4.6L coil pack resistance check?

[elwood01]

I'm changing plugs this weekend on my 03, & while I have the coil packs out, why not put an ohmmeter to them, & read their resistance? Does anyone know what the range should be on a good one?

 

[imp]

I'm changing plugs this weekend on my 03, & while I have the coil packs out, why not put an ohmmeter to them, & read their resistance? Does anyone know what the range should be on a good one?

Offhand, can only tell you where info can be found: Ford Shop Manual. Unfortunately, my access to my own is 2,000 miles away presently, so, sorry.

Why not order for future use, a Shop Manual? HelmInc.com prints them for ford. imp

 

[waskly]

I'm changing plugs this weekend on my 03, & while I have the coil packs out, why not put an ohmmeter to them, & read their resistance? Does anyone know what the range should be on a good one?

.... if its not broken dont fix it? think your going too far imo, when you change plugs, also get new boots for the coil on plugs they run like 6-8 bux each.

 

[elwood01]

Waskly, you're right! why bother, but the reason I'll do this, is down the road when I get a cylinder misfire fault, I'll remember that a certain coil pack had high resistance, thus verifying the coil pack change. I like your idea on the boot change! The last time I changed plugs on a 5.4L, I didn't even think of this, but then again I had other issues, like broken porcelin tips? Aren't Tritons beautiful! By the way, who out there knows which engine has the problem with the threads pulling? Is it the 4.6 or 5.4, or both? Any certain years that are more likely than others? Thanks! Elwood

 

[zerodevil]

4.6L 5.4L and 6.8 all do, engines manufactured post 2003 (so 2004+ trucks and cars are aok) were fixed with a full lenght thread insert from the factory.

 

[elwood01]

Thanks! Zerodevil, I have the Leslie tool for removing the broken tips, I guess I'll have to invest in the Cal Van re-thread insert tool?

 

[zerodevil]

id wait till you actualy fire one, mine made it past 95k miles with out firing one being. and i ride it like a race car, or at least i used to. repair bills suck.

 

[waskly]

Waskly, you're right! why bother, but the reason I'll do this, is down the road when I get a cylinder misfire fault, I'll remember that a certain coil pack had high resistance, thus verifying the coil pack change. I like your idea on the boot change! The last time I changed plugs on a 5.4L, I didn't even think of this, but then again I had other issues, like broken porcelin tips? Aren't Tritons beautiful! By the way, who out there knows which engine has the problem with the threads pulling? Is it the 4.6 or 5.4, or both? Any certain years that are more likely than others? Thanks! Elwood

i really didn't want to get technical, all a dvom do is show you resistance on the primary coil not the secondary which makes the spark which will tell you nothing really.

so you measure one of the circuits and know nothing, while cylinder 5 has 100 ohms cylinder 6 450 ohm but cylinder 1 with 350 ohms you get a miss fire. since the secondary windings dont fire.

there is no spec for primary resistance.

only plugs breaking is the 4.6l 3valve engine.

 

[2002GreyHD150]

4.6L 5.4L and 6.8 all do, engines manufactured post 2003 (so 2004+ trucks and cars are aok) were fixed with a full length thread insert from the factory.

the final thread fix, which was much more prevalent on the supercharged 5.4L Lightning & '02-03 Harley F150 was addressed finally in mid-production 2003.

The final consensus was that for N/A engines, the issue was improper torque procedure & not using anti-seize on the plugs. This doesn't in any way change that the 5-thead design was a total joke & shouldn't hvae been allowed to happen...

Part of the issue is dis-similar materials (steel/allot plugs into aluminum head) without specific guidelines for install.

I owned an '02 Harley F150 (hence the screen name) for 180K pumping nearly 20psi of boost, never had an issue... That said... Installation is everything. I don't believe in "Platinum this or Irriduim that" not "3-prong, 4-probe, super special" spark plugs. Just an excuse for an owner to ignore regular maintenance.

I believe that the entire problem for the V-8/V-10 Modular program was a 2-part design & lack of education problem.

There are thousands, possibly millions of Crown Vic Taxi's, Police interceptors, & civilian cars with no spark plug issues, owned & maintained by LOGICAL owners/fleet mechanics who know how to change plugs.

Rob

 

[2002GreyHD150]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

also Pro Comp, of lift fame, in their Overstock Department has run these same Striker coils for $125 shipped.

they are obviously MSD knock off's. I have them on the Monty... they are AMAZING! specs are better than the MSD, 1/2 the cash.

Yes I know that just fresh plugs & any new coil will make an improvement. But I had to do a band aid fix with a set of documented 15K mile OE ford coils off ebay till Pro Comp got strikers back in stock. The OE coils helped alot... but the Striker's picked up somewhere around 2-3mpg & solved my re0occuring CEL...

The striker coils have noticeably hotter spark. I run NGK Copper V-power plugs & the plugs are cleaner, the mpg is up... not to mention when the Wife comments the Truck feels smoother & stronger on the highway... Win win...

just my .02

Rob

 

[2002GreyHD150]

sorry, one last thought: I ahve found the CRC or Napa branded Battery/Iginition Sealer, aerosol spray, is the best option for sealing the boots to the plugs. Its clear, leaves no residue, Solid connection, but not sticky/tacky like other sprays I have used or Dielectric grease that seems to harden with heat/time...

Always allows me to pull the coil packs off easily with no loss in performance.

Rob

 

[elwood01]

Thanks everyone! Mission accomplished! Plug & boot change on my 4.6L was uneventful. None of the plugs were difficult to remove, nor was there any thread damage. What I did was remove all coil packs first, then sprayed some Kroil in each bore, & I think this helped me! I didn't bother with any resistance checks of the coil packs, figuring? If there was no misfire fault, then all most be good! One last bit of info: From what I found here, for the 4.6L air conditioning wire chaffing, mine was classic! Worn down to bare-wire, but not yet severed. I'll have to read that post again, & do it another day. That wire bundle looks to have horrible access! Adios! Elwood

 

[PoorFella]

Just changed the Plugs on my 2002 Mountaineer and everything went just fine except still had misfire. After doing some testing i found i have a bad Coil Pack. I done some searching and found 8 coil packs from Global Automotive for under $70.00. I called them on Monday the 28th and ordered the set being told i would have them by Friday or Saturday. Well here it is Saturday and did not get coil packs. Maybe they will here on Monday????. I was going to buy them mapdistributers but since i was able call Global and they told they had sold several of these and been in business several years i decided to order from them thinking they would be the best. Wish now i had ordered from someone else and most likely would have had by now. VERY POOR SHIPPING IN MY OPINION. Hope the product is better than their shipping. Just thought i would warn others who might be needing parts.