1987 Toyota Tercel Spark Plug Replacement Guide

There’s a decent chance you will need to replace your old and worn out spark plugs several times while you own a a 1987 Toyota Tercel. Spark plugs are one of the most important components inside your engine as they start the entire combustion process that starts and keeps your engine running for many thousands of miles. Like most engine components, spark plugs experience wear over time and eventually need replacement, but fortunately this is a repair you can do yourself. Chances are, if you’ve found yourself here, you have no idea how to do that, or potentially you’d just like to know what kind of spark plugs you need to buy. The complete process of changing your spark plugs should take about 20-45 minutes. This article will go over everything you will need to know about your Toyota Tercel’s spark plugs, whether you need some baseline information or a full, step-by-step guide to performing a spark plug change.

Correct spark plugs on a 1987 Toyota Tercel

For any 1987 Toyota Tercel, you can use DENSO 3032 spark plugs. These will be an exact fit and will match the required specifications of your engine. As this 1987 Toyota Tercel features a 1.5L L4 engine, ensure you purchase 4 spark plugs. We always try to recommend the best possible spark plugs for the money, and these spark plugs are either a factory recomendation or an equivalent replacement available in today’s market at an affordable price.

How often should I change my spark plugs?

Generally, it is advised that you replace spark plugs once every 20,000 to 40,000 miles. Of course, please make sure to check your owner’s manual to determine the exact interval determined by Toyota for the 1987 Tercel. Of course, if you drive your vehicle more aggressively or own a Toyota Tercel with some modifications, you may want to consider changing your spark plugs closer to the 20,000 miles end of that spectrum.

However, there are also telltale signs of a car that may potentially need a spark plug replacement prematurely, such as:

• Problems starting your engine
• Rough idle
• Engine misfiring

Note that this list is of course not comprehensive, and these problems on their own do not necessarily point to the spark plugs being the standalone culprit. However, the best way to prevent any issues with your vehicle is to take care of it with organized maintenance, and you are definitely doing so with the responsible decision to replace your 1987 Toyota Tercel’s spark plugs on a regular basis.

Changing spark plugs on a 1987 Toyota Tercel

This is a process you should be able to do on your own with some ordinary garage tools. Of course, consult your owner’s manual, as well as a factory service manual or an equivalent Haynes or Chiltons manual. The video shown below does a good job of outlining the process.

Helpful Tools

As noted before, you should be able to complete a spark plug change with some regular tools you most likely already have. However, there are a few tools that are specific to this job that you may not have, and we also want to recommend some commonplace tools that you should for sure have in your toolbox if you don’t already.

• A set of spark plug sockets – These come in very handy because many standard sockets are not deep enough for spark plugs. In addition, some spark plug holes are a bit smaller, so it requires a thinner wall like the one featured in the product here to fit. The linked product also features a magnet to keep a good hold of the spark plug so you do not drop it into your engine bay!
• A spark plug tester – this is definitely a niche tool, but it can save you a ton of time. Although we’ve discussed spark plug replacement being a good thing to replace regularly and not just when issues occur, you may also be replacing your spark plugs because of an issue. This tool can help you diagnose the definite problem.
• A torque wrench is a essential tool to have in your toolbox. You will want to check your FSM (factory service manual) or owner’s manual to determine the correct torque rating to use when inserting the new spark plugs for your 1987 Toyota Tercel to be confident they are installed properly.
• A spark plug gap tool. This allows you to check the gap of your spark plugs and change it if necessary. Most plugs will come pregapped, but if not, you should for sure have one of these.
  • I also highly recommend you have a feeler gauge as it makes it a bit easier to check the exact gap, and it is helpful for a decent number of other jobs.

Tips for changing spark plugs on your 1987 Toyota Tercel

Please make sure you reference the video above before you attempt to repair the spark plugs on your 1987 Toyota Tercel, as well as review your FSM (factory service manual). Be sure to check the tips shown here to help you as you do this repair.

• You should replace spark plugs on a cold engine. You should wait at least 30 minutes after your engine has been running before attempting to replace the spark plugs on your 1987 Toyota Tercel
• Take this (unofficial advice) lightly as many spark plug manufacturers advise against the use of anti-seize. However, I have heard from numerous old-school mechanics that they always apply a small amount of anti-seize to the threads of their spark plugs, especially on older vehicles.
• First, disconnect the negative terminal of your battery. It is wise to disconnect the battery anytime you work on the electrical system of your Toyota Tercel or any other vehicle.
• The most important thing is to avoid is overtightening the plugs or worse, cracking them due to overtightenting. Use a torque wrench capable of lower, more precise torque ratings to be sure that you don’t make this mistake.
• It’s not a bad idea to use dielectric grease when installing new spark plugs. You can apply a a little bit to the inside of the boot and the ceramic part of your spark plugs. It lessens the chance of voltage leak and helps avoid the misfortune of the boot fusing to the spark plug over time.