How to Reach the Distributor Cap on a 1997 Chevy Cavalier

So one day my daughter's 1997 Cavalier starts acting up. It's riding a little funny, and the check engine light comes on. The code reader at Autozone isn't working, so I figure I'll start off by changing the spark plugs and then go from there. Simple enough, right?

In the beginning, yes. The spark plugs on the 97 Cavalier are very easy to get to. The four plugs are right in the front of the engine. Rip the wires off, ratchet out the plugs, and you should be good to go in 15 minutes. Only problem is, the wires just didn't want to budge!

I tried to gently twist and remove the first boot, but to no avail. When the boot finally came off, it left part of itself on the plug! Oh noes...! So, now I'm faced with the prospect of changing the spark plug wires as well as the spark plugs. This can't be too hard...

Where Do the Spark Plug Wires Go?

To change the spark plug wires, you're going to need access to the spark plugs (in the front of the motor) and the other end of the wires (the distributor cap). The concept is very simple - pull the wire off the spark plug, follow it back to the other end, and replace it.

The only trouble is, how do you get in there? The other end of the spark plug wire (the distributor cap) is on the back side of the engine - between the engine and the front of the car. I could see where the wires went with a flashlight, but I couldn't really see an easy way to get in there.

After searching around on the Internet for some second opinions and trying to go at the problem from a number of angles, I determined that there is more or less one way to get in there and pull the spark plug wires off. To the back and left of the engine, there's a small hole through which you can place your arm. Slowly squeeze your arm into this area, going straight down. Once your elbow is comfortably in, bend your arm, reach to the right, and feel around for the end of the spark plug wires.

By doing this, I was able to feel my way through the entire process. I changed the front of the spark plug wire first and fed it into the rear area. Then, I got my arm into position, felt around for the correct wire, and quickly swapped the two wires. I wish I could see what I was doing, but I couldn't figure out any other way to get at the problem.

I considered jacking the car up and attacking it from the bottom, but it doesn't appear that you can see the distributor cap and the end of the wires any better from that angle. While I was searching around for other opinions, someone wrote that they had done just that and they were unable to get to the wires from underneath the car. So, I didn't bother to waste the time.

At first, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to get in and change the wires. However, it really wasn't that hard once I found the exact place that I could reach in and feel my way around. Hopefully your arm isn't too big, though, because the whole isn't all that large...