Getting to plugs on pass side...

[dykzeulb]

Well first off, I started to tackle the plug change while I am waiting for my u joints to arrive, I got 2 out of 6 done, the 3 on the pass side I cant get to..and the one on the driver closest to the grill I cannot get to break loose, for now it is soaking in some PB blaster, and plan on doing some very skilled impact removel, the 2 that I got off were like cake though! How bad is it to get to the three on the pass side?

 

[2000StreetRod]

The following link should be very helpful:
http://www.explorerforum.com/Singleton/web/pages/plugs2.html
I bought my spark plug swivel socket set and boot puller at Harbor Freight Tools. Good Luck!

 

[rhyno]

With my second gen I had to take off the front wheel and inner wheel-well to get to them. It was impossible (for me) to get at them from the top.

 

[TedJ]

Jack it up, take the wheel off and reach in through the space between the inner fender and frame. You might want to trim the sharp edge off the inner fender with a utility knife to avoid messing up your arms, just watch the wiring harness. It's not that bad as long as the plugs aren't seized in the hole.

 

[Maniak]

Ditto (or what ever the 3rd person would say). Pull or push/move the inner fenderwell on the passenger side.

We don't run inner fenderwells and I can change the plugs on the passenger side in the same amount of time it takes on the drivers side.. I don't even have to take the tire off.

~Mark

 

[Tony H]

Deep socket attached to a 'U' joint to a 10" extension. With the tire off and getting it from the wheel well, it's still inconvienent. Pulling the Ignition wire off in that spastic position is half the battle.

Go slow and easy on that Drivers side Front one. for some reason that plug is trouble. That specific plug fails. Others have mentioned this too. Seems like every 10K miles , I get a miss under load. and it's just that one plug.

 

[motopsycho650]

I managed to squeeze my arm down in there easy enough. Wiggle off all the wires. It helped to put the socket down on the sparkplug, and then work the ratchet down in there and find the socket.

 

[MrQ]

I wrote a "how to" on changing the first gen spark plugs. There are a lot of helpful suggestions in the replies on how to access the pass. side plugs.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226622

 

[dykzeulb]

ok, so wife drove the explorer to work today, 2 blocks, and said she heard a back fire type noise, but she didnt think it was a backfire, since I didnt get all the plugs changed would it be causing something to be screwy until we get them all done?

 

[4.0Rerolpxe]

For the backfiring noise, check your plug wires, mine had a similar issue. For the passenger side plugs, I get the first two from the top, knucklebusters, but you can get em without removing anything, the back one I cut my wheels to the left and come from the wheel well. You can prolly do it if I can... Because I'm a 300 pound fat man

 

[Robrt32]

ok, so wife drove the explorer to work today, 2 blocks, and said she heard a back fire type noise, but she didnt think it was a backfire, since I didnt get all the plugs changed would it be causing something to be screwy until we get them all done?

you absolutely SURE you didn't cross wire it? that WILL cause back firing..I changed all my plugs form the top.. I couldn't see . I just felt my way through. I do my best work in the dark..lol