Any reliable plug wire diagrams out there?

[FordJimbo]

I've got a 98 Ford Explorer with the 4.0L SOHC V6. My Vin has an "E" as the 8th letter.

A job that should be easy and quick took over 2 hours last night. It's my fault I did not label the plug wires (which should be color coded or numbered or something anyway). User error. I probably should have done them individually, but I had removed the boots to spray some liquid wrench on the plugs to aid in removal so I wouldn't break one. And I didn't reinstall the boots so as to not cause a problem continually tugging on them... I should have put tape or something on them. I thought I laid them out and could identify which goes where.

But in my contorting to get to the drivers side plugs, I must have moved the wires. I put them back on and before tackling the passenger side, which was going to be today, I started the vehicle and heard a loud "bang" and a very rough idle. I shut it off. Today, I thought I found a wiring diagram that shows which goes where. I had mixed 4 and 6 up, so swapped them. The vehicle ran rough. I drove it around the block and it stalled out twice. A distinct unburned fuel smell.

I've not yet done the passenger side plugs. Maybe having uneven worn plugs (good bank and bad bank) causes very rough idling. Maybe the bang/backfire was some of the mass air flow or throttle cleaner I sprayed in... I'm trying to diagnose the issues and need to figure out the wiring diagram to see if it's worth putting more time in, or did I destroy the engine?

I'm worried I've damaged the internals. I'm hoping this is easily fixable and not a destroyed motor...

I guess the first step is the correct diagram... I've looked in my manual, and in Chilton. Nothing. Seems to me this would be essential. Anyone have one to share?

I've now seen at least 3 different charts. I'm very confused. Any owners out there have the confirmed correct chart and diagram?

Here's the one I "think" is correct from research and looking at my motor, but could use feedback or confirmation or correction.

 

[J_C]

That does look like the same pic I have (lol) and a different pic, so seems correct.

Uneven worn plugs will not make it run worse than before you started, but if you had a problem before starting that prompted you to change the plugs then sure, that problem could remain.

It is unlikely that you have destroyed the motor, but a strong enough backfire could blow out your intake gasket or put a hole in a brittle plastic intake manifold. I'd ignore those possibilities for now and just make sure you have the plugs and wires right. I assume you put new wires on, after this long if they are the original wires, they may be brittle and disturbing them to change plugs can cause a break that wasn't there before they were touched.

If you sprayed in a massive amount of cleaner, and it pooled in the intake, that could make it run a bit rough but I am getting the impression it's more rough that that. I suppose it's also possible that if you had a massive amount of intake carbon buildup and the cleaner flushed that down into the cylinders, that your plugs are in worse shape for it. I would go ahead and replace the remaining plugs and go from there, assuming you cleaned the intake before replacing plugs rather than after.

 

[transman304]

 

[410Fortune]

those are correct for the sohc

 

[FordJimbo]

That does look like the same pic I have (lol) and a different pic, so seems correct.

Uneven worn plugs will not make it run worse than before you started, but if you had a problem before starting that prompted you to change the plugs then sure, that problem could remain.

It is unlikely that you have destroyed the motor, but a strong enough backfire could blow out your intake gasket or put a hole in a brittle plastic intake manifold. I'd ignore those possibilities for now and just make sure you have the plugs and wires right. I assume you put new wires on, after this long if they are the original wires, they may be brittle and disturbing them to change plugs can cause a break that wasn't there before they were touched.

If you sprayed in a massive amount of cleaner, and it pooled in the intake, that could make it run a bit rough but I am getting the impression it's more rough that that. I suppose it's also possible that if you had a massive amount of intake carbon buildup and the cleaner flushed that down into the cylinders, that your plugs are in worse shape for it. I would go ahead and replace the remaining plugs and go from there, assuming you cleaned the intake before replacing plugs rather than after.

That's a fair diagnosis and good advice. I'll go ahead and replace all the wires, which I hadn't done yet on the drivers side but I have them and will replace now that I have a confirmed wiring diagram. I'm going to recheck the driver side plugs to ensure correct gap and threading, put on wires, and then do the passenger side plugs and wires and see what happens. A few hours of labor and hopefully it all is back to normal...

Still beating myself up over this moronic miswiring that might have cost me an engine. There should be some universal color or something for wires and cylinder numbers.

 

[Mr. Alligator]

I have made this error, and think it is a common mistake. Fortunately, it did not do any damage, except to my pride. And some of the misfire/backfire was remarkable. Never heard of it causing complete or permanent engine damage.

Please let us know your results. Hope all is well.

 

[410Fortune]

it will not cause any damage
Cheap auto parts store wires are CHEAP and do NOT LAST Like factory wires. You will pay $75-120 for a CHEAP set of wires at a parts store. These are like one time use parts.....not reliable and not stout.
Spend a little more get some good wires, order online and you can get primo wire sets for cheaper then the cheapo's at the brick and mortar stores.......

 

[donalds]

I like ac Delco

 

[C420sailor]

There’s a 5000 page Ford service manual out there in PDF form. A link can be found on this site. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. It has diagrams of proper wire routing, too...

 

[donalds]

There’s a 5000 page Ford service manual out there in PDF form. A link can be found on this site. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. It has diagrams of proper wire routing, too...

1996-2001 ford explorer / mountaineer workshop manual (5567 pages!)

I’m the opposite. I know Apple, but I just got an old PC yesterday for this purpose and forscan. So I know nothing about windows. Installing windows 10 last night. Need to find a RAR extractor to get the ISO. Then, you say windows 10 mounts the volume? So I don’t need to burn a dvd? Some...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[J_C]

I like ac Delco

Me too, I put ACDelco Pro 16-826K on my '98 SOHC 6 years ago.

I'm linking them because there's one as a dented box, Amazon warehouse special for $14, normally $26.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C9FLIU/?tag=serious-20

Strange, the site code strips the URL parameters (ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all) off the end of that link and puts on tag=serious-20 instead.

 

[410Fortune]

these are excellent wires for the $$$ ($20 + ship)

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