Notices
1997 - 2003 F150 1997-2003 F150, 1997-1999 F250LD, 7700 & 2004 F150 Heritage
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Auxito

Changed plugs and wires…

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 12, 2025 | 10:53 PM
  #1  
quarterpanL's Avatar
quarterpanL
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Liked
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Lauderdale
Changed plugs and wires…

The plugs were ngk. Replaced with motorcraft. Some of those ports were full of crud. Now it idles normal and revs fine but still misses under any type of load. Not giving any misfire codes, just a p1000 and a code for a blend door actuator and a wiper switch. Got some coils coming in Wednesday. 97 F150 4.6L.



 

Last edited by quarterpanL; Jul 12, 2025 at 10:57 PM. Reason: I had one
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2025 | 10:19 AM
  #2  
Johnny Paycheck's Avatar
Johnny Paycheck
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 312
You’d need a scanner with mode 6 to count misfires.

Those are some pretty dirty plugs. I’d check compression before going all out. Clogged up ports aren’t a good sign. Been there, done that with my 4.2. Fouled up plugs, oily intake, it was a matter of time before another engine was necessary.
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2025 | 12:34 AM
  #3  
quarterpanL's Avatar
quarterpanL
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Liked
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Lauderdale
I'm willing to go a little further before getting a compression test kit. I could just borrow one from somewhere but I already have the coils on the way. I'll check compression before replacing injectors but hopefully it wont get that far. I can get the truck up to speed it's not terrible but there's definitely something still off under acceleration. I've got the egr blocked off because of a previously unknown vacuum leak by the dpfe sensor that I've since repaired.
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2025 | 07:23 AM
  #4  
projectSHO89's Avatar
projectSHO89
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,762
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
Clogged up ports aren’t a good sign.
I think he was referring to spark plug wells full of crud. It can get past the plug wire "boot" and get in there and harden almost like concrete. Makes getting the plug out a lot more work.
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2025 | 01:04 PM
  #5  
quarterpanL's Avatar
quarterpanL
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Liked
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Lauderdale
Yea it was cyl 4 I had to stick a screw driver down in there and break up some stuff before I could blast it out with air. The socket wasn't grabbing anything, I had to use a mirror to verify the plug wasn't broken.
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2025 | 01:21 PM
  #6  
BareBonesXL's Avatar
BareBonesXL
Fleet Mechanic
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 382
From: WA
How many miles on the engine?
 
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2025 | 11:31 PM
  #7  
quarterpanL's Avatar
quarterpanL
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Liked
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Lauderdale
The odometer is around 178,100. I just got the truck so not sure if the motor is original or not
 
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2025 | 05:02 AM
  #8  
Oregon Kickstart's Avatar
Oregon Kickstart
Cross-Country
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 89
Likes: 32
From: Western Oregon
Wow, you got your money's worth out of those plugs...

 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jul 15, 2025 | 09:33 PM
  #9  
Johnny Paycheck's Avatar
Johnny Paycheck
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 312
Originally Posted by projectSHO89
I think he was referring to spark plug wells full of crud. It can get past the plug wire "boot" and get in there and harden almost like concrete. Makes getting the plug out a lot more work.
Very well may be. I took that as the EGR ports for the IMRC.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2025 | 12:55 PM
  #10  
quarterpanL's Avatar
quarterpanL
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Liked
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Lauderdale
Got the new coils in today and it feels better. I've never driven one of these before so I'm not sure how much of a sluggish hog the 4.6L would normally feel like. It feels torquey at low end and kind of weak at the top, I guess that's normal for this truck? Good enough for me if that means I can pull multiple vehicles on a trailer.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2025 | 02:27 PM
  #11  
RLXXI's Avatar
RLXXI
Lead Driver
Community Influencer
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 7,128
Likes: 1,945
From: Sportsman's Paradise
Originally Posted by quarterpanL
Got the new coils in today and it feels better. I've never driven one of these before so I'm not sure how much of a sluggish hog the 4.6L would normally feel like. It feels torquey at low end and kind of weak at the top, I guess that's normal for this truck? Good enough for me if that means I can pull multiple vehicles on a trailer.
That's about right for operating characteristics with that engine, pulls hard down low, runs out of steam up high.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
moto_hero
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
May 12, 2026 07:00 AM
Csm2501
6.2L V8
13
Jan 24, 2024 07:47 PM
riltri
2017 - 2022 Super Duty
4
Jan 15, 2022 07:05 AM
Joshdean351
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
May 20, 2021 02:10 PM
Bad Bad Leroy Brown
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
16
Dec 6, 2015 08:50 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:37 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE