Quick Spark Plug Question | Ford Explorer Forums

  • Register Today It's free!

Quick Spark Plug Question

Leyritz

Member
Joined
January 6, 2001
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
City, State
Durham, NC
Year, Model & Trim Level
1996 Explorer Sport
I'm getting ready to change my plugs and have read the previous threads about what a pain replacing #6 is. I don't have a garage and live on a hill, plus don't have any jackstands, so taking the wheel off to get at it is unlikely. In the event that I can't maneuver well enough to take #6 straight out, is there any harm done by just replacing 5 out of the 6 plugs? Is it better to replace 5 of them or to leave all 6 old ones in? Thanks
 



Join the Elite Explorers for $20 each year or try it out for $5 a month.

Elite Explorer members see no advertisements, no banner ads, no double underlined links,.
Add an avatar, upload photo attachments, and more!
.





i dont have wheelwell liners, but ichanged mine without much problem...... wheels on, just had the wheels turned and locked to the left and just reached through.....
 






5 out of 6 aint bad, but not great either.

I would go thorugh the effort to replace them all. 5 is not bad, but if #6 is fouled or not quite up to snuff it will affect the performance of your truck. Giv it your best shoot.

Thanks Rob
 






I managed to get at my #6 from through the hood using a short extension bar, a long one, and a U-joint adapter. I think I positioned the extenstions inbetween one of the heater hoses and something else. Just make sure if you do it this way that the joints are locked together solidly and that you aren't applying torque at an awkward angle... in other words, make sure you steady the shaft and u joint so that the power applied is concentrated in a steady, fluid motion...not a jerky angled tug, or you will probably crack it off.
 






I changed mine without going through the wheel well, it was not that hard. I have an OHV engine though. It just took an extension and short handle ratchet, that's it!

I did climb up into the engine though so I could get a better angle at it. :D
 






All you need is a swivel socket and extension, and you can do it then, without removing the wheel.

The trick is to reach in and attach the swivel socket to the plug; then fish the extension down from above and use one hand to hold the swivel socket in place and hold the extension with the other hand. It helps to have long arms but it works well.
 






I just did mine and went through the wheel well to get to #6 with the wheel in place.
 






I did mine just like Brad and Rhett said. I have heard that it can be done easily like MrShorty said too, just by cutting the wheel hard left before you park it - hence, opening up the entire area behind the front passenger wheel.
 






Featured Content

Back
Top