Broke connector housing to coil pack while changing the spark plugs

**captshaftd** · 01-21-2009 12:40 PM

I was changing my spark plugs last night and broke a couple of the clips that lock the connector housings on the wiring harness to the coil packs. Is this an easy fix? Can anyone explain how to fix it?

I also noticed some oil in one of the spark plug wells. Leads me to believe that the gasket is leaking. Is this covered under the certified pre-owned warranty, or should I fix it myself?

Thanks for the help guys.

**dirtybrd** · 01-21-2009 06:17 PM

CPO should cover the gasket.

**A4SoftWalker** · 01-21-2009 06:20 PM

Which spark plug. Is it directly adjacent to the oil fill neck. You might get oil in there when filling up oil and it spills over the edge.

**jessefrank** · 01-21-2009 07:48 PM

...as for those clips....yea...not an easy fix. You have to replace the wiring harness to just replace the connectors (to do it right) or split new sections in (which aren't sold by audi)...so you'd have to splice connectors from a used harness. Either way it sucks and is better left untouched.

I broke one of mine like 30k ago. Alot of people have this happen due to the plastic getting old and brittle and with how often some of us change plugs. IMO except fo astetic purposes the connectors still work just fine even with that stupid little clip broken. Drink some alcohol and get over it.

**captshaftd** · 01-22-2009 12:26 AM

yeah, it seems to be running fine. With the harness screwed into the valve cover, its not moving very much.

The spark plug well that had the oil in it was the one closest to the oil fill cap. However, a bit of oil was on the ceramic part of the plug and a bit in the threads of the spark plug...

Thanks for the help

**HeymyAudi** · 01-23-2009 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by jessefrank

...as for those clips....yea...not an easy fix. You have to replace the wiring harness to just replace the connectors (to do it right) or split new sections in (which aren't sold by audi)...so you'd have to splice connectors from a used harness. Either way it sucks and is better left untouched.

I broke one of mine like 30k ago. Alot of people have this happen due to the plastic getting old and brittle and with how often some of us change plugs. IMO except fo astetic purposes the connectors still work just fine even with that stupid little clip broken. Drink some alcohol and get over it.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE THE HARNESS OR SLICE ANYTHING...

I had the same problem where the plastic got brittle and just crumbled... My friend at audi changed it for me but you will need a tech to do it becuase of the special tool to align up the pins.... I changed all 4 for $80.00 ( Parts and labor) Its a pretty simple fix but like I said its better if you have a tech do it...

**kwimberly** · 01-23-2009 01:22 PM

Is it just one of the tiny little clips that broke - so the connector itself is fine? If so, you can actually use a zip tie to secure the connector to the CP - you'll see how to wrap it when you look at the connector.

**captshaftd** · 01-27-2009 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by HeymyA4

YOU DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE THE HARNESS OR SLICE ANYTHING...

I had the same problem where the plastic got brittle and just crumbled... My friend at audi changed it for me but you will need a tech to do it becuase of the special tool to align up the pins.... I changed all 4 for $80.00 ( Parts and labor) Its a pretty simple fix but like I said its better if you have a tech do it...

That's what I was thinking. It looks to me as though it would be a matter of pulling the connecting pins out of the connector housing and putting them in new ones. I have seen the connector housings for sale for around 12 to 15 bucks online. 80 bucks for 4 actually isnt that bad of a deal...