to do my own thinking. The air intake was positioned differently as you mentioned in the video, and I think it made the job more difficult for me. I couldn’t even see the bolt that holds plenum to the bracket on the side after I removed the air intake hose. Once I removed the air filter cover, I was able to see like half of it and loosen it. The three plugs in the back were difficult to work with because I could not see the left and middle plugs. I had to feel them by hand to do the change them. Wish I had a small torque wrench though. Couldn’t fit mine to torque the back plugs to spec. Other DIYers with more skills and experience might’ve finished the same job with less effort and time, but to be honest, I struggled quite a bit with much frustration. But I was able to get through it and the car drives fine. Definitely learned a lot, enjoyed the experience, proud of myself not giving up, glad I didn’t break my wife’s daily driver, and most importantly, I now have the confidence to do it again when mine hits 60K mile. I could have not even think about doing this without your help.
Good job! Even with difficulties, at the end of a job like this it’s a very good feeling! Keep up the good work!
Factory specialized technicians , always give the best technical imput , and advise , thanks for your great information and technical support .
I did it today, not an easy task but achivable in few hours, good chance to clean the throllet body well from both sides, now my car is running way smooth thank to you!! cheers from Fla.
Done with my 5.4 triton spark plugs. On to my wife's 3.5. God is good.
It would be great having the same video for the Tacoma third generation. I just replaced the spark plugs for my wife, 2017 Toyota Highlander LE Plus. It took me about 1:45 minutes. I don't have the fancy cordless racket, but I got the job done. I enjoyed it doing it.
Thank you,
God bless you,
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the instruction and coaching in this video. I was nervous about the back plugs but your instructions made it quite doable. Took me three hours but that was because I referred to the video often and made sure I was very careful. If I did it again, it would take less time. In these very tight budget times we are in, I appreciate the $850 you saved me from having it done at the dealership.
I have a 4cyl RAV4, but I enjoy your videos so much I watched it anyway. Always informative and done with simple explanations. A true joy to watch and learn from your years of experience !
Just finished on 2019 sienna with 100K. The plugs did not look horrible but not like new either. It was a good mileage to change them. It’s somewhat challenging to reach cylinders 1,3,5 by the firewall but definitely doable. Coil connector clips need a little help with a pocket screwdriver to undo. You need an extendable mirror and good flashlight to examine the connections in the back. I used to have Nissan quest and have some prior experience with v6 in minivans. This one took 3 hours without setting up and clean up, 4 hours total. I usually take my time on deals like this and double and triple check everything.
Thanks Car care nut for your channel, good pointers!
Thank you! You saved me $480.40 in labor costs from an independent Toyota shop.
Thank you very much for such an excellent step-by-step instruction on performing this maintenance job. As you correctly told us all, it's not a hard job, but it is one that takes time and requires attention to details, particularly how things go back together. As you suggested I bough all Toyota OEM plugs and gaskets and everything fit flawlessly. Thanks again.
Just did a spark plug change on my 2017 Kluger following your guide, cheers easy as....... and what I would add is you don't need to undo the wiring to the plugs, they are flexible and you can just sit them aside......... much faster.
Finally a video that shows disconnecting the bracket in the back. Thanks 👍🏻
I tackled this project on my 2017 Sienna after watching your video (and after the Toyota dealership told me that the plugs did not need to be changed until 120,000 miles (wrong). In the Sienna, everything is pushed back a bit more than the Highlander. The 6 mm socket did not work on my stud, but removing the nut at the base of the stud let me still remove the plenum up and over the stud. I also had to completely remove the one bolt from the rear bracket. The rubber boots on the coil packs are flexible which helped a lot in getting them in and out. Thanks so much for this and all your Toyota videos!
I replaced the spark plugs on our 2012 Highlander following your other video for the 2GR-FE. I have an ES350 with this engine that’s going to need new plugs. It’s nice that the cowl doesn’t need to be removed in this one. That will save a lot of work.
Thanks AMD for the quality content. I'll reference this in 15 years when I buy a car with this motor.
that is what i tell myself every time he does a video about these new cars😁🤣
Thank You, I have 2021 highlander xle, I was not going to tackle after watching your previous v6 spark plug change. Now I think I will, still got 50k to go. So far we love the car.
Thank you for the service you provide on this channel! I have a 2018 6 cylinder Tacoma with a number 2 cylinder short circuit injector fault.
I’ve been a mechanic since forever and a day but really don’t know anything about my truck. After watching a few of your videos I learned a great deal about the engine and how the system works. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you do and want to thank you for your help!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. i was really scared about the back spark plugs but you made it seem a lot more doable now!
I had always heard replacing the back spark plugs were a nightmare as well.. He made it look so much more doable!,👍
AMD, Your definition of 'super simple' is changing the 6 spark plugs on a transverse V6 engine. My definition of 'super simple' is changing the single spark plug on my 8 hp snowblower!
BTW what is the reason for the shorter lifespan of the plugs on this new generation of engines? Your life advice at the end reminded my of that old Sheryl Crow song, "If it makes you happy, why the hell are you so sad?" :D
Hi! Officially for emissions. From the field they look tired at 60k possibly due to direct injection
@@TheCarCareNut I am glad my humble Corolla engine has plugs that last over 100K.
@@TheCarCareNut What great strides we've made with all this green/EPA/Emissions/Environmental crap. We had made it to where engines last 300K+ miles with out much hoopla all over them and decent fuel mileage, 100K+ mile plug changes, etc. Now we have horrible direct injection engines, 60k mile "tired" spark plugs, same fuel mileage and unproven durability. That means more rare metals mining, which means a LOT of diesel fuel burned to mine, more spark plugs manufactured, more plugs thrown away, more fuel burned to deliver new spark plugs, etc. Unreal.
That Cheryl Crow is better sung by Madde Poppie. Check it out.
@@DH-mf2lv
No way, Sheryl Crows voice was the perfect amount of sweet and sulty. The girl you mentioned sounds like a small time lounge singer.
I just bought a 2019 Highlander with 35,000 miles. Looking ahead at what maintenance I’ll be doing. Thanks for the video. You’re the best!
Thank you for this video. I just completed spark plugs replacement on '17 Highlander V6. It probably saved me about $500.
WOW!!! One of the best DIY car videos I've ever seen....EVER!!
I always enjoy this guy. I changed my Honda CR-V four cylinder in --- well I didn't have to take half the car apart to do it. My Jaguar 6 cylinder straight head I once owned, I could change in my Sunday best. My Volvo's with 5 cylinder s --- nope never had to take the car apart. This is one of the reasons why I won't buy these cars.
Yeahhhhhh finally, the 2GR-FKS which is the same engine in my IS350, let's go! I hope to see more 2GR-FKS videos here!
Just did this on the RX350. Looked at multiple videos since RX is a little bit different, cleaned out the throttle body and replaced PCV valave along the way. I had issues removing the connector from the middle coil in the back so I just took out the coil and connector as one unit, replaced spark plug, Made it a lot easier.
Great how-to video. It is ridiculously simple to remove the upper plenum to get it out of the way to get to the rear bank.
Man oh man! Those clips were tough to disconnect! Thank God the front ones were more pain in the neck. The ones on the back was “ok”
It is nice to have someone actually go in depth with the process. You explain how to and show the process . Wish more people would
I wouldn’t have done this job without this video. GREAT JOB, love how your explained everything, very detailed!
Great video and very detailed step-by-step instructions! I'm by no means a "gear head" and was able to complete the job in about 3 hours. (And this was going slow to make sure I didn't miss anything) I purchased OEM Toyota parts online which saved me 50% versus buying them from a local dealership. All in all, I figured I saved about $850 doing it myself instead of the dealership. Thanks so much!!
Big Congrats on the 1M! And love the reminder about finding the joy! So true!
His video made it sooooooooo much easier to change the spark plugs on my wife’s 2017 Highlander! Big thanks!
i love the fact that you clean everything before you put it back!
Just finished this job on my 2019 Camry 3.5 thanks for this detailed video that made it so much easier! Earned a subscriber out of me.
What a wonderful service you provide! I continue to be amazed at your skill set! I’ve used you repeatedly for researching Toyotas! Thank you!
Glad that Toyota has made this job easier to get done...now if they can put that tranny dipstick back, I'll be ecstatic. Thank you brother, GREAT VIDEO!!!
I love you! Thank you for making these videos! I have a 2019 Highlander and have been doing all the routine maintenance from your videos. I appreciate you!
Find the joy, take pride and be a car nut those are powerful words! That’s the reason why I work on my car as long as it’s not out of my league. Changing the plugs on my v6 Honda is really super easy. Thank your for sharing this video sir, now I know what to do on my sister’s Toyota Sienna the dealer wants $$$.
What a pleasure to watch someone with your knowledge and skill combined with a a truly professional set of ethics! Thank you sir.
This is why I like longitudinally mounted engine so much, like on the GS 350.
Thank you so much for this. Thanks especially for the message at the end. Sometimes we lose sight of what's important. God bless you!
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us. I would recommend cleaning the throttle body and mass air flow sensor while you're there. It needs it for sure. Watch vids on that.
‘18 Camry XSE -Just changed out my spark plugs and your vid was on point. Great tutorial!
Thank you for this video. Just did my plugs on my 2019 Avalon XSE yesterday and this was very helpful and got it done under an hour. Used all Toyota parts. 65k miles and yeah those plugs needed changing. But all even and looked normal for the miles. Man I love Toyota. First Japanese car I have owned.
Awesome video! I was able to easily replace my plugs, saving about $500 over the cost from the shop. Many thanks!
Thank you so much for doing this video. I was a bit concerned about attempting this myself. I have changed plugs on many of my previous vehicles from motorcycles to trucks but never on an engine with plugs in the back. The torque specs are a nice touch. I’ll have to purchase some tools as I only have a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench and no small swivel impact sockets but most importantly a small power ratchet. The worst part of this for me now is the cost. I asked at the dealership and the plugs are $33 each ( Canadian dollar ) the intake gasket is $63 and the throttle body gasket is $23. Needless to say I will be buying my parts online but only the OEM type Toyota parts ( the Denso plugs can be ordered using the Denso number which I have to convert from the Toyota number and each plug is only $18, the gasket from a Toyota dealership online store is $22 ( on sale right now from $27 ) and the throttle body gasket is $16. I guess this is also a good time to clean the back of the throttle body ( I followed your video to do the cleaning with the Throttle body still on and also the MAF sensor and although I didn’t thing my 7 year old Highlander was running as it should,it’s noticeably smoother with a noticeable increase in 1/2 to 3/4 acceleration. Thanks again Also this was a great video and everything was explained thoroughly in 20 minutes.
Thanks for the wonderful video! Super interesting and helpful. Found your channel about two weeks ago and have been binge watching ever since. Absolutely Awesome.
May the Lord bless and keep you. Your helping so many of his children.
Thanks so much!!!
Your personality makes me want to see more of your videos even when it's not related to my needs. Good bless and prosper you. Fine the joy is an awesome advice. Thanks 👍
Very valuable advice good Sir. I had just embarked on my spark plug change for my 3GR-FSE engine with the TOM'S super charger installed....
Thank you for all the tips and tricks!
Thank you AMD! That was fantastic!! Didn’t know it was that “easy”. Thought it was much, much more complicated! That was the most expected video for me haha! Awesome
The camera work and step by step instructions are superb, your easy going nature instills confidence in viewers ( like me ) to perform this job. Thank you 🙏.
100% correct on that, if you don't enjoy what you doing the job is goin to miserable.
I love this mini tutorial, waiting for get more deeper on the mechanicals of this new engine's.
Excellent video! Saved me $500. Thank you
"You do not need to remove the cowell" thank goodness. The other video on the old 2GR-FE was traumatizing.
A Car Care Nut style spark plug change on a newer Tacoma V6 would be much appreciated.
Thank you, Car Care Nut! I followed this video and successfully swapped out the plugs in my ‘17 Highlander. It ended up easier than I thought it would be. It was a bit of a reach to get to the rear but no big deal-just get something to step on to get higher. Saved me some serious $$$!