the glow plugs are easy to change, but you need patience. first, go to autozone online and buy a set of BERU/MOTORCRAFT glow plugs. i believe the plug number is ZD9.they are $9.99 each. WARNING!!!! DO NOT USE ANY OTHER TYPE OF GLOW PLUG!!!! champion, bosch, and autolight glow plugs are garbage. they will fail, and allot of them swell the tips, and will break off in the head when trying to take them out. plus, they cost more then the beru/motorcraft plugs.
to do the install, you will need a few tools. first, an air compressor to blow off the top of the engine real good. then spray the plug area with PB Blaster, and let it soak in for a while. then a 1/4 inch socket set with a deep socket, a few extentions, a universal, and a wrench to fit the plug. loosen up the plug with the 1/4 inch set, then blow off the area again with the air hose. then put a piece of vacuum hose over the top of the plug and unscrew it. once you have it out, put a dab of neversieze on the new plug, and screw it in starting off with the vacuum hose, then with the 1/4 inch set. one or two of the plugs may be easier to do with a wrench.


as far as the controller ticking after you start, that is supposed to happen. that is the plugs cycling to help the engine stay running.

 

D_Stange,

If you absolutely can't find the "BERU" plugs, the next best thing in my experience are the BOSCH plugs. BE VERY CAREFUL THOUGH. MAKE SURE IT SAYS RIGHT ON THE PLUG: "MADE IN GERMANY". Not Made in Japan or just plain "Germany" without the "Made in" descriptor.

I had several bad experiences with Bosch imitators so be careful. Best to stick with the BERU plugs. Unfortunately not even the Ford Dealers in my area sell them.

Seb......

 

TJc, what's the vacuum hose for i don't quite understand that part.

 

Slide a piece of rubber hose over the connector end of the plug. That will help you line up the plug and get the thread started. This little trick works really well on turbo motors where the two plugs below the turbo are a really difficult to get to.

Seb....

 

once the plugs are loose, instead of using two hands to make the ratchet work, then when the plug is out, fishing for it, you loosen it up till it will no longer ratchet. then take the socket off, and put the vacuum hose on, and you can spin it out with the hose, and then pull it out. and the hose makes it allot easier to get the threads started.
and if you have a turbo, it is best to shrink your hands before you start so you can reach into those tight spaces.

oh. and by the way. there are 500 million little no-see-um sharpies in there just waiting to bite some skin. so be prepared for some blood letting.

 

Those little sharpies were an undocumented feature Ford installed to combat high blood pressure.

Let a little out and the blood pressure drops right down.

 

DAMN!!! i never knew that !!!
so what you are telling me is that i could have saved myself a fortune in doctors bills and drugs to control the high blood pressure by just gettin under the hood of the truck for an hour or two each day???