Spark Plug Help

[marcmayer]

Hi - I have a '98 with the 5.4L engine.

I'm a fairly competent home mechanic and I didn't think changing spark plugs would be a big challenge, but I'm stuck after finishing 7 of the 8 plugs and could use some advice.

The first 7 plugs just took a bit of time, patience and a 7mm flex socket. I didn't remove the fuel rails. I'm stuck on the passenger side rear-most plug (#7 or #8?).

There are 2 "T" shaped rubber water hoses (rear heater?) in my way and they appear to be crimped at each end so I'm not sure how they get recmoved. Is there a trick to this? Do I have to remove the fuel rails for this plug? Any suggestions (besides take it to a pro) would be appreciated.

 

[pronstar]

Originally posted by dwalin
marcmayer,

i recently did it at the shop and they charged me $100 (only work without plugs) just because they got to remove fuel rail to get to last plugs. i'm not a pro but i think these guys wouldn't make themselves more work if not absolutely required...

$100 for a plug change on a 5.4 is a very good rate.

It runs from $250 - $450 to have it done at most of the places I've checked.

 

[marcmayer]

Got It!

I took a 2nd stab last night and was able to force the hoses out of the way so I could get to the last plug. It was NOT necessary to remove the fuel rails, but it did cost me about 25 new nicks/cuts given the tight spaces. I invested about 4 hours total, but bet I could do it again, now that I know all the tricks, in about an hour or 90 minutes.

Must haves -

7mm flex socket ($7 from Sears - not a 7mm socket with a separate universal attached).

3/8" drive universal and LOTS of extension bars

Nice to haves -

A locking extension bar so you don't have to go fishing for the spark plug socket when it doesn't want to let go of the freshly installed spark plug.

 

[applevalleyford]

i just had mine changed out last weekend. tech charged me $75 to do it on the side. truck has 73k miles, so i figured it was time before my 3k mile vaca to FL and back in two weeks.

 

[smo0othride]

I have 55k on my beast... should I think about changing mine? Maybe at the 60k service?

 

[Thunder]

Hoses are for heater core, and are not crimped... they are quick disconnects like on the fuel system.

 

[andyhaas]

7mm flex socket... 7mm??

 

[Skypilot]

I just did a plug replacement on my Expedtion last weekend. Took about 2 hours to change out the first 7 plugs and another 2 hours to change out the passenger rear plug! I used a string and tied it around the hoses that cover up that last plug and tied them back by pulling on them and tieing off the string. Then I tried to remove the last plug. I used a 5/8" plug socket and two 3" extensions and the 3/8 drive rachet. There must have been something inside the plug area because I could not get the 5/8" plug socket to fit down on the spark plug. After 2 hours of trying I finally put the 5/8" plug socket with one of the 3" extension in and turned it with my fingers untill it felt like it locked onto the plug. I then put another 3" extension on and used my 3/8" Air ratchet on it. I pushed down on the ratchet and hit the trigger. It spun around 2 or 3 times then I felt it snap or grab. I thought great I just broke the plug but it came out with the socket after I pulled it out!

I now think I could do it in 2 or 3 hours if I had to redo it. Another thing I found was someone had covered the outside of some of the COP boot with grease! I wiped it all off before reinstalling.