A friend of mine has a '97 splash ford rangers but it has 8 spark pulg wires and 2 distiputer caps does the truck come like that from the factory? or is that an aftermarket conversion? Thank you for your time

 

What you've got John is a dual plug head with plugs on the intake side as well as the exhaust side. This provides more complete combustion for greater eficiency.Also,those are not dist. caps,they are coil packs,part of the distributorless ignition system {DIS}.The other parts include a crank position sensor,module assy.,knock sensor and are all controlled by engine computer. The beauty about all this is there are no moving parts to wear out,but a simple failure will result in no ignition spark or fuel pump signal to run engine.
Phillip

 

Yes, the dual plugs are factory. This was started in '89 and added approx. 5-10 hp.

 

 

Has there be much trouble with this system?

And have they reached what they wanted to do with this system?

 

Yes, I think the newer electronic ignitions have accomplished their objective(s). There is a great deal more functionality with electronic ignitions. For example, the PCM is always adapting the ignition timing based on feedback from a multitude of sensors taking into account such things as engine speed, temperature, load, and sometimes even whether the engine is experiencing spark knock. This allows for greater precision and control in order to deliver the best timing under all conditions while balancing performance and fuel economy.

More on Ford electronic ignitions here: Ford DIS & EDIS Ignition Systems

 

The only trouble that I have experienced with this system is changing the last two plugs on the intake manifold side. You either need a multitude of ratchet extensions and u-joints, or you need to take off the upper intake manifold to reach them. But with the Motorcraft double platinum plugs...you only need to do this once every 100k miles...if that.
I would say that that the system is a success overall. The great thing is that one bank of plugs isn't firing all the time, only when needed, so this saves on the wear of that one bank (can't remember which side).

 

just changed all 8 plugs and wires on our 89 2.5 today. 6 plugs were fun the 2 under the intake were really fun. a very l o n g extention was all we needed and it did't take long to do this. BUT the plug wires yes the plug wires under the intake, that took a lot of time to get done. we did it but we work hard on it. also the 2 plugs under the intake dated back to 1989 some one only put in 6 plugs in on the last tune up just like the wires were from 1989 also. we used a very long needle nose to get the plug wires off. took about 4 to 5 hours and we were all done with the job. and it runs real well.

ron

 

Only the bank opposite the intake manifold fires while the engine is cranking. My manual states that all the plugs fire during normal operation.