Spark Plugs Help

[KELLEY]

OK HERE IS MY ISSUE AUTO PARTS STORE TOLD M E BOSH PLATNUM PLUGS WERE OK TO USE NOE FOR DEALER IS TELLING ME NO GET MOTORCRAFT PLATNUM. I JUST PUT IN NEW BOSH PLUGS AND NOW IT RUNS VERY ROUGH AND STALLS I HAVE CHECKED FIRING ORDER ON WIRES AND ALL SEEMS CORRECT IS THIS CORRECT ON THE BRAND ISSUE I AM AT MY WITTS END WITH THIS TRUCK AND AM VERY TIRED OF SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BEFORE I GO BUUY THE MOTORCRAFT PLUGS ARE THEY CORRECT WITH THIS ? :fire:

 

[elkhunter]

Did you check each plug wire down close to the plug with your timing light? I am not a Bosch fan but I would check the plug wires and then check the plugs.

 

[Robb]

Are you sure that the wiring is correct?

 

[KELLEY]

Yeah I Got The Same Haynes Manual Wirung Is In Proper Firing Order The Service Manger I Know At Ford Quality Care ( Whome I Moronicly Did Not Consult Before Changing Plugs) Said The Bosch Plugs Caint Handle The Firing Load My Truck Puts Out. I Was Just Checking To See If Anyone Had More Info Before I Go Putting Out More Money Tonight To Be Sitting On The Side Of The Road Again.

 

[DeRocha]

I have run Bosch platinum plugs for 8+years without any problems. Did your truck run ok before putting in the new plugs? Did you check their gapping to ensure they are within spec? How old are you wires (often you cannot tell the condition of the wires by looking at them) when in doubt replace them. My wires looked fine, but my engine ran a little rough (more so when damp). A mechanic started the engine and used a plastic watering can to poor water onto one spark plug wire at a time. Sure enough when the water hit one of the wires the engine would stumble. The wire looked 100% fine, but the mechanic said micro cracks in the insulation will cause the power to ground out, by going through the water and to the block...

 

[95expledbau]

I think the admins should post a "sticky" thread on this forum entitled "(Some) Explorers run like doodie with Bosch platinum plugs". I hate dealers, but in this case I say can't go wrong with Motorcraft Platinums

 

[97BlackX5.0]

i have always used bosch plats.... the part about them not being able to handle the firing load is bullshit.... i would look more into maybe you broke a wire internally when the plugs were change or perhaps when you gapped the plugs you could have broke the ceramic on one of them.... once you damage a bosch plug it usually doesnt last very long once you put it in....

 

[Skibug]

I am currently running Bosch Platinum 4's in my truck with no problem. I have run them in all of my vehicles in the past with no problems as well. My truck actually smoothed out when I changed the plugs to Bosch.

 

[KPT]

Another Bosch platinum user. No problems with them at all.

 

[Billy177]

they probrally gave you the plugs for the sohc by mistake, they fit but they are a different legnth

 

[F14CRAZY]

I am also using Bosch platinium 4 plugs with no problems at all. X-Act wires from Adavance auto parts.

 

[Cali' Explorer]

Ok, well here's the deal on Bosch Spark plugs. Whether or not you have a problem with them can be hit or miss, but if your X calls for Platinums stocks, definately go with Motorcraft. The Bosch spark plugs are not the same heat range as the Motorcrafts. The motorcrafts can handle more heat, which the Ford motors seem to put out.

I have personally seen this on my own X (Its a 97 5.0 though, so it could be different with your older 4.0). I put Bosch +2's and about 6k later was having horrible detonation. I pulled the plugs and all were showing a definite Lean Condition/Detonation. I swapped them out for some Stock Motorcraft Plats and all was good again.

On another note, I have a friend who is a mechanic who ends up working on Ford's a lot. He told me anytime a car comes in that is having a problem that seems to be ignition related in any way and the car is not running Motorcraft plugs and wires, that is the first change they will make. 90% of the time that solves all the problems, no matter how bad they are. But, again, I've never specifically asked him about the older 4.0's, so he could just be speaking of the new X's (his shop regularly has 1 or 2 X's in there for some common problem or another ).

Good luck

 

[Brain]

Robb, I just want to say thanks for posting the diagram. I folowed the Chilton's diagram (Ford Ranger and Explorer), and long story short...it was wrong. I've pulled plugs, checked compression, had spark, re-checked the diagram, etc...

After I got the wires hooked up right, it fired up on the first try! Thanks again.

 

[tan68]

I just replaced spark plugs and wires on my '00 XLT. Hooked everything up and started the engine to check. It started immediately but just didn't sound or feel right, a little rought at idle. Did a google search and found the diagram above but didn't read the posts after it. Went to check my wires with the diagram in the Hanes manual, it matched. Checked all connections and re-started, still didn't sound right. Spent the next 15 minutes triple-checking everything and realized that the Hanes diagram didn't match the plug wiring diagram I had drawn myself while removing the wires. Re-installed the wires according to the diagram I had made and the engine sounded and felt the way it should.

Came back to this post and read the rest of the messages posted. Found that the Hanes manual plug wiring diagram error had already been posted but thought I'd post my experience anyways.

Thanks to all... learning a lot from these forums.

 

[EBInterceptor]

The easiest thing to do is just pull one wire at a time. Match the length of the new one against the old and throw her in. Otherwise have a really good memory and remember where everything came from. Diagrams work too, but who likes to look at instructions? (Though we probably all resort to them every once in a while)

 

[sk1er17]

ive been running bosch platinum 2's for over 50K miles... not a single problem..

I am a fan of motorcraft- but i think its total BS saying the truck wont run without motorcraft plugs..

 

[Doug]

I have heard of people having problems with bosch platnium 4s, it was brought up oh probably about 2 years ago now but I heard of several people having problem with the electrodes breaking off in the motor and doing some significant damamge. Though personally I have been running the regular bosch platniums in my truck with no complaint.

 

[elkhunter]

Something related to missing but not posted here-if you do have a missing problem open the hood in the dark and start it. A lot of times you can find the bad wire without water. Also, I think I would use a plastic container or squirt bottle rather than a metal container.

 

[sploder92]

plugs are plugs

My explorer came with bosch platinum plugs, ran good. The engine I got my new heads off of had bosch plugs in it that ran great also.

My BMW I had years ago had Factory Spec. Bosch platinum plugs from the dealer as do almost all Beemers, I believe.

The dealer mechanic was feedin a line of ****.

I've used many different kinds of plugs in many different kinds of cars.


1992 Explorer- Bosch platinum and platinum+4
1998 Hyundai Accent-Bosch platinum +4
1987 chevy spectrum-Bosch platinum
1990 Honda civic-bosch platinum+4
2001 Dodge neon-Champion double platinum
2000 Chevy Blazer ZR2- Denso Irridium Power ($13 each)
and Delco platinum(OE)
1999 Olds Aurora(250+ HP)-Delco platinum
1989 Gmc s-15 4.3- Bosch platinum+4
1997 Pontiac Grand am gt- delco platinum
1998 Dodge avenger- champion platinum
1994 ford taurus-bosch platinum
1989 Chevy blazer- delco
1984 BMW 318-Bosch Platinum
1984 ford ranger 2.8-motorcraft
1979 Olds 98- delco
1980 Mercury Bobcat-motorcraft
1977 Olds 88-delco
etc............
nothing works better for me than Bosch Platinum+4, but they all seem to work fine in whatever I use any type of plug in

 

[X-North]

I use Champion copper plus spark plugs and my truck run great too. So check out the wires ..if its not the wires then change the coil.