Changing Plugs E150 pull the engine!??
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Changing Plugs E150 pull the engine!??
I got an estimate for new spark plugs on my 99 5.4 Van and it was $500. Main problem is that ford goes with the stupid coil on plug setup instead of wires. Yeah I know they are supposed to last longer, but they dont. So you have to pay $60 per plug for parts alone. I would expect this from a Jaguar but a Ford??
Anyway, I figured screw that, I will replace the plugs my self and be carefull with the $50 coil wires. Surprise. The plugs are inaccessable. There is NO working room, no visable plugs anywhere. Just more plumbing than anyone would ever want to see. So it looks like the only way to get to the plugs would be to pull the engine. Nice. Ford. Good stuff. I read the other thread about reaching the plugs with several socket adapters and extensions, but there appears to be a screw at the top of the coil cover, and you cant get to it to expose the plug! I see why ford bought Jaguar. They think alike.
Anyway, I figured screw that, I will replace the plugs my self and be carefull with the $50 coil wires. Surprise. The plugs are inaccessable. There is NO working room, no visable plugs anywhere. Just more plumbing than anyone would ever want to see. So it looks like the only way to get to the plugs would be to pull the engine. Nice. Ford. Good stuff. I read the other thread about reaching the plugs with several socket adapters and extensions, but there appears to be a screw at the top of the coil cover, and you cant get to it to expose the plug! I see why ford bought Jaguar. They think alike.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
Changing Plugs E150 pull the engine!??
Hi dpowers and welcome to FTE 
An E-van actually isnt as bad to work on as it first looks. Just be patient and take your time.
On an E-van when I work on the engine the first thing I do is remove the front seats. They only take 10 minutes to pull and that makes it much easier to get the doghouse off and get at the engine.
Pull off the air intake hoses and air cleaner.They come off easily too.
The COPs come off pretty easily. There is only 1 7mm screw on each one and 1 connector. You can turn the injector a bit to get at them easier. You DONT have to pull the fuel rails off to get at them. Once you have the COPs removed then you just need an extension and socket to get at the plug. And you dont have to replace the COP unless there is a problem with it, such as misfiring after you replace the plug.
An E-van actually isnt as bad to work on as it first looks. Just be patient and take your time.
On an E-van when I work on the engine the first thing I do is remove the front seats. They only take 10 minutes to pull and that makes it much easier to get the doghouse off and get at the engine.
Pull off the air intake hoses and air cleaner.They come off easily too.
The COPs come off pretty easily. There is only 1 7mm screw on each one and 1 connector. You can turn the injector a bit to get at them easier. You DONT have to pull the fuel rails off to get at them. Once you have the COPs removed then you just need an extension and socket to get at the plug. And you dont have to replace the COP unless there is a problem with it, such as misfiring after you replace the plug.
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Changing Plugs E150 pull the engine!??
Yeah, I just got finished with the plug swap, it wasnt as bad as it looked, but it did take 5 hours. One more tool to add to the list, an extension magnet! Those little screws on the coils, are damn hard to get in and out without dropping them. I did actually have to remove the fuel rail on the left side of the motor. There is a vacuum part on the rail that completely block access to cylinder #7. With that off it was much easier to get to #8 too. The access to plug#3 is nuts! Too many hoses to work through.
BUt I got them off. I also had to undo several brackets to allow access. No to reasemble all the air cleaner paths and housings.
I wonder if there is any other maint I should do while I am this far in?
BUt I got them off. I also had to undo several brackets to allow access. No to reasemble all the air cleaner paths and housings.
I wonder if there is any other maint I should do while I am this far in?
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Changing Plugs E150 pull the engine!??
I think half the problem with being a do it your self mechanic, is not knowing where the stuff is.
I cant find a 4.6 book at the auto parts place, so I am not sure where to find the MAF. Is that the part that the metal tunnel with a sensor that is just after the air filter?
Dan
I cant find a 4.6 book at the auto parts place, so I am not sure where to find the MAF. Is that the part that the metal tunnel with a sensor that is just after the air filter?
Dan
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Changing Plugs E150 pull the engine!??
Look inside the MAF for the 2 fine wires....they look like filaments in a light bulb. Spray them down with some spray carb cleaner such as Carb Medic. They are very fine and break easily so dont go trying to scrub them. You can very gently remove "fluff" off them with a toothbrush but usually just spraying them will work ok.
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Changing Plugs E150 pull the engine!??
Thanks for the Info! Where are the diagrams coming from?
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