Time for a tune up I guess.

[Steve Waddington]

I have my blue banner!

 

[mikeseay]

160k on these is where your going to want to start being proactive with repairs
that mileage or more is where certain critical things will begin to give up the ghost
at minimum when you do the plugs & wires, take the time to also replace the air filter, clean the maf & throttle body.
and if the 02 sensors are original they are well past there rated lifetime (100k)
there are other things you will want to pay attention to as well going forward like wheel hubs, fuel pump, fuel evap equipment, knock sensors, water pump.
not saying run out and replace them just know those parts are known to begin to give up the ghost around 160k+
if it snowballs on you just know that once the culprits are attended too you should be good to go for a good long time

Add motor mounts to that list of things to keep an eye on.

 

[Steve Waddington]

Well...after two hours I finally got 4 of the spark plugs and wires replaced, and I'm taking a little break to ask a question.

Now, granted, I'm an oldER-school guy...my other car being a 68 Cadillac Coupe deVille, and on that car, you put the plugs in just tight enough to feel the crush washers seat and crush. Firm, tight, but not over-torqued. Over the years, you develop a feel for it. Same on most of my older GM cars. Easy.

So, can someone tell me why on my Tahoe, the spark plugs seem to have been tightened to approximately 2000 ft lbs??? WTF!!!

If I could find the mechanic that used an air hammer to install these plugs, I would stick that air hammer right where...well...you know...

What would be the appropriate torque-setting? I have them installed now like I used to...tight. and then just a skosh more.

 

[Steve Waddington]

OH...and here's what the 4 that finally came out look like...not bad, eh?

 

[PPV_2018]

11 - 15 ft/lbs. wouldn’t go too much tighter than that.

If they have never been changed in 180K then, yeah they’re going to probably feel like they’re welded in place.

Hopefully you did the passenger side first. lol.

 

[strutaeng]

Yeah, they look pretty normal to me.

I've never torqued spark plugs, don't even know if there's a spec (there probably is?)

I just snug them up. I use a 12"-ish long ratchet. I do always apply a bit of anti-seize on the threads. They do seize in there after thousands of miles and heat cycles. And a dab of dielectric grease on where to wire goes.

 

[Fless]

132 in-lbs per the Haynes manual. That equates to 11 ft-lbs.

Use a torque wrench that goes low enough, usually a 1/4" drive is the way to go. Click torque wrenches are most accurate at the upper level of their range.

 

[Steve Waddington]

OK...well THAT was interesting! #8 wasn't so bad after all. Me dropping the sparkplug and spending an hour trying to find it was the worst part. However, I not only found my sparkplug, but also a 10mm box end wrench I've never seen before, and a universal swivel thing for my socket set that I lost a couple of years ago! So there's that.

Truck runs exactly the same. Which is fine.

But just now I went to start it, stares right up...but now the compass and temp thing in the upper right hand corner of my rear-view mirror is dead. Was working fine when I pulled it into the garage. I think the mirror unit itself is fine...but where are the sensors that feed it the info located? Could I have knocked something loose?

 

[Steve Waddington]

If its not one thing its another....LOL!

 

[Tonyrodz]

OK...well THAT was interesting! #8 wasn't so bad after all. Me dropping the sparkplug and spending an hour trying to find it was the worst part. However, I not only found my sparkplug, but also a 10mm box end wrench I've never seen before, and a universal swivel thing for my socket set that I lost a couple of years ago! So there's that.

Truck runs exactly the same. Which is fine.

But just now I went to start it, stares right up...but now the compass and temp thing in the upper right hand corner of my rear-view mirror is dead. Was working fine when I pulled it into the garage. I think the mirror unit itself is fine...but where are the sensors that feed it the info located? Could I have knocked something loose?

I've read the solder us the issue with the mirror. Guys who know how to solder just reflow it, then it's good to go. Mine gets dim so I tap it with my radio remote which brightens it right up. Try tapping on it with something.

 

[Fless]

Get on www.charm.li and select your vehicle, then dig in for the details. Wiring diagrams, code diagnostics, etc. are on there for your SUV.

 

[Steve Waddington]

Fixed it!
LOL...well, actually, it fixed itself! Started the Tahoe the next day and it's been working perfectly ever since!