Changing Spark Plugs

[rapdes]

Hi Everyone,
Just bought a 94 Explorer which is in desperate need of new plugs and wires. Anyone have any tips, hints, advice on how to best get to some of the harder to reach plugs...
My truck has 144,000 miles on it and the plugs and wires look like the original ones, I hope they come off OK.

 

[ammo troop]

Ever heard of Gumby?, seriously, the only ones that are a little troublesome are the back two on each side, but some cold beer should help that. Be sure to be generous with the dialectic (sp) grease on the re-install, definite advantage next go around.

Hope this helps

 

[EBInterceptor]

I've changed the plugs on my old '93, wasn't an easy task. Just takes a little patience or anger, whichever you think will work better for you. The hardest parts for plugs were plugging in the rear left side and routing the plugs around the rear of the engine. It's easier if you have some smaller hands to get the back plug on, and have to force your hang down there....that's what I did. Maybe took me 30-60 min. to do the wires but that was my first time.

 

[TheRookie]

Tip 1 Do one at a time. I have seen even great mechanics do several at once and end up getting the firing order wrong.

tip 2 Get a LONG extension and a sparkplug socket (5/8) with a built in universal.

 

[chris c]

i work on to much to keep everything in my head straight but if i recall correctly i pulled a couple plugs on my x through the fender opening on the passenger side. you have a straight shot at the plug through the inner fender. who knows, i could be thinking about a different car...

you can use a permanent marker to write the cylinder # on the boot of each wire from the coil goes to so you can pull all the wires off the plugs at once and then swap the plugs and do each wire one at a time...

anyway, the x has an easy setup... [4.0 OHV]

3 4
2 6
1 5

^ coil







3 6

2 5

1 4

^ engine

front of car

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

i was going to do mine today..but after looking at thing's..i would rather pay someone to go threw that hell

 

[JoeDirt]

Yup, I bought all of the plugs and grease and popped the hood and tried my hand at it. After about 20 seconds, I was finished. Closed the hood and called my local mechanic to make an appointment.

Very hard to get to without removing most of the guts in the engine.

Best bet, let your service station do it. Its worth the 50 bucks or what have you.

Good Day!

 

[DeRocha]

To get the Passenger side you remove the wheel and you get a straight shot it... this makes the job much easier... I also change/recharge the air filter at the same time so I just remove it as well...

I always start on the drivers side and work with only 1 plug at a time.

And you want to use Anti-Sieze on the threads not dielectric grease to prevent the plugs from becoming welded in place.

 

[Bored_2wd]

I read somewhere a long time back about a hint to get to the back plugs. If going through the wheel well doesn't do it for you, this might be interesting.
drill a hole big enough to pass the socket through to the back spark plug RIGHT THROUGH THE FIREWALL, of course being careful not to drill into anything else. Then when you're done, put some duct tape over the hole and fold the carpeting back down( if you still have carpeting). Either use tape or get a rubber plug at the auto parts store.
I haven't personally done this, but am thinking about it for the next time I need to change the plugs.
Oh and as far as paying for it at the local gas station, you might end up getting 5 plugs replaced and having one new one thrown in the trash. It's happened to me and I've never gone back. I bought 6 plugs in with me, and when I came back to pick up the vehicle I asked to see the old plugs. He said he'd already thrown them out, indicating a trash can nearby. there wasn't much in the trash bin, and a little digging turned up 5 plugs and 1 brand new autolite. He never changed the back one! I challenged him on it, and he said he changed them all.
I just left, went home, fought an hour to pull the last one, which was dirty and worn when I finally got it out.
I popped the new one in and everything was fine.
--Bob

 

[FourXFred]

huh, i didnt think they were too hard to do. i did mine in about 45 minutes on my ranger and my old explorer (91). it was a lot easier than it was on my buddies SHO. we almost pulled the motor because it woulda been easier than getting the back 3 plugs.

 

[TheRookie]

Heh, you gotta actualy Rotate the motor of an impala forward about 15 degrees to change the plugs. The X is easier than many but not fun.

 

[410Fortune]

rill holes in the firewall? Holey moley!

With the right tools the spark plugs on the 4.0L's are not that hard!!!!

You need a wobbly, some extensions, and the right socket.

Worst case is you jack up the passenger side and remove the tire to make it easier to get in there at the back plug. the other 5 plugs are accessible from above then engine like any other truck.......

go through the wheel well, you can pull the plastic fender skirt out of the way if you need to. Also alot of light really helps........there is no need to drill any holes, even on trucks with the SOHC and A/C you have direct access to the rearmost plug through the wheel well......

 

[Fhantazm]

The hardest one is the passemger rear. That damn accumulator is SOO in the way. The others werent bad at all! Especially the drivers side!

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

well i have ARC so my first prob was the air bag and all the air lines..then the header was in my way..im just going to pay someone to do it

 

[Bored_2wd]

I think I read about it in 4wheel and off road magazine. They drilled one hole on each side of the front of the trans hump to make it real easy to get to the spark plugs. I don't remember what truck it was...
--Bob

 

[MattPersman]

man why would you pay some one to do such an easy job, first time I ever did mine it took maybe a half hour tops. the passenger rear plug #3 you can get to from underneath 10 mins tops. the others are like 2 mins a piece. so thats about 20 mins.

just don't be intimidated by this. You think ford/mazda sent all their techs to a class on how to do them back in 1991? Nope, they didn't know any more than you did the first time they got one in the change the plugs either.

so don't give up, 5 of the 6 are very easy, #3 is easy as well once you realize hey its right there from underneath when you look.

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

then get your butt up here and do mine..i would like to see you try

 

[MattPersman]

believe me if I was close enough I would

 

[slag]

Originally posted by TheRookie
Heh, you gotta actualy Rotate the motor of an impala forward about 15 degrees to change the plugs. The X is easier than many but not fun.

Umm, no you dont. Its EASIER to remove the dog bones and rock the engine forward, but its definitely not a "gotta" do type of thing.

The explorer is 5x harder than a gm 3.8 motor to replace the plugs.

 

[Tony H]

The hardest ones are the two rear passenger side plugs.
I was stubburn for about 30 minutes until I was getting no where sooooo as Silly as it sounds, Take off the pass. front tire, and get at them from the Fender Well. Use a 3/8 drive ratchet, a 12" long extension, a universal joint and a deep socket ( in that order).


I bought my X with 189K on the Odometer and when I pulled out those plugs, The electrode was so thing it wasn't funny. The Gap was about 2x what it was supposed to be.

Good news, the plugs came out easier then I thought. I figured it was going to be a nightmare.

Good luck