Changing Plugs Using Old Wires or Should You Change The Wires As Well?

[m00nJump3r]

Excellent forum, I have been a browser for quite a while.

I have a 2004 Explorer 4.0 4wd with around 67,000 miles. I have notice a very faint shaking with the vehicle. The dealer said that it needs spark plugs.

There price was a bit too much for me, so I have decided to take it to an independent mechanic. From what I have heard, I 'think' motorcraft plugs can be purchase from NaPa, would this be correct? If not, where is the best place to purchase this?

Should I change the wires as well or will the old wires work? How much does the wires cost? Is there anything else I should have done and what should be the approx. cost for it?

I have also heard that only motorcraft parts should be used when doing such. Is there a particular store to purchase the parts from (besides the dealership)? Also is there a way to get the correct part number for this specific truck?

What about an o2 sensor? The truck runs really crappy, imo..

The truck also stalled a couple of days ago after getting refueling. The check engine light momentarily came on be shut off when it stalled out. Started back up fine though after that, it does want to stall out sometimes as well.

Sorry for all of the questions and Thanks for the help

 

[jaydez]

A bad O2 sensor will five you a Check Engine Light. If it were my money I would do plugs, wires, fuel filter, clean MAF.

 

[4.6EXPLORERFAN]

Definitely clean the MAF and throttle body. By the specific Throttle Body cleaner and specific MAF cleaner. DO NOT BUY CARB CLEANER. I had this same experience about a month ago and thought it was bad gas. I replaced my fuel filter and cleaned the above mentioned items and it runs like its brand new. Definitely replace the plugs when you get a chance but start with the throttle body and MAF. Good luck.

 

[esclamada]

I replaced my plugs at 100k miles and never changed the wires. I don't think they need to unless they are broken.

Try cleaning your MAF, IAC, EGR and Throttle Body, as well as new fuel filter.






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[kert0307]

I replaced my plugs at 100k miles and never changed the wires. I don't think they need to unless they are broken.

Same here, spark plugs still looked good @100k but I changed them anyway. Sold the truck with 137k on it and it was still running great on original wires...

 

[Exproblems]

I have a 2004 Explorer 4.0 4wd with around 67,000 miles. I have notice a very faint shaking with the vehicle. The dealer said that it needs spark plugs.

There price was a bit too much for me, so I have decided to take it to an independent mechanic. From what I have heard, I 'think' motorcraft plugs can be purchase from NaPa, would this be correct? If not, where is the best place to purchase this?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My mechanic says to use either Motorcraft plugs or OE Autolite plugs for Explorers. Most parts stores should carry both brands. I have OE Autolite single platinum plugs in mine. The Autolite plugs run around $3-$4+ each depending on single or double platinum as of last February.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Should I change the wires as well or will the old wires work? How much does the wires cost? Is there anything else I should have done and what should be the approx. cost for it?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes, change the wires as well. Might as well do it right. I bought a set of Autolite Professional Series wires from Advance Auto Parts, cost was $45.99 They come with a 5 year or Lifetime Warranty, can't remember which. You can get online coupons for Advance Auto Parts at www.coupincabin.com. Order thru Advances web site, apply the coupon codes when ordering your parts, get your discount, and select a store near you to pick up your parts around an hour later if the parts are in stock.

>>>>>>>>Also is there a way to get the correct part number for this specific truck?>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Your VIN number may work for getting the exact part for your EX, not sure if it works for plugs and wires. Year of vehicle and Engine specs usually determine the part numbers for plugs and wires.

>>>>>>>>>What about an o2 sensor? The truck runs really crappy, imo..>>>>>>

You would get a "check engine light" if you had a bad O2 sensor. Only replace them when needed, not cheap either from what I heard.

>>>>>>>>>>The truck also stalled a couple of days ago after getting refueling. The check engine light momentarily came on be shut off when it stalled out. Started back up fine though after that, it does want to stall out sometimes as well. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You may need other things cleaned like your MAF sensor or Throttle Body Intake. Both can be cleaned rather easily, but both use a seperate cleaning spray to clean them. MAF Sensor and Throttle Body Cleaner can be bought at most parts stores for approx $7 a can.

>>>>>>>>Sorry for all of the questions>>>>>>>>>>>

Don't apologize, asking repair questions is what this site is all about.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Plug wires are a wear item, I would never go through the hassle of changing plugs without changing wires. Too many things can go wrong such as damage during removal, heat damage, etc... They've got 60k+ on them, they're probably not bad, but if you're going to be in there, I'd just do them if it were me.

 

[Sedition]

^Agree^ You may very well break a wire, especially if the boot of the wire has become stuck on the spark plug after 8 years of service.

 

[kkjb4x4.0]

At 67.000 miles it's time to change the wires with the plugs ,,use the motorcraft plugs cause these engines are a little fussy about plugs.

 

[m00nJump3r]

Thank you everyone for your helpful information. I have a few more questions if you don't mind. Excuse me for being a noob.

I have decided to order parts from my a nearby dealership than having my independent mechanic do the work. This is what I have on my list so far....feel free to correct me or let me know if I have missed something. Ty

Plugs (6 of them) $3.99 each
Spark Plug Wires - $90.55
Air Filter - $18.95
Fuel Filter- recently changed by dealer
Oil filter- Recently changed by dealer

Are there any belts I should change right now?

I was thinking of having the throttle body cleaned by the dealer...i know they like to over charge but i have been reading on the forum that there is some kind of coating and people ended up paying a lot of money. It would be a lot less of a hassle to let the dealer worry about it. ..right?
Does this particular vehicle have a distributor cap or rotor?

I was thinking about replacing the PCV vavle but if memory serves, I believe this is covered under the premium care esp...

my list seems a bit short for some reason...


thank you once again everyone

 

[jasongt06]

You could have gotten the plugs and wires from places such as Rock Auto for a lot cheaper than a dealer. I only paid around $75.00 for MC Plugs & Wires for my 05 Explorer 4.0 .

 

[m00nJump3r]

Thanks Jasongt06 for the tip; there prices are alot cheaper.

Should I include anything else with this? Seems like there would be much more to be done for a tune up...?

 

[Joe Dirt]

For the mileage, that doesn't seem short. I think 100k will be a larger list maybe. No sense in replacing a bunch of sensors and stuff that are not throwing any malfunction codes...

 

[StangsandMavs]

I'll second the use of coupon codes at advance auto... retailmenot.com is a good place for the coupon mining.

Order online, pick up at the store an hour later (well, make sure your local place has it in stock). I'm not sure about this business model, but may as well use it.

 

[m00nJump3r]

Thank you JoeDirt for the quick response.

I am using the fordparts websites (which searches for parts by the Vin #) and trying to match them with the RockAuto site but ....

for example: wire set on the fordparts website has apart number of : wr6081($90.55) and the rockauto site is wr6096 ($35.79).

Is there a way to find the exact part number for this particular vehicle, I really don't want to order the wrong parts .

BTW, is there something wrong with those prices...?

 

[Joe Dirt]

I know the 6096 used to be a 6052 until they updated the part and changed the part number. The 6081 may be an alternate application or old number, but the 6096 is the set that shows up when I looked. I would get that one, I think the 6096 is just the superseded part number and most current part.

 

[turborich]

Your plugs should be good for around 100k, I honestly doubt if you will notice any difference from plugs & wires. I would pull the codes to see why your CEL came on & fix the actual problem instead of throwing parts at it.

Cleaning the MAF & TB are both good ideas and routine maintenance.

 

[m00nJump3r]

Is there a way to pull stored codes? I went to advance auto and they said that their machine would only read when the light is on...

 

[Joe Dirt]

You'd need a code reader, you can get a decent one for ~$20 on eBay. Invaluable if you're keeping your vehicle for a bit...

 

[m00nJump3r]

With new spark plugs and wires, the shake still there....this shake is driving me crazyyy...LOL.