only 1 plug away...
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: N. Fort Myers,FL
only 1 plug away...
Yesterday i started on my plugs and i got the 4 on the passenger side done first (figured i might get the hard ones done first) then i started on the drivers side, i was putting the COP bolt back in on i think #7(Under fuel regulator) then my $8 sears swivel cocked to the side breaking the head off the bolt! 
Luckily after i calmed down to look at what i just done, i seen that i still had tons of threads sticking out of the hole, so before i went inside for the night i moved the EGR tube over and took the bolts off the fuel rail. So today im gona try to get it out. (shouldnt be that hard with that much of the bolt there) i put penetrating oil on it last night just to make it easier.
But other than that little mishap and a few cuts on my hands it wasnt that bad.
The most difficult part of the job for me was to torque down #4 spark plug?(closest to firewall on pass. side)
Luckily after i calmed down to look at what i just done, i seen that i still had tons of threads sticking out of the hole, so before i went inside for the night i moved the EGR tube over and took the bolts off the fuel rail. So today im gona try to get it out. (shouldnt be that hard with that much of the bolt there) i put penetrating oil on it last night just to make it easier.
But other than that little mishap and a few cuts on my hands it wasnt that bad.
The most difficult part of the job for me was to torque down #4 spark plug?(closest to firewall on pass. side)
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Syracuse
Yeah, you definately need a selection of swivels, extentions and a stubby ratchet. Good luck extracting your coil bolt. #4 is a pain, you can't tell the whether you're extension is binding, or the plug is tightening down.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: N. Fort Myers,FL
well i got the broken bolt out no problem, then I finished puting vaccuum lines and elec. connections back where they go.
I started it up and it had a sight miss to it, so i let it idle for a min it or 2 (i thought it was burning off stuff from when i cleaned the throttle body) then it threw a code, so before i ran to Autozone to see what the code was, I wiggled every coil and unplugged each coil and plugged back in. Then when i got to Autozone it says it was #4 coil, so i erased the code and drove around for a while and I havent thrown a code yet!!!
Mission Accomplished
I started it up and it had a sight miss to it, so i let it idle for a min it or 2 (i thought it was burning off stuff from when i cleaned the throttle body) then it threw a code, so before i ran to Autozone to see what the code was, I wiggled every coil and unplugged each coil and plugged back in. Then when i got to Autozone it says it was #4 coil, so i erased the code and drove around for a while and I havent thrown a code yet!!!
Mission Accomplished
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,191
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From: West Union, OH USA
So the spark plugs are on the top side of the heads near the intake manifold and the fuel rails? I never knew that, I just looked at a '97 4.6L truck and a '98 5.4L truck and I was guessing that was the case with my glancing observations.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: N. Fort Myers,FL
Yep, they are right by the fuel rail, the coils(black) sit right next to the injectors(yellow) and its somewhat difficult to change the plugs, but im only 16yrs old and i did them in probably 4-5hrs(total work time) with no problems other than the broke coil bolt.
But if anyone wants to change there plugs i recommend ONLY Motorcraft(some have used Autolite) but any other plugs usually start to miss after only being in use for a week or 2. Thats my .02
But if anyone wants to change there plugs i recommend ONLY Motorcraft(some have used Autolite) but any other plugs usually start to miss after only being in use for a week or 2. Thats my .02
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2007
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I just got done changing the plugs in my son's truck. I ended up loosing up the fuel rail to get to the plugs. Not bad, except the right side the upper O rings kept popping off and I would get a fuel leak. Four times I had to loosen and re-tighten. But it makes it sooooooooo much easier to change the plugs.
