How do I remove the driver side spark plugs in a 2011 Dodge Nitro? They appear to have a 10mm bolt going through the intake brackets instead of a stud and nut so that I can easily remove the ignition

1. Remove engine appearance cover retaining bolt and nuts.Remove engine appearance cover from vehicle.

1. Disconnect engine control sensor wiring at intake air temperature sensor (IAT sensor) connector and crankcase ventilation tube from air cleaner outlet tube.
2. Completely loosen air cleaner outlet tube to throttle body bolt (captured bolt).
3. Loosen clamp on air cleaner outlet tube to engine air cleaner (ACL) and disconnect air cleaner outlet tube.
4. Remove remaining bolt from support bracket clamp on RH valve cover to air cleaner outlet tube.
5. Remove air cleaner outlet tube and engine intake air resonator.

1. Remove two retaining nuts from engine air cleaner outlet tube bracket to valve cover and remove engine air cleaner outlet tube bracket.
2. Remove four nuts retaining RH ignition wire cover and remove cover.
3. Disconnect ignition wires from spark plugs with a gentle twist! pull motion on the spark plug boot. Remove spark plugs.

CAUTION: Do not pull on the ignition wire as it may separate from the connector in the boot.

1. Remove bolts and studs retaining RH valve cover to cylinder head.
2. Remove valve cover.

Driver side and passenger side spark plugs come out the same way. Remove the coil pack (individual coil for each plug) using a 10mm socket, then use the spark plug socket with an extension to remove the plugs from down in the tube that the coil pack was removed from.

it's pretty easy under the hoop driver's side you have 3 black things with spark plug wire and some wire connected to it you will need a 10mm socket to remove the bolt pull up an remove the spark plug repeat for the other 5

he tools needed are a straight blade screwdriver, 5/8 Spark Plug socket, 10mm and 13mm sockets, extensions and ratchet, anti-seize and new plugs.

The first step is to remove the Air Resonator and intake tube. There are two hose clamps, one on each side of the resonator that you remove. There are held on with clamps that use a straight blade screw driver. Once the hose clamps are removed you need to pull the hose off the resonator that goes to the air filter. Next there are two 13mm bolts on the passenger side that hold the resonator to the valve cover. Remove these. Next lift up the resonator from the passenger side and then pull the resonator off the throttle body. Store this, the clamps and bolts for reassembly.

Now you will have ready access to the coil packs and plugs. Each coil pack is held on with a 10mm bolt.Unscrew the 10mm bolt from the coil pack. Once the pack is loose I pull it up and set it to the side.

There is enough wiring that you can easily do this. Next use a 5/8 spark plug wrench and remove the plug. Use care that nothing falls into the spark plug hole.

Starting on the pasenger side. Remove the intake tube running from the air filter box to the throttle body and disconnect enough tubes to swing it out of the way. The sparkplugs are down below the small coils you see at the end of the sparkplug wires. With a 10mm socket remove bolt holding the coil, disconnect the plug at the top of the coil by squeezing it at the top and pulling straight off the coils.

Pull the coil straight up. there will be about a 6 inch tube that connects to the top of the spark plug when inserted. You will need a 5/8 sparkplug socket and about 2 feet of extensions to make it easy on yourself. Insert the spark plug socket and extensions down the hole you removed the coils with the tube from and remove and replace the sparkplug. Reinstall your coil onto the engine and move to the next one until you have replaced all the plugs on the passenger side.

Make sure you reconnect all the plugs to the coils, hoses to the intake tube and reinstall your intake tube. The drivers side is a little easier. Pop the spark plug wires from their plastic holders to free enough slack to be able to pull your sparkplug wires out of the block. For the plug closest to the front of the engine you will need to remove the 10mm bolt holding the ground wires to the intake manifold to be able to free enough space for removing the plug.

For the middle plug you will need to remove the 10mm bolt holding the bracket that is holding one of the throttle cables at the top of the intake manifold. For the rear plug just pop the flexible hose that runs behind the black metal bracket straight up out of its clip and push it out of the way along with any other hoses that run through this area. Pull the spark plug wire from its place by pulling straight up just like with the coils. there will also be about a 6 inch tube running down to the spark plug at the bottom of these plugs.

Remove and replace the plugs same as before. make sure you reconnect all your hoses and wires to their previous locations. Doublecheck to make sure you reconnect all the ground wires/ brackets. Also you will need to use " twin ground electrode plugs" (see sticker on front of your plastic timing belt cover? to the right of the radiator hose).

It's hard but possible to do that without removing intake manifold , if you don't have experience and right tools , probably removing the intake is easiest way.
If you want to try hard way , you need to clear some room for your hands by taking vacuum lines out, that go to throttle body and throttle cable with bracket (two 10mm heads bolt) , on the other side of manifold take out pcv hose (just pull it out from intake manifold and turn it out of your way.don't worry about clamp , it will come out and go back the same way when you push it in)
The worst part of this job without removing intake manifold is disconnecting harness plugs from coils and braking loose spark plugs.(Practice first on front harness connectors.)
Good luck.

I have the '93 shop manual which describes how to do it with the 3.3L and I have the Haynes that covers the 3.3/3.8L for '96-99 and they read about the same. Let me give you the one from the '93 Chrysler shop manual:
1.Disconnect the battery.
2. Remove the alternator drive belt
3. Loosen, but do not remove, the nut on the support bracket at the exhaust manifold. (this is on the rear of the engine where the bracket is attached to one of the exhaust manifold studs).
4. Remove the alternator tensioner power steering bracket bolt.
5. Remove the tensioner stud nut and the tensioner.
6. Remove the 2 alternator mounting bolts.
7. Remove and position the power steering reservoir from the alternator mounting bracket. Do not remove the hose from the reservoir.
8. Remove the 3 alternator support bracket bolts.
9. Remove intake plenum-to-alternator mounting bracket bolt
10. Remove alternator support bracket.
11. Position alternator and remove alternator wiring.
12. Remove alternator!
Again this is for the 3.3L and is from the '93 van manual but it appears to apply to the 3.8L as well. Installation is the reverse, tighten the mounting bolts to 40 ft-lbs.

Good luck.

if you know that it is the coil. changing it is really easy. you are going to need a 10mm socket with extention. a 7mm socket for the coil mount bolt. first leading bank is number 1-4 front going back( passenger side) driver side is 5-8. 5 is the front cylinder on drivers side. remove the power stearing bracket 3 10mm bolts. coil is right underneath. intake can be removed if you feel is needed. after that there is a 7mm bolt remove the bolt. disconnect the 2 pin connector. pull to remove the coil. the boot may come off if coil hasn't been moved in some time. use pliers to remove it if that happens. blow out spark plug hole with shop air. installed new coil. install 7mm bolt. plug connector in. reinstall power steering mount bracket. good to go.

To change the sparks on a 2005 4.7L Dodge Dakota you will need the following:

• Spark plug socket
• Ratchet
• Torque wrench
• Extension
• Flat-tip screwdriver
• Make sure the truck is cold!!!

Note you will have to remove the air intake located at the top of the engine, and will have to move some of the coolant lines out of the way.

At the top of the engine there are 4 sparks on each side. The coils are held in place with a 10mm bolt. Undo the 10mm bolt and unclip the coil. Next pull out the coil.

Insert the socket, with extension into the spark plug hole.

Remove spark plug.

Check the gap on new spark plug, it should match stock.

tighten to approximately 25ft.lbs. (check spark-plug packaging for exact torque requirements).

repeat this process with all other sparks.

be sure that no dirt gets into the spark plug holes.